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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Specialised travel at its best
Exploratory Tour to Lebanon and Syria
18 September to 02 October 2010
TOUR LEADER
Kim Lings will be accompanying the group to Lebanon and Syria. Kim is the owner of Nile Travel, a founding, corporate and honorary life member of the Ancient Egyptian Society as well as a member of the Egyptian Exploration Society in London. She has visited Egypt on forty one occasions during the past ten years and has led over twenty five tours to Egypt, Jordan, Israel and Turkey over the past eight years. Please note this will be Kim’s first trip to both Lebanon and Syria.
LEBANON
A small country, dominated by great mountain ranges, Lebanon's impact on the history of the Mediterranean is out of all proportion to its size, for here is a stunningly rich archaeological history to explore.
This is the homeland of the Canaanites/ Phoenicians whose great coastal trading emporia supplied the known world with luxuries, including cedar wood, spices and metals.
When the region was absorbed into the Roman Empire by Pompey the Great in 64BC, Lebanon became part of the province of Syria. Under the Pax Romana the cities of the Levantine coast prospered, and the Romans built their largest ever temple at the cult centre of Baalbek. Castles, churches, mosques and souks recall the medieval period, when Lebanon was a battleground between the Crusaders and Islam and a vibrant mixing bowl of religions and cultures.
SYRIA
Syria’s power has always lain not so much with its resources but with its position, the controller of all trade, traffic and military ambition between the Mediterranean and the East. Caravan routes criss-cross its boundaries, and mighty cities grew up where weary - but wealthy - travellers needed to break their journey.
It also lies, though, just within the fertile crescent which saw the beginnings of cultivation and animal husbandry - the Euphrates, Hauran and Tigris (just) rivers all run through the country, and mountains have provided enough rainfall to sustain the good life in some areas.
ITINERARY
DAY 1 - Saturday, 18 September 2010
On arrival at the airport please proceed to the Egypt Air check-in counters 1 to 6 in Terminal B (this could change on the evening, so please consult the departure board). I would suggest you arrive around 3 hours prior to departure to ensure better seating. Nile Travel will request pre-seating with Egypt Air but this cannot be guaranteed. Seats AC and JK are the window and aisle options and DEFG are the four middle seats, therefore the seating is 2 seats, 4 seats and 2 seats. After passport control you can use the Premier Lounge located on the upper level near CNA by presenting the invitation supplied to you by Egypt Air at the check-in counter.
Depart Johannesburg on Egypt Air flight MS 840 at 21H45 for Cairo. Each person is allowed 20kg of luggage and 1 carry on piece of luggage. I suggest that you bring extra drinks for during the flight (bought in duty free due to liquid restrictions in hand luggage), and please be advised that Egypt Air does not serve any alcoholic drinks.
DAY 2 - Sunday, 19 September 2010
Arrive in Cairo at 06H40. We will remain in transit until our flight departs to Beirut. Depart Cairo on MS 709 at 10H00, arriving in Beirut at 11H25.
On arrival in Beirut we will be met at the airport and transfer to our hotel. Rest of the day at your leisure. We will meet in the evening to go for dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in hotel on a bed and breakfast basis.
DAY 3 - Monday, 20 September 2010
After breakfast we will be collected at our hotel and do a City tour of Beirut, followed by lunch at a local restaurant and a visit to Beit El Dine Palace. Overnight in hotel on a bed and breakfast basis.
DAY 4 - Tuesday, 21 September 2010
After breakfast we will have the day at our leisure to explore the city for shopping. Apparently the nightlife in Beirut is not to be missed. Overnight in hotel on a bed and breakfast basis.
DAY 5 - Wednesday, 22 September 2010
After breakfast we will check out of hotel and visit Baalback, Ksara and Anjar followed by lunch at a local restaurant. We will then transfer to the Edde Sands Beach Resort in the late afternoon. Overnight in hotel on a bed and breakfast basis.
DAY 6 - Thursday, 23 September 2010
After breakfast we will be collected at our hotel and visit Jeita Grotto, Santa Harissa and Byblos including lunch at a local restaurant. Overnight in hotel on a bed and breakfast basis.
DAY 7 - Friday, 24 September 2010
After breakfast we will be collected at our hotel and start the day by visiting Tripoli then go on to visit the Cedars of Lebanon and the Gebrane Khalil Gebrane Museum including lunch at a local restaurant. Overnight in hotel on a bed and breakfast basis.
DAY 8 - Saturday, 25 September 2010
After breakfast you will have the day at your leisure to enjoy the beach facilities. Overnight in hotel on a bed and breakfast basis.
