Day 1 Istanbul Transfer to the  Hotel Ayasofaya.. If you arrive  a day or two before the tour starts, you will still be given transfer included in the price Please click here to check the arrival info .  At 04:00 PM meet at the lobby for group  meeting. Dinner  will be at a wonderful restaurant where we can enjoy the sun set in the horizon of this historic city.

Day 2 Gaziantep  Transfer to Istanbul air port. Fly to Gaziantep. Transfer to the hotel. Gaziantep is a fast growing city on the Syrian border of Turkey in the south. It is surrounded with fertile valleys irrigated by the Euphrates river. Through out history and today, the city has been center of trade, arts and crafts. The best example of this status of the region is the Roman city of Zeugma which recently was buried in the rising waters of Euphrates when couple of dams were builton life giving river. The mosaics rescued from Zeugma are now considered to be the grandest and most perfect examples of Roman mosaic art. We will visit the recently built Museum of Zeugma and have a better understanding of what life was like in the region that we are about to cover in this tour. Gaziantep is also the weaving capital of Turkey where ikats are being woven on the looms which are not too different from what they were from 1000 years before our time. The primitive look of the material and the incredible color combination of the silk today wets the appetite of  designers who are keeping this home industry alive. The copper and shoe makers lined up along its ancient market will make you feel like we are walking through the prop room of a movie being made about the Biblical era or even before. ( Gaziantep craftsman had provided the movie TROY with all of their props). Gaziantep is know for its exquisite cuisine and pistachio baklava. After dinner overnight at Hotel Kaleli.

Day 3 Antakya Drive to Antakya (3 hours)  En route to Antakya, stop at the Hittite site where, 4000 years ago, the basalt  was queried and  sculptors made the monumental statues of the Hittites. Dozens of unfinished gigantic statues are scattered around the bottom of this hill. To give you an idea - a group of 20 people can easily  sit on one of the lion sculpture to have a group picture  Antioch of Cilicia (Antakya) is where St. Stephan and Barnabas organized the first followers of Christ. St. Peter also traveled here from Jerusalem to resolve the disputes between the Jerusalem fathers and the “Greek School” led by St. Stephan. Antakya is where the followers of Christ were called Christians for the first time.  We will visit the mosaic Museum of Antakya which reveals the wealth and grandeur of the Roman city at  St. Paul's time. Overnight in Antakya at Antik Beyazit Hotel.

Day 4 Antakya Antakya has a population of very diverse ethnic and religious groups. Catholics, Jews, Armenians, Assyrian Orthodox and Muslim Arab and Turks have been living here in perfect harmony. Today we will visit the old city of Antakya,  meet with the people at their homes, in their churches and at their work shops where they are making soap and dying silk using the recipes from hundreds of years before. We will attend the concert of the  city chamber orchestra represents this diversity . through music we will hear their differences and their similarities. The dinner will be by the waterfall where Apollo fell in love with Daphne. Overnight in Antakya at Antik Beyazit Hotel.

