Middle East Tours (Australia) has organized this fully escorted, small group Tour to some of the most fascinating and least tourist spoilt places in the world. The quality tour is not rushed and there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the sights and the cultures.


The first destination we visit is IRAQ IKURDISTAN a place of beauty and ancient history, located in the northern part of Iraq. The itinerary includes the Region's capial Erbil, where we visit the Citadel, built on seven layers of civilisation, dating back 6,000 years. Our tour includes the old cities of Dohuk and the historical capital of Sulymaniya.

The next country on our agenda is the Hashimite Kingdom of JORDAN, a small country filled with history and culture. We stay at the Dead Sea where we can swim in the salty water or take time for a herbal mud bath. The highlight of any tour of Jordan is a visit to the 'Rose Red City of Petra' carved out of the sandstone hills by a local arab people called the Nabataeans. We have plenty of time to wander around and photograph the old city.


SYRIA has been occupied by Phoenecians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Muslims, Crusaders and more recently by the French. The capital of Syria, Damascus, is the oldest continuously occupied city in the world. Our tour itinerary takes us to the most historically important sites in the country. We visit the well preserved ruins of Palmyra, which was a city built in the desert at the edge of the Roman empire and to Bosra, with the best Roman theatre in existence. We walk through the incredible 800 years old Crusader fort called Crac des Chevaliers or Castle of the Knights. During our visit to the city of Aleppo we are escorted through the citadel and the amazing covered bazaar or souk. We have a brief visit to the mountain village of Malloula one of the last places in earth where the people still speak Aramaic, the ancient language of Christ. We have a special feature in this itinerary which involves a border crossing into LEBANON to visit Baalbeck in the beautiful Bekaa Valley. This area contains incredible temple ruins from the Roman period when the region was known as Heliopolis.


We have a brief stay in the bustling city of DUBAI where we can indulge in duty free shopping if we desire or just relax and enjoy an evening dinner dhow cruise on the 'Creek'.

Our EGYPT itinerary takes us to the Museum of Antiquities, the Library in Alexandria, the Pyramids, the Sphinx, the bustling Al Khalili bazaar in Cairo and visit the ancient wonders of the Pharaohs on our River Nile cruise.

This tour is for the tourist who enjoys travelling in small groups with time to explore and enjoy the places visited.


BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 1. Depart Sydney.
Day 2. Arrive in Amman, Jordan.
Day 3. Fly to Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan.
Day 4. Erbil, Ain Sifni, Lalish & Dohuk.
Day 5. Dohuk and Zakho.
Day 6. Dohuk, Amadiya, Barzan, Gali Ali Beg Canyon, Shaqlawa, Erbil.
Day 7. Erbil, Dukan, Sulymaniya.
Day 8. Sulymaniya, Ahmad Awa, Halabja.
Day 9. Drive Sulymania to Erbil.
Day 10. Fly to Amman. O/N Amman.
Day 11. Drive to Madaba, Mt Nebo and afternoon swim or mud bath at the Dead Sea. O/N Dead Sea.
Day 12. Travel the king's highway to El Kerak. Later travel to Petra. O/N Petra.
Day 13. Explore 'Rose Red City' of Petra. O/N Petra. Day 14. Explore the desert in Wadi Rum with 4WD vehicle. O/N Amman.
Day 15. Arrive in Damascus. City Tour. O/N Damascus.
Day 16. Visit Azem Palace, Omayyad Mosque & Old City Souk. O/N Palmyra.
Day 17. Explore the desert city of Palmyra. Afternoon tour of Hama. O/N Homs.
Day 18. Tour of Aphamea. Explore legendary Castle of Salah Al Din. O/N Aleppo.
Day 19. City tour of Aleppo including Caravanserai & Citidel. O/N Aleppo.
Day 20. Morning free. Afternoon visit to Basicilica of St. Simeons. O/N Lattakia.
Day 21. Tour of Ugarit. Walk throukh Crac Des Chevalier. Return to Damascus via Malloula. O/N Damascus.
Day 22. Day in Roman city of Bosra. O/N Damascus.
Day 23. Fly to Cairo, Egypt. O/N Cairo.
Day 24. See Great Pyramids & Sphinx. O/N Cairo.
Day 25. Visit the