DAY 9 - Sunday, 26 September 2010
After breakfast we will check out of our hotel and transfer to Damascus by Private vehicle. We will visit Hamidieh Bazaars, Omayad Mosque, St. John Baptist Tomb, Saladin Tomb, Azem Palace, Street called Straight St, Ananias House, St, Paul Window, General view of Damascus from Mt. Kassioun and the National Museum. Dinner and overnight in Damascus hotel.
DAY 10 - Monday, 27 September 2010
After breakfast we will drive to Seydnaya to visit Virgin Mary Convent, continue to Maaloula to visit St. Takla and St. Sarkis Convents, Crack des Chevaliers and Hama. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
DAY 11 - Tuesday, 28 September 2010
After breakfast we will visit Apamea and St. Simeon and proceed to Aleppo for dinner and overnight.
DAY 12 - Wednesday, 29 September 2010
After breakfast will visit the sites in Aleppo including the visit of the Citadel, Omayad Mosque, Museum and Souks. We will transfer to Palmyra for dinner and overnight.
DAY 13 - Thursday, 30 September 2010
After breakfast we will visit Palmyra including lunch before transferring to Damascus for overnight on a dinner bed and breakfast basis.
DAY 14 - Friday, 01 October 2010
After breakfast we will have the day at our leisure in Damascus. We will be collected at our hotel in the afternoon (late check-out not guaranteed) and transfer to the airport for our flight to Cairo. Depart Damascus on MS 722 at 17H05, arriving in Cairo at 17H55. On arrival in Cairo we will remain in transit until our flight departs to Johannesburg. Depart Cairo on flight MS 839 at 23H30. Please note this flight is wait-listed so we may have to fly home the night before and leave out a night in Lebanon.
DAY 15 - Saturday, 02 October 2010
Arrive in Johannesburg at 07H35.
THE ABOVE ITINERARY INCLUDES:
- Return economy class airfares on Egypt Air – routing Johannesburg/Cairo/Beirut/ - Damascus/Cairo/Johannesburg.
- All sightseeing and entrance fees, (except for optional tours).
- Airport departure taxes.
- $200 per person for general tipping during the tour.
THE ABOVE ITINERARY EXCLUDES:
- Visa application. Please note there is rather strict requirements to obtain both visas but most especially for Syria. Costs and requirements to be advised. If you have an Israeli stamp in your passport you will need to get a new passport.
- Medical and/or baggage insurance.
- Meals not mentioned in the above itinerary.
- Items of a personal nature such as, but not limited to, telephone calls, laundry and postage.
- Optional excursions and items not specified in the attached itinerary.
NB: Please note the standard of accommodation in Lebanon and Syria can vary considerably to the same star accommodation in South Africa. Therefore a 4 or 5 star hotel in Lebanon and Syria is not necessarily representative of a 4 or 5 star hotel in South Africa.
Nile Travel reserves the right to change the order of the itinerary, guide, hotels and cruise should the need arise. Nile Travel shall not be liable for any loss or harm, delay, damage or injury to property or person however caused. For a list of our full terms and conditions please visit www.nile.co.za.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
While we will strive to include all the sites mentioned in the above itinerary Nile Travel cannot be held responsible for any sites being closed at the time of visiting. The order of the above itinerary may also vary in order to accommodate the weather and energy levels of the group. Please ensure that you wear comfortable shoes and dress accordingly for the weather. If you have any strict dietary requirements or need to eat at regular intervals please ensure that you have enough food and drinks with you prior to departure each morning as we may not get back to the hotel exactly at lunch or dinner time every day.
TOUR PRICE
The above itinerary will cost in the region of R7 500 for international flights on Egypt Air ex Johannesburg. These airfares may increase/decrease and is subject to confirmation at the time of issuing. The tax fluctuates according to the fuel price and current rate of exchange.
The land arrangements in Lebanon and Syria will cost in the region US $3 500 per person sharing a double room. At the current exchange rate of around R7.50 to $1 the tour including flights would cost R33 750 per person sharing. The single supplement is $900 per person. This costs needs to be confirmed as we have added another night in Syria and two more sites so I have estimated an extra $200.
Please note the above price is quoted in South African Rands for the airfares and in US Dollars for the land arrangements due to the constant currency fluctuation. When final payment is due the amount will be calculated according to the buying rate of exchange.
The price is subject to the rand/dollar exchange rate and airline increases until full payment has been received. A non-refundable deposit of R3 000 secures your booking. The deposit will be refunded in full if Nile Travel cancels the tour for any reason. The balance owing will be due by 1 August 2010.