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| Explore — Worldwide 2008/09 |
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 | Syria contd. | | Lebanon, Iran |
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EGYPT & MIDDLE EAST
Baalbek/Dani Nader
Ancient Persian wonders
LEBANON " SYRIA
IRAN
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Lure of the Lebanon
9 DAYS HOTELS PHOENICIANS, ROMANS & LEBANON'S LEGENDARY CEDARS
Ancient Persia
15 DAYS HOTELS ISFAHAN IS HALF THE WORLD
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Few places offer such diversity and interest in such a small space as Lebanon. We are captivated by the aromatic landscapes and wonderful antiquities of a region whose peoples scribed the worlds first written alphabet. Plus the thrill of Syrias ancient capital, Damascus.
Gateway to the Levant We start our journey in Damascus, Syria's 3000-year-old capital, and one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. Our walking tour through the Old City bears this out revealing layers of history from Roman periods and through the Islamic and Ottoman periods. Entering Lebanon we climb into the mountains to the Ottoman palace of Beiteddine then descend to Sidon whose seacastle has for years stood sentry against those that may try to invade. Mediterranean & Mountains Once a playground for the rich and famous Lebanon's capital of Beirut has in recent years again blossomed into one of the eastern Mediterranean's great cities, regaining its stature as the region's most vibrant city. After exploring it's National Museum we travel on to Byblos, a gem of a town with a rich history and wonderful setting, where fishing boats bob in a traditional harbour backed by Crusader fortifications. After seeing something of Tripoli we head into the mountains. Qadisha Valley and Baalbeck From Bcharre we spend a day walking among the churches and monasteries of the beautiful Qadisha Valley. This region is also one of the last bastions of Lebanon's famous cedar trees, treasured for their durable, sweetscented wood. Crossing into the fertile Beqa'a Valley we come to the magnificent temples of Roman Baalbeck. Here, amid the vast sea of fallen marble and porphyry columns, we'll explore the Temple of Bacchus and Venus and
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Tripoli St Gilles citadel Qornet es -Saouda 3083m Qadisha Valley walk
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An all-encompassing journey to both the less visited and more popular sites of this amazing country. We'll experience the many wonders of ancient Persia, from the Throne of Solomon to the wonders of Isfahan, Persepolis and Shiraz. A tour for the lover of Persian architecture and culture.
Tehran & the Northwest A city tour of Tehran takes in the Golestan Palace, National Museum and, time allowing, the Carpet Museum and forms a great introduction to this wonderful country. From Tehran we head north to the Takht-i-Soleiman, the Throne of Solomon , an enormous fortified village with parts dating from several historical periods. At Hamedan we see the Tomb of Avicenna, the famous 11th century philosopher and physician whose published work, the Canon Medicinae, was a standard for 700 years, before flying south to Shiraz. Persepolis & Naqsh-i-Rustam In lovely Shiraz, celebrated for its beauty, we see flower-decked tombs of the Achaemenid kings at nearby Persepolis (331BC) and their royal tombs at Naqsh-i-Rustam: the palace is said to have been torched by Alexander the
Great in a drunken orgy. En route to Yazd we pause at Cyrus's ruined city of Pasargade. A centre for the mysterious Zoroastrian religion, Yazd has remarkable Fire Temples and Towers of Silence. Here water is so precious that it is brought many miles in underground qanats (galleries) to irrigate a few acres. A drive via Nain brings us to Isfahan. Isfahan is 'Half the World' Described in the 16th century as 'Half the World' the capital of the Persian Empire under Shah Abbas I is certainly one of the most romantic of cities. A medley of splendid mosques and bazaars, our exploration here will include the great Royal Square, the bluetiled Friday Mosque and the dream-like Chehel Sotun Palace its ornate pillars worthy of the Thousands and One Nights. There's time to relax with a cup of chai in a teahouse before we head north to the traditional mud-brick village of Abyaneh where time has barely made a dint, and Kashan, famous for its Fin Gardens. We end our journey of discovery in Tehran.
