Syria & Lebanon - Ancient Treasures of the Levant (2010)
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Itinerary
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- Days 1-2: USA or Canada/ Damascus, Syria
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Board an overnight flight to Damascus, Syria, a vibrant mix of Roman, Greek, Byzantine and French influences.
Four Seasons Hotel Damascus - Day 3: Damascus
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After lunch and a briefing, embark on a tour of Damascus. Over the past 3,000 years, the Omayyad Mosque changed hands from the Aramaens to the Romans and to the Christians before the Muslims converted it to a mosque in AD 636. See its minaret, the reputed site where Jesus is expected to appear on Judgment Day and aptly named the Minaret of Jesus. Continue to Azem Palace with its lush gardens and intricate interiors. It also displays exhibits from the Museum of the Arts and Popular Traditions. Visit St. Paul's Chapel, where the disciples lowered St. Paul out the window so that he could flee from persecuting Jews. In the National Museum of the Arts and Popular Traditions, view written cylinders displaying the first known alphabet, developed in the 14th century BC. Damascus is known for its popular souks. Wander the stalls of el-Hamidieh, featuring traditional arts; Madhat Basha; and el-Buzurieh, known for its collection of eastern spices and local confectionaries. Conclude your day at the Hand Craft Market. This evening, enjoy a festive welcome dinner.
Four Seasons Hotel Damascus B L D - Day 4: Damascus
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You are at leisure today to explore the city on your own. If you prefer, you may participate in one of several pre-arranged activities. Have tea with a Damascene family and talk about their daily lives, learn Syrian cooking techniques from a private chef, discover the history of Syrian icons and learn how to write them, see houses in the Old City still inhabited by local families or visit a hammam (Turkish bath). Just before dinner, join a storyteller at one of the city's oldest public cafés for ice cream and fascinating tales. Later, traditionally dressed men sing to you before leading you to dinner at an Old City restaurant.
Four Seasons Hotel Damascus B L D - Day 5: Damascus/Palmyra
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Palmyra, the "bride of the desert," was an ideal stop for the caravans moving between Iraq and el-Sham (present-day Syria, Lebanon and Jordan). Visit the ancient ruins of the city, admiring the beautiful architecture of the Baal Temple, the Arch of Triumph, the amphitheater, the baths and the cemeteries. This afternoon, drive to the Arabic castle of Palmyra for a sunset view with drinks and sweets. This evening, return to the ruins by camel for an exclusive private dinner. As you dine under the desert stars, Bedouin musicians entertain you with a performance of their haunting tunes.
Dedeman Palmyra B L D - Day 6: Palmyra/Rasafa/Jaabar Citadel/Aleppo
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This morning, drive across the desert to Rasafa, ancient Sergiopolis, an emerald oasis for many commercial caravans that passed this way. Later, drive to Jaabar Citadel on the Euphrates River and then continue to your hotel in Aleppo.
Sheraton Aleppo Hotel B L D - Day 7: Aleppo
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Spend the day in Aleppo and take in the colors and aromas of the old town's bustling souks that were built beneath limestone arches. Visit the Grand Mosque, whose freestanding minaret was built around 1090; however, the origins of the mosque date back to early Islamic times. The head of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, is supposedly kept behind the carved wooden pulpit. Continue to the 12th-century citadel with its massive gate and fortified main entry. View the armory, Byzantine Hall and Royal Palace. This afternoon, walk through the church of St. Simeon that is a famous site of pilgrimage. Then meet Dr. Hassoun, the Syrian mufti (Islamic scholar), and Bishop Audo.
Sheraton Aleppo Hotel B L D - Day 8: Aleppo/Krac Des Chevaliers/ Maaloula/Damascus
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Considered one of the most important preserved medieval military castles in the world, Krac des Chevaliers was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006. Explore its many stores, tanks, corridors, bridges and stables. Have lunch in the castle before driving to scenic Maaloula, the only place on earth where Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus, is still used as a living language. You then have the opportunity to meet with an Aramaic-speaking family and visit with the children at the St. Takla Church Orphanage. This evening, attend a farewell to Syria dinner at an Old City restaurant and watch a Whirling Dervish performance.
