DAYS 1-12: TURKEY
We leave Istanbul on the first day of the trip. We recommend you arrive at least a couple of days earlier to see all the sights of this impressive city. You’ll find most of these in the Sultanahmet area. The Blue Mosque, Aya Sofya, Topkapi Palace, Roman underground cisterns, old marble Turkish baths and the Grand Bazaar are the main sights.
The Gallipoli Peninsula is the site of the futile World War I invasion and of hundreds of war graves of the ANZAC soldiers. We tour the area, visiting Anzac Cove, Chunuk Bair, front lines and trenches and the memorials to the Australian, New Zealand and Turkish soldiers that fought and died during the eight month campaign.
From Eceabat we take the ferry across the Dardenelles from European to Asian Turkey and drive south to Selcuk.
Troy is best known from the legend of Helen of Troy, the face that launched a thousand ships, and the ruins discovered by experts following the writings of the one of the oldest written epics ‘Jason and the Golden Fleece' by Appollonius of Rhodes. The site leaves more to the imagination than to the eye and is best known by its legends; of the use of the Trojan Horse to invade the town by the Greeks after a stand off in the siege of the town.
Also the story of Achilles, one of the mythical hero’s of the Trojan War, who was mortally wounded by a shot in the heel with an arrow fired by Paris. His heel was the only vulnerable point in his body after he was made invulnerable by being immersed in the river Styx as a baby by his mother, except for the heel she held him by.
Next stop is Ephesus, the largest and best preserved classical ruins on the Mediterranean. Once the capital of Roman Asia, most of the ruins are from this period including the impressive Library and Theatre. In Selcuk is the Artemision, a huge pillar and the last remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Heading inland we visit Pamukkale where for hundreds of years, the flow of mineralised water over limestone has created brilliant white terraces with spa pools. This is also the site of the Roman town, Hierapolis, with scattered tombs and a 48-tier theatre.
In summer we stop at the beaches of the Mediterranean. We hire a boat to take us to sandy beaches, caves and Butterfly Valley. Further along the coast is Olympos, with overgrown Lycian ruins line the way to the beach. On Mount Olympos are the eternal flames of the Chimaera. The ancient Greeks thought it was a fire-breathing beast beneath the ground and although the flames don’t burn quite as fiercely nowadays, they are still a curious phenomena we see in the night.
Driving through wooded mountains we arrive in Cappadocia. This geologically unique region is an area of cave dwellings, fairy chimneys and underground cities. The soft rock of Cappadocia was first carved into caves and lived in 6000 years ago and still inhabited until recent times. Wind and rain erosion formed the chimney shaped pillars of rock thousands of years ago.
We visit Kaymakli one of the underground cities built by the Christians, between the 6th and 10th centuries, to avoid persecution by the Muslims. Communities of up to 5000 people lived here in an area covering four square kilometres and reaching 70 metres below the ground. As well as touring the area in the truck, you can also hire motorbikes, horses or ballooning or spend your spare time shopping for hand made carpets and pottery. We can enjoy a "relaxing" Turkish bath and then a traditional Turkiish dance and food evening.
Stage highlights:
Istanbul, Gallipoli Peninsula, Troy, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Cappadocoa,
Stage duration:12 Days
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DAYS 13 - 15: SYRIA & LEBANON
Leaving Cappadocia and Turkey we enter Syria and the market city of Aleppo. It has a huge bazaar and the fortified citadel looks out over the sprawling town.
From the crowds of Aleppo we reach the Crac des Chevaliers. A huge Crusader castle, it was home to over 4000 soldiers and knights during the 12th century, who repelled several attacks from the Muslims before being defeated 129 years later. Built on a hilltop for strategic reasons, the views stretch out over Syria and the Lebanese Mountains.
A day trip can take you to the small country of Lebanon and it’s capital Beirut are widely known for the war during 70s and 80s but there is much more to this beautiful country as we discover during our time here. The country has become very peaceful and is thriving.
Our first stop in Lebanon is Baalbek with its incredible Roman temples.