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Ancient Heliopolis
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gaze in wonder at the monumental colonnade of the Temple of Jupiter with its spectacular mountain backdrop. Finally we cross back into Syria and the end of our journey
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Beit Eddine Palace Sidon Sea castle
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Extended tour...
For an extended tour we also have the GME tour (Grand Tour of the Middle East). A 23-day tour taking in all the highlights of the Middle East, visiting Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. See our website for further details or request a tour dossier.
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Caspian Sea
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Itinerary Day 1 Fly London/Damascus. 2 Walking tour of Old City; free afternoon. 3 Drive into Lebanon; visit Beiteddine Palace & Sidon; drive Beirut. 4 Visit National Museum; drive to Byblos; visit castle and ancient site. 5 Optional visit to Jeita Grotto; drive to Tripoli; visit citadel and old-town; drive Bcharre. 6 Day walk in the Qadisha Valley. 7 Visit Cedars of Lebanon; drive to and visit Baalbeck. 8 Drive to Aanjar for visit; drive to Damascus. 9 Fly to London. Accommodation & Meals: 8nts hotel; 8 breakfasts included. See insert p2. Mode of Travel: Bus/On foot. Comment: A close look at fascinating Lebanon with the bonus of time in wonderful Damascus. Containing highlights from many periods of times gone by, this tour will appeal to the lover of refined Middle Eastern art, architecture and history. Tour Staff & Support: Explore Tour Leader plus driver(s). Group Size: Approx. 16 to 22.
Golestan Palace & National Museum
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Abu Ali Sina Tomb Stone carvings
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Kashan Fin Gardens Abyaneh Ancient mudbrick village
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Pasargade Ateshkade Fire Temple & Towers of Silence Persepolis Reliefs
Combine your tour...
For an extended tour of Lebanon & Syria we also have the LLS tour (Exploring the Old Levant). This is a 16 day combination of our LL tour combined with our SY tour (On the Road to Damascus) p94. See our website for further details or request a tour dossier.
Naqsh-i Rustam
Persian Gulf
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Tombs & Shrines
Itinerary Day 1 Fly London/Tehran. 2 Sightseeing in Tehran. 3 Drive to Zanjan visiting Gonbad e Soltaniyeh mausoleum en route; visit covered bazaar. 4 Drive to Tahkt-i-Soleiman for included visit; visit Soleiman Prison; continue to Takab. 5 Continue to Hamedan, visit Esther's Tomb, Abu Ali Sina (Avicenna) Tomb and Ganjnameh stone tablets. 6 Drive to Tehran airport and fly to Shiraz. 7 Sightseeing to Naqsh-i Rustam & Persepolis. 8 Visit Tomb of Hafez and continue to Pasargade to Yazd. 9 Sightseeing in Yazd to include Towers of Silence and Fire Temple; free afternoon. 10 Drive to Isfahan via Nain. 11 Sightseeing in Isfahan to include Cheheltum Palace, Imam Square, Lotfollah Mosque, Ali Qapu Palace; free afternoon optional visit to Vank Cathedral in Armenian Quarter. 12 Free in Isfahan. 13 Drive north to the old village of Abyaneh; continue to Kashan; visit Fin Gardens and Borujerdi House. 14 Drive to Tehran; free on arrival. 15 Fly London. Accommodation & Meals: 14nts hotel; 14 breakfasts included. See insert p2. Mode of Travel: Bus/On foot Comment: A busy cultural journey visiting Iran's breathtaking monuments and historical sites as well as some of the lesser-known sites of the north. Iran is a large country so be prepared for some long drives of around 5 hours. Alcohol is prohibited in Iran and a strict dress code applies. Please see dossier for details. Tour Staff & Support: Explore Tour Leader plus driver(s), guides. Group Size: Approx. 16 to 20.
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Essential information, departure dates & prices see Pricing & Information Supplement
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