Four Seasons Hotel Damascus B L D - Day 9: Damascus/Beirut, Lebanon
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Cross the Lebanese border and stop at Anjar, the historical Omayyad site in the southern part of the Bekaa plain. Continue to Château Ksara, a Jesuit vineyard, for a tasting of its dry red wine. Lebanon owes the perpetuation of its winemaking tradition to the various Christian communities in the area that kept vineyards. Then explore the Ksara Caves, utilized during the Roman period. They were covered by sand for centuries until the Jesuits discovered them in 1898 while looking for a wolf that had been eating their chickens. Now the caves are used to store thousands of bottles of Ksara wine. Continue to Baalbeck to explore the Roman ruins of the temples of Jupiter, Bacchus and Venus, counted among the best preserved wonders of the ancient world. As well as the temples, view the remarkable Great Court and the Hexagonal Forecourt. From there, make your way to Beirut, once known as the "Paris of the Middle East." Although it has seen difficult times, bustling, cosmopolitan Beirut is intent on making a comeback.
Intercontinental Phoenicia Beirut B L D - Day 10: Beirut
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After a morning at leisure, meet for lunch and a visit to the downtown district. See the remarkable reconstruction that has unearthed important archaeological sites from early cultures, including the Canaanite, Phoenician, Persian and Roman eras. Hundreds of souks, mosques and churches have been restored and renovated. Then stop at Beirut's Corniche, a seaside promenade lined with palm trees, offering magnificent views of the Mediterranean and the summits of Mount Lebanon. Travel along the road as it climbs steeply to a cliff edge, which is the headland of Beirut. Here you see an array of cliff-top restaurants and cafés offering panoramic views of the bay and famous Pigeons Rock. Head to the National Museum that houses the world's best selection of Phoenician art and a treasure trove of art reflecting 6,000 years of civilization and heritage. Next, privately explore the Robert Mouawad Private Museum, containing collections of jewelry, metal work, Islamic pottery, carpets and books. Your last stop is at the Sursock Museum, a modern art museum and an excellent example of Lebanese architecture. Later, attend a festive dinner that includes entertainment.
Intercontinental Phoenicia Beirut B L D - Day 11: Beirut/Byblos/Tripoli/Cedars of Lebanon/Beirut
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Byblos is so old that even the Phoenicians considered it a city of great antiquity. Walk through the Old Town from the fishermen's harbor to the Church of St. John the Baptist to the bustling souks. Continue to Tripoli and wander narrow alleyways, passing colorful souks, hammams and mosques. Stop to visit the Crusaders' Fortress of Raymond de Saint-Gilles. Drive along the coastal road into some of the most beautiful mountain landscapes in Lebanon. Pause for a typical man'ouche (an oven-fired "pizza" with several toppings) in the Cedars of Lebanon, where some of the trees are more than 1,000 years old. Stop in Bcharri to explore the Gibran Khalil Gibran Museum, commemorating the works of the famous writer and poet. From there, head to the Qadisha Valley, filled with rock-cut cave chapels, hermitages and monasteries that date from the third century BC. Since the early Middle Ages, it was a place of asylum for monks, hermits and ascetics.
Intercontinental Phoenicia Beirut B L D - Day 12: Beirut/Deir el-Qamar/ Beiteddine/Beirut
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Drive via Deir el-Qamar to the Beiteddine palace complex, the best example of early 19th-century Lebanese architecture. It was built over a 30-year period and contains museums that display costumes, weapons and well-preserved Byzantine mosaics. There is also a large collection of pottery from the Bronze and Iron Ages, Roman glass, gold jewelry, lead sarcophagi and glazed pottery from the Islamic period. After lunch at a private home, your afternoon in Beirut is at leisure. Later, gather for a farewell dinner that includes entertainment.
Intercontinental Phoenicia Beirut B L D - Day 13: Beirut/USA or Canada
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Board your departure flight.
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