Day 5 Halep ( Aleppo), Syria Leave Antakya at 07:30 AM drive 30 miles south to the Turkish - Syrian border. US citizens and Canadians need visa pleaseclick here  see info below. After border crossing which can take an hour or so we will drive south to Halep ( Aleppo).  The Syrian cuisine is varied and rich, in view of the fertility of Syrian lands and the abundance of their crops which enable the cook to be a master and to diversify in his choice and talent in the preparation of fresh meals made of vegetables, legumes and meats. The Syrian table is always decorated with the various delicious pastries famous all over the world. We will have our first experience of the Syrian food at lunch  in Halep. This afternoon we will visit Aleppo the second capital of Syria (350 km north of Damascus), and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in history. Abraham is said to have camped on the acropolis which, long before his time, served as the foundation of a fortress (where the Aleppo citadel is standing now). He milked his grey cow there, hence Aleppo's name: "Halab al-Shahba". Ever since the 3rd millennium B.C., Aleppo has been a flourishing city, with a unique strategic position. This position gave the city a distinctive role from the days of the Akhadian and Amorite kingdoms until modern times. It was the meeting-point of several important commercial roads in the north. This enabled Aleppo to be the link in trade between Mesopotamia, the Fertile Crescent and Egypt. The Amorites made it their capital in the 18th century B.C. This position made it subject to invasions from various races; from Hittites, Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks and Romans. Aleppo was prominent in the Christian era; it became a Bishopric and a huge cathedral was built in it, which is still standing.  The conflict between Byzantium and Persia, however, resulted in the latter's occupation of Aleppo in 440. The Persians robbed the city, burned considerable parts of it and damaged many of its features. Though expelled by Justinian, the Persians still threatened Aleppo and frightened its inhabitants until the Arab Islamic conquest came in 636. The city then regained its status, both cultural and commercial. Apart from the Omayyad and Abbassid periods in which Aleppo flourished the Hamadani state established by Sayf al-Dawla in 944 made Aleppo the northern capital of Syria. Sayf al-Dawla built Aleppo's famous citadel, and in his days the city enjoyed great prosperity and fame in science, literature and medicine, despite this leader's military ambitions. Mention should be made of the two most prominent poets, al-Mutanabbi and Abu al-Firas; of the philosopher and scientist, al-Farabi; and of the linguist, Ibn Khalaweh, all of whom lived in Sayf al-Dawla's court and were renowned for great knowledge and scholarship. Aleppo was famous for its architecture; for its attractive churches, mosques, schools, tombs and baths. As an important center of trade between the eastern Mediterranean kingdoms and the merchants of Venice, Aleppo became prosperous and famous in the centuries preceding the Ottoman era. Many of its "khans" (caravanserai) are still in use even today; one of them is called "Banadiqa Khan", "Banadiqa" in Arabic being the term for "inhabitants of Venice". In the Ottoman age, Aleppo remained an important center of trade with turkey, France, England and Holland. This caused various types of European architecture to be adopted in Aleppo which can be seen in many buildings today.
St  Simon Monastary This citadel is 60 km north-west of Aleppo. It was named after the hermit Saint Simon (Sam'an), a shepherd from northern Syria, who became a monk after a revelation in a dream. Following Saint Simon's death in 459, the Emperor Zenon ordered that a cathedral be built where the saint used to pray.
The layout was original, centering on the famous column from which Saint Simon used to preach. Four basilicas, arranged in the shape of a cross, opened into an octagon covered by a dome, in the center of which stood the holy column.
It is a beautiful church built on the ridge of the hill where Saint Simon had taken up "residence". Simplicity and harmony combine to make the ruins of the Basilica of St. Simon (an earthquake destroyed parts of the church less than half a century after it had been built) a masterpiece of pre-Islamic art in Syria.
After our city site seeing we will enjoy home made food at the historic house where we will stay for 2 nights.

Day 6 Halep ( Aleppo), Syria

After a great breakfast, you will especially like  the spread prepared with dried watermelon seed with 40 spices and olive oil ,  we will start the city tour of this ancient city. - The National Museum; this includes in particular documents and relics from Ebla and Mari. After the museum of Bagdad was demolished, this museum stands as the best museum for documenting the history of Mesopotamia.
- Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions will be a incredible window through which we can see the rich ethnography of the country.
- Al-Jami' al-Kabir (The Great Mosque), The site of the Great Mosque is the former Agora from the Hellenistic period, which later became the garden for the Cathedral of St. Helena, during the Christian era. It was built by the Umayyad Caliph al Walid, who had earlier founded the Great Mosque in Damascus. It was completed in 717 by his successor Caliph Suleiman. Nur al Din later rebuilt it in 1169 after a great fire and the Mamelukes made further alterations. This mosque has an enormous 45-meter minaret, which is completely detached from it, built by the Seljuks in 1070. The Great Mosque was built in its gardens, but the actual Cathedral remained a place of Christian worship until 1124. In this year, a besieging crusader army violated Islamic places of worship and in retaliation the Cathedral was changed into a Madrasa for Koranic teaching.  The inside comprises a courtyard, surrounded by student cells and a domed prayer hall. This is the only part which remains of the old cathedral. The finely decorated mihrab inside dates to 1245 when Nur al-Din remodeled the building.

