Best of Lebanon and Jordan

You will explore the area today. The last stop will be the coastal town Byblos. Before we arrive in Byblos we visit some other sites. First on the program is a visit to the Jeita caves, a natural phenomenon. From here you head to the Chateau Musar winery. Chateau Musar is considered to be one of the most special wine estates in the world. Not only because of its location in the Lebanese Bekaa Valley, but also because they still make wine the traditional way. The vineyards are located on siliceous limestone soils at an altitude of about 1000 meters. The long, warm summers guarantee excellent ripening of the grapes.

The last stop of the day is the picturesque fishing town Byblos. It is one of the oldest, continuously inhabited towns in the world. The name Byblos is Greek. Because papyrus used to be transported to the Aegean through Byblos, it received the Greek name Byblos or Byblinos. Hence, the English word Bible derives from Byblos as “the papyrus book.” In Byblos you will find a large fort from the time of the Phoenicians and crusaders, and a historic city center. Byblos is also the perfect place to end the day with a nice dinner. You will return to Beirut in the evening.

Today you travel towards Tripoli, the second largest city in Lebanon with approximately 500,000 inhabitants. Due to its favorable location, the city has a turbulent past. You will find remains from the era of the crusaders and from the Ottoman period. After the second war, the city was under French mandate.

After visiting Tripoli you will drive through the famous cedar forest. The cedar tree is important in the country and is even part of the national lag. From here you travel to a special place for your overnight stay. You will spend the night in the Qadisha valley and visit the monastery, dedicated to Saint Anthony the Great, which is built against a mountain. Enjoy the beautiful nature and views.

From the Shouf mountains you head towards the South of Lebanon. You travel towards Tyre. This old port city in Lebanon is also called Sur. The history of this city dates back to 2,700 BC. Tyre has several UNESCO sites which used to belong to the kingdom of Jerusalem. Along the way to Tyre we pass Sidon where we visit the Sidon sea castle. You have the rest of the day at leisure in Tyre. Visit one of the sights or relax on the beach.

Today you will be brought to Beirut Airport where you board the plane plane to Amman, the capital of Jordan. After a short one hour flight you will be met by a local representative of ArabEscape.com. You will be guided through the visa procedure and the driver will take you to the hotel for the night. Depending on the departure time of your flight, you will have some time left in Amman.

Amman is a vibrant city, which offers you a glimpse into modern Jordanian life. In the evening you can visit Rainbow Street where you will find many restaurants and bars.

Today is at leisure and you can relax in your resort at the Dead Sea. If you still want to do something, you can go visit the hot springs in Ma’in. You can also visit Mount Nebo and Madaba. Mount Nebo is the mountain from which Moses looked out over the Promised Land. A special spiritual place, although there is not much more than a church and a viewpoint. Next, the mosaic city Madaba is on the program. Here you will visit St. George Church where one of the first maps in the world is located.

Today you will visit the ancient city of Petra, one of Jordan’s national treasures and one of the seven wonders of the world! You enter the red city of the Nabataeans. Centuries ago, the Nabataeans built a kingdom which was hidden in the mountains. The ingenious water system enabled the kingdom to flourish in this remote place for a long time. This also is one of the main reasons why all the carvings are so well preserved.

You can spend an entire day in the city. It will be an unforgettable visit but make sure you are ready for a full day of hiking. There are two ways to visit the site. The first one is the traditional way through the Siq (Canyon), this is the main entrance. The Siq will take you to the Treasury. You can visit the Treasury, basin, the royal tombs and the theater, the High Place of Sacrifice and the Roman soldier tombs. All the way at the end of the complex you will find the Monastery.

The second option to visit Petra is through the back door; the more adventurous route! It begins with a 20 minute drive through the desert. After the drive you will begin with a 1,5 hour hike through a mountain area, until you reach the Monastery. Then you will continue through the main site of Petra. Your guide will explain about the archaeology and history of the site and it inhabitants. After exploring the city you will be exiting from the main gate. This way you are avoiding the tourist crowds, definitely an advantage.

You leave the Nabataean city of Petra and head towards the Wadi Rum desert. The local Bedouins still live here and preserve the area. As the landscape hasn’t changed much over the years it feels like you go back in time. The Bedouins make sure that the protected area still has the same charm it had a thousand years ago.

Wadi Rum is one of the most beautiful deserts in the world, alternated by rugged rocks on both sides. The unique appearance creates the feeling you are on a different planet. No wonder this area served as a film location for many large productions, for example the classic Lawrence of Arabia (1960), and more recent Star Wars the Rise of Skywalker (2019).

Upon arrival your local Bedouin guide will be waiting for you. He will take you on a jeep safari for about four hours and will provide a delicious traditional lunch along the way. At the end of the tour you will be brought to your desert camp. Enjoy the beautiful starry sky at night.

If you wish you can start the day in a very unique way: with a balloon flight over the Wadi Rum at sunrise!

Today you will leave the vast landscape of the desert and return to civilization. You can still enjoy the quietness of the desert in the morning before you continue your way to Aqaba. After a one hour drive you can check-in at your resort and process the impressions of the past few days at your ease. It is time to sit back and relax!

These days are at leisure, you have time to relax at the pool or go explore the Red Sea and its underwater world. We can arrange a diving or snorkeling excursion for you. The Red Sea is well-known for its beautiful corals. Additionally, Aqaba has many souqs and restaurants worth a visit.