Beirut was once the most glamorous spot on the Mediterranean, the haunt of the rich and famous. It is now slowly being restored to its former glory and alongside the sobering sight of bombed derelicts, stand attractive new buildings. You’ll also find pubs, casinos, Lebanese pastry shops, cafés and friendly locals.
Returning to Syria we visit Damascus, the oldest inhabited city in the world. It’s a bustling place with a labyrinthine souk where you can buy anything from fresh juice and hot corn to carved furniture, swords and shisha smoking pipes. The Ommayad Mosque is a haven from the busy market, tranquil and cool with soft carpets underfoot. Inside is the head of John the Baptist, his arm is back in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.
Stage highlights:
Aleppo, Beirut,
Stage duration:3 Days
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DAYS 16 - 19: JORDAN
We drive straight to the Dead Sea. It’s 400 metres below sea level and some people have very intense dreams due to the high content of oxygen in the air at this depth. The water is warm (it can be very cold, too) and salty so you can only float and there’s lots of sticky, slippery mud, which is apparently very good for the skin.
Continuing south we arrive in the village of Wadi Moussa from where we explore the ancient capital of the Nabataeans, Petra. The city grew rich from the trading caravans that passed through between the 6th and 2nd centuries BC and magnificent buildings were carved into the rock.
The most famous of these is the Treasury, the first building encountered after passing through the narrow corridor between the cliffs, the Siq.
The Treasury is also renowned for being the film location for the final scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Eventually Petra fell to the Romans but was uninhabited for centuries until “re-discovered” only 180 years ago. The impressive facades of the rock-hewn temples, homes and tombs are still intact. You can trek up the cliffs to see the huge Monastery and the High Place of Sacrifice.
Taking a break from man-made structures, we venture into the desert to Wadi Rum from where you can hire jeeps to take you for a bumpy ride, driving around the cliffs that tower up from the sand.
At Lawrence of Arabia’s World War II base, drink mint tea with the locals and sleep out under the stars. Our final stop in Jordan is the port of Aqaba from where you can see Egypt, Israel and Saudia Arabia’s shores on the Red Sea.
Stage highlights:
Dead Sea, Petra, Aqaba,
Stage duration:4 Days
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DAYS 20 -35: EGYPT
We take the ferry to Nuweiba in Egypt on the Sinai peninsular and head south to Dahab. We stop here for about 3 days. The Red Sea has some of the best diving in the world with clear blue water and abundant coral and sea life. There’s also plenty to do if you’re not interested in diving - camel safaris, jeep safaris, snorkelling or many people are happy just to relax in a beachside café for milkshakes and pancakes. If you are already a diver you can go on guided dives.
Heading inland, we can take an optional tour to Mount Sinai where Moses is believed to have received the Ten Commandments. You can walk up and spend the night on the summit under a sky of shooting stars, waking up to the sun rising over the mountains. Below the mountain you can visit the monastery of Saint Catherine’s, with its relics and charnel house.
We follow one of the dry riverbeds west to the coast and leave the Sinai and cross the Suez Canal by tunnel. The Suez is still one of the great shipping lanes of the world with constant convoys of ocean going ships following the narrow waterway through the desert.
Driving along the coast, we pass through Hurgada and turn inland. As we near the Nile, the land becomes fertile and green and we pass farmers working in the fields using irrigation methods dating back to the times of the Pharaohs - the Archimedes Screw and water wheels powered by oxen.
We arrive in Luxor on the banks of the Nile. This stretch of the Nile with its tombs, monolithic statues and over a dozen Pharaonic temple complexes makes this area one immense museum. This is the site of Thebes, the capital of ancient Egypt during the Middle and New Kingdoms and some of the most impressive sights in the country are to be seen here.
On the East Bank is the incredible Karnak Temple, its construction spanning 50 acres and 3 centuries built during the reign of several Pharaohs. The temple complex includes statues of Ramses II and his wife, the massive pillars of the hypostyle hall, Queen Hatshepsut’s obelisk and the temple of Mut, to name a few. It's most spectacular to see lit up in the evening during the sound and light show In the town is the Luxor Temple built by the Pharaohs, Amenhotep III and later Tutankhamon.