- Old schools, churches, mosques, baths and ancient houses, some dating back to the 15th century, like the al-Bunduqiah (Venetian) Consulate, which contains superb ornaments and antiquities.  Weaving kilims is the most comon home economy in Syria.
- Halawiyeh Madrasa
This Koranic school was founded in 1124. It is found on the site of the Cathedral of St. Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine who made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 326. 
Madrasa Sultaniye
Lying across the road from the Aleppo citadel is this 13th century Madrasa, which was built by Sultan al Aziz. The greatest aspect of this Madrasa is the mihrab.
Madrasa Faradis
Near the cemetery situated close to Bab al Maqam, is Madrasa Faradis, 'School of Paradise'. This was built by Sultan al Zaher Ghazi's widow, Daifa Khatun in 1234. It is of great beauty and elegance, with pillars surrounding a small pool, and an Arabesque mihrab. It is often considered the most beautiful of the Aleppo Madrasas. 
We will finish the day listening to the mystical sound of an ud. dinner will be at one of the most popular local restaurants of the city. Overnight at the same house

Day 7 Humus ( Homs) Hama Water Mills  Ebla Tablets from Assyrian Era  Apamia Roman city  Dinner and overmight at the hotel in Humus Homs

Hama is considered as one of the oldest inhabited areas in the Arab World. Located in the central region of Syria 120 km from the Mediterranean Sea, the area combines a spectacular mixture of steppe, mountains and river plains. The area is dominated by the Al-Aassi river, known internationally as the Orontes river.
· The climate  is Mediterranean, : warm autumns, mild winters, warm springs and hot summers, eased by strong breezes.
· Hama is well known for its geographical variety, ranging from rich agricultural plains with fertile soil to semi-deserts, or from pastures ideal for grazing to forested mountains a thousand meters above sea level. Hama is renowned as a center for farming in Syria, with high yields of crops and excellent meat and dairy products.
The city is also known for also the abundance of water and the water mills.

Apamea is located on the right bank of the Orontes, about 55 km to the northwest of Hama. It overlooks the Ghaab plain. It was built by Saluqos Nikator, the first king of the Seleucids in Syria in 300 B.C. He named it after his wife, Afamia. The city flourished to an extent that its population numbered half a million. As an Eastern crossroads, it received many distinguished visitors: Cleopatra, Septimus Severus and the Emperor Caracalla. In the Christian era, Apamea became a center of philosophy and thought, especially of Monophostism. Most of the uncovered ruins in it date back to the Roman and Byzantine ages. It is distinguished for its high walls and the main thoroughfare surrounded by columns with twisted fluting.

Day 8 Palmira Palmir Roman Site  Camel ride  Desert Music with the Bedewins  Dinner and overnight in Palmira 
Palmyra,  is like a pearl in the heart of the desert, Palmyra, rising from the sands, is one of the most graceful and splendid ancient sites in the East, for the glory and the greatness are still evident and fully years after its construction by the Arab Queen Zenobia. It remains one of most famous capitals of the ancient world.
We will have a camel ride at sun set and willsoend the evening  in the oasis of Palmyra.

Day 9 Sam (Damascus)  Crusades Fortress  Malula Mountain village where Aramaic is spoken  Hike the canyon  visit  Tekla Monastery
We will be following the path of the Crusades and natuarally see the grand fortresses that they had built on their way to the holy Land.

The bedoins of Syria are colorful and easy to communicate with. We will visit Malula mountain villages where Aramaic - the language of |Jesus  is spoken.

St. Tekla was one of the most loyal disciples of St Paul. In order to follow St Paul on his Missionary journey, he had dressed as man and followed him where ever Paul had traveled on his long journey.

