Petra Holidays and Jordan Short Breaks

There is an excellent PADI school and a range of dives that can be organised. There are over 30 sites along the coastline most of which are in the Aqaba Marine Park. There is a large variety of differing topography and habitats with upwelling from the depths bringing nutrients to the reef and thus prolific marine life.

Even non divers can get out onto the water and snorkel, sunbathe or swim.

From here we will either continue on the itinerary or fly you back to Amman for the flight home.

You will be transferred from Amman to the borders where you will be met and assisted with immigration. After clearing immigration enjoy a full tour of Bethlehem.

Visit the Church of Nativity entering through the door of humility and descend to the Grotto; a cavern beneath the church honoured as the site of Christs birth marked with a silver star in the floor as the very spot.

You will enjoy a short stroll through Manger Square before proceeding to the Shepherds Fields, identified with the shepherds who saw the star. A short drive takes you to your 4 star hotel in Jerusalem.

You will begin the day with a short drive up to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the city, and onto Mount Zion to visit the room of the last supper.

In Jerusalem visit the Armenian quarter, the Western Wall and from the outside view the Dome of the Rock and El Aqsa Mosque - Islams 3rd holiest place. You will walk along the Stations of the Cross, visit the Rabbinical Tunnel and enter the church of the Holy Sepulchre. Finally go shopping but be prepared to negotiate hard in the old marketplace!

Stay in Jerusalem in your 4 star hotel.

After breakfast you will be transferred from Jerusalem to Allenby bridge for departure. You will be met at the Jordanian side for your transfer to your hotel in Amman.

Arrive in Damascus by 3 hr transfer from Amman. Overnight in your 5* hotel.

Today you will visit Damascus, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Omayyad Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world, was constructed in 705 AD on a site that has been a place of worship for thousands of years.

On the tour you will visit the tomb of Saladin, who was the commander in chief of the Syrian army in the 12th Century and recaptured Jerusalem from the Crusaders.

The Chapel of St. Paul is a modern stone chapel incorporating materials from the ancient city gate through which Paul was lowered out of a window in Acts 9:25, and at the National Museum you will gain insight into 2,000 years of history and culture.

You will visit the little Chapel of St Ananias in the Christian Quarter of the Old City and finally at night venture up Qasiun Mountain to see the spectacular floodlight minarets over the city.

Overnight in Damascus in your 5 star hotel.

Start the day by visiting Maaloula, a scenic village situated at 1500 meters with its little houses clinging to the rock face. It is the only place in the world where Aramaic, the language spoken by Christ, is still used as a living language.

Your private visit to Crac des Chevaliers Crusader fortress, a preserved medieval military castles and Unesco World Heritage Site, will leave you filled with admiration for its scale and formidable strength.

Continue to Apamea, founded in 300 BC by one of Alexander the Greats' generals, and in a colourful history playing host to visitors such as Cleopatra, Septimus Severus and the Emperor Caracalla. The stunning main street at Apamea is 1.8 km long lined with the ruins of civil and religious buildings. In the summer visit some of the 17 huge wooden water wheels at Hama.

Overnight in Aleppo in your 5 * star hotel.

Aleppo with its citadel, elaborately decorated hammans, ancient souqs and the nearby ruin of St Simeon one of the worlds oldest remaining churches, is a highlight. After your private tour transfer to Palmyra for the night at your 5* hotel.

Palmyra contains the monumental ruins of one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world, and one which served as a crucial stopover for caravans crossing the Syrian desert. From the 1st to the 2nd century the architecture married Greco-Roman techniques with local traditions and Persian influences. Explore the archaeological site seeing the Bel Temple, Tombs and theatre amongst others.

After your private tour transfer to Damascus for the night to your 5 star hotel.

After breakfast transfer to airport for flight home.

Private guided day tour of Cairo. Visit the Egyptian Museum of antiquities, housing the magnificent treasures of Tut Ankh Amon. Afterwards visit the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Valley Temple of Kephren.

EITHER Visit Memphis "the ancient capital of Egypt" and its funerary Necropolis of Sakkara. Visit The Citadel of Saladin, Mohamed Ali Alabaster Mosque, and world famous Khan El Khalili bazaars

OR Take a full day excursion by car to visit Alexandria. (Via the desert road), where you will visit the National Museum, Catacombs & Pompey's pillar. You will visit Montazah gardens surrounding King Farouk's Palace and return to Cairo early evening.

Transfer for flight home or to Nile Cruise on exceptional luxury Nile cruise on the Sonesta St George, one of the finest Cruise Ships on the Nile.

A private guide will take you to the Valley of the Kings in Upper Egypt which contains many of the tombs of pharaohs from the New Kingdom, including Ramsees the Great and the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Continue to see the famous 'Colossi of Memnon'. These massive quartzite statues which once flanked the entrance to Amenhotep III's mortuary temple now stand virtually alone in a field.

Lunch and afternoon aboard whilst sailing to Esna.

Visit Edfu, the site of the extraordinary Temple of Horus. Lunch and relax aboard the cruise whilst sailing to Kom Ombo

Sail to Aswan to visit the impressive Aswan High Dam, and the only unfinished Obelisk.

Enjoy a 2 hour PRIVATE Felucca sail on the Nile passing by the historical Nilometer used to measure the Nile's water level and Elephantine Island

A la Carte optional extra : Private guided visit to Abu Simbel or Nubian Village
Private guided visit to the two magnificent temples of Abu Simbel or visit a Nubian village to discover the simple and natural life of these kind people.

A la Carte optional extra : Sound and Light show Philae:
The alluring sacred Temple of Philae is dramatically transformed in this magical sound and light show that takes you on a narrated journey to discover the legends of Osiris and Isis.

Early morning sail to Kom Ombo to visit with your private guide the unique temple dedicated to Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the falcon-headed god. Sail to Edfu whilst enjoying afternoon tea.

Sail to Luxor where your private guide will take you to visit the Karnak and Luxor temples, travelling along an avenue of ram-headed Sphinxes for 2 miles to Karnak Temple, the centre of worship in ancient Egypt.

Breakfast aboard the Cruise prior to disembarkation and private transfer to Luxor airport for flight home.