On the West Bank is the famous Valley of the Kings, resting place for many of the Pharaohs. We cross the river by boat and meet our transport for the day, a group of sturdy donkeys and together, with our guide, we trot through the valley to the entrance of the tombs. Amongst the numerous funeral tombs in the valley the most well known is Tutankhamon’s - its centuries old hieroglyphic covered walls, being protected from the sun’s rays, the original colours of the hieroglyphics can still be seen and the boy king's gold funeral casket is still in its original position.
On the other side of the cliffs is the spectacular Temple of Queen Hatshepsut with reliefs of expeditions to Somalia and a temple dedicated to Hathor, the cow goddess. Standing guard on either side of the road are the Colossi of Memnon, two huge statues of Amenhotep III.
We drive south to Aswan, the southernmost town in Egypt. There are plenty more temples and monuments to be seen here as well as the Aswan Dam, the biggest rock fill dam in the world. It was believed to be impossible to build, but when it was finished it saved the whole of Egypt from historical yearly flooding. Many prefer to relax in the floating restaurants on the Nile or shop for souvenirs in market stalls that line the winding streets.
You can take a side trip to the Abu Simbel monumental temples, built by Ramses II. These temples really are awe-inspiring, not only due to their size, detailed reliefs, statues, hieroglyphics and its site in the middle of the Sahara, but also as the whole monument was moved from beside the Nile by a massive UN mounted operation when it was flooded to create Lake Nasser.
From Aswan, we take an overnight trip down the Nile on a felucca. This is a great chance to sit back, relax and do nothing while your felucca captain guides the boat from bank to bank down river while the crew cook all sorts of traditional food. We pull up to the shoreline in the evening and sleep on deck, setting sail again at sunrise. We meet up with the truck again at Kom Ombo and drive back to Luxor via Edfu where we visit the massive temple of Horus. We cross the Western Desert with its oases and hot springs, taking a long sweep into the Sahara. It only rains here every 25 years.
In Cairo we finish the trip arriving in the morning. We check into our hotel. Most of us spend the next two days staying on in Cairo, visiting the Pyramids and the Sphinx, and staying on through the day to see the sound and light show in the evening.
Also in Cairo near the hotel is the Egyptian Museum with all the treasures of Tutankhamen and dozens of other ancient exhibits. The Khan el Khalili Bazaar is the best spot in town to buy souvenirs in a very traditional old city market. Mohamed Ali Mosque in the old citadel fortress is one of the least known, beautiful mosques in the Middle East. Outside the fortress is the ‘City of the Dead’ a massive cemetery where the poor of the town have made suburbia.
Its best to leave at least two full days to get a good look at Cairo, there are lots of little mentioned places to get to see.
Stage highlights:
Dahab, Mount Sinai, Nile, Horus, Cairo
Stage duration:15 Days
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Cost includes:-
The tour cost includes transport in fully equipped expedition truck, road taxes and tolls, ferries, services of the driver-leader, use of camping and cooking equipment, and entrance to gameparks as specified.
Cost Excludes:-
The price does not include flights, visas, personal insurance, side trips, lunches and meals out. There are a number of optional side trips that you can choose from and pay for on the way.
Departure dates:-
24/04/2004, 28/05/2004, 05/07/2004, 09/08/2004, 13/09/2004, 21/10/2004, 24/04/2005
Baggage Limits:-
One backpack and one daypack
Age Limits:-
Minimum Age:- 16 Maximum Age:- 45
Passenger Limit:-
20
What to bring along:-
A full list of items will be issued on receipt and confirmation of your reservation. We suggest you travel light. Please pack warm clothes for the winter months of June to September. Further items should include a torch, water bottle, spare film and camera batteries, binoculars, suntan lotion, comfortable walking shoes and any prescription medication.
Price:-
The cost of the 35 Days Middle East Trail is GBP 475.00
Local Payment:-
US$ 265.00
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