After we visit her church, we will proceed to a winery where since the time of the Assyrians wine was being made and offered to the Gods. We will get a chance to to taste the wine that once made Gods happy/

Damascus is the largest city in Syria and may be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. We will check in to our hotel before we go out for another great dinner experience.

Day 10 Sam (Damascus)  Emevi Mosque Home dinner  Whirling Dervich Demonstration  Overnight in Damascus  Arts and Crafts: Mother of pearl inlay, wood work, weaving

We will start the day with city site seeing. After lunch we will spend the afternoon at the souks of Damascus. We will see wood carvers, motherof pearl being engraved in wood, weavers ...
Early references to Damascus such as those in Ebla tablets, confirm that it was as a city of immense economic influence during 3rd millennium BC.  Ancient Pharaonic scripts refers to it as Dameska. It enjoyed great prominence during 2nd millennium BC as center of an Aramaic kingdom under the name of Dar-Misiq (the irrigated house). The Aramites were the original inhabitants of Damascus, and their language was Syriac. Many villages around Damascus are still known by their Aramaic names . The Umayyad Mosque, Damascus
 At the heart of the Old City,  visit the astonishing example of a Damascene house, where the simple, almost primitive, exterior contrasts rather sharply with the beauty and sophistication of the interior. Here one finds a sense of space, a wealth of polychrome stone, splendid marble, cascading fountains, and fragrant flowers. The palace was built in the mid-eighteenth century for the Governor of Damascus. The palace now houses the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions.

Saladin's Tomb and its neighboring Schools
The tomb is next door to the north gate of the Omayyad Mosque. It was originally part of al-Azizieh School built by Uthman, Saladin's son, in the twelfth century. The whole interior is decorated with polychrome marble mosaics.
Next to the tomb stands a typical Mamluk edifice, the Jumaqjieh School, built in the twelfth century. The interior is decorated with inscriptions and beautiful lettering. It is one of the most splendid old schools in Damascus; and has recently been turned into a Museum of Arabic Calligraphy.
Two other schools stand nearby: al-Zhahiriya, which is an Ayoubite edifice and house the famous library of that name; and al-Adliya, which is also Ayoubite in style, and is now headquarters of the Arab language Academy.

 We will cross the border to Amman and our first stop in this country will be one of the most intact roman site, Jarash. We will relive the history as we watch a gladiator show. then we will continue to the Amman,  Capital of Jordan .The seven hills of Amman are an enchanting mixture of ancient and modern. Honking horns give way to the beautiful call to prayer which echoes from the stately minarets which grace the city. Gleaming white houses, kabab stalls and cafés are interspersed with bustling markets. tonight the feast will be a kebab that you will never forget. ( For the vegetarians we have eggplant kebab)
Day 12  Petra Drive to Petra  Visit Petra and overnight in Petra

Petra is the treasure of ancient world, hidden behind an almost impenetrable barrier of rugged mountains, boasting incomparable scenes that make it the most majestic and imposing ancient site still-standing nowadays.. It has been said "perhaps there is nothing in the world that resembles it", actually, for sure, there is nothing in the world that resembles it. The rock-carved rose-red city of Petra is full of mysterious charm, it was "designed to strike wonder into all who entered.

Petra is considered the most famous and gorgeous site in Jordan located about 262 km south of Amman and 133 km north of Aqaba. It is the legacy of the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled in southern Jordan more than 2000 years ago. Admired then for its refined culture, massive architecture and ingenious complex of dams and water channels, Petra is now a UNESCO world heritage site and one of The New 7 Wonders of the World that enchants visitors from all corners of the globe.

dinner and overnight will be in this magical city.

Day 13  Amman Drive to the Red Sea  Return to Amman 
We will have a feast along the sea shore. those who might be interested can go swimming. Make sure you bring your swimming suits today.
We will return to Amman for dinner and overnight.
Day 14 Transfer to the air port. Departure Fly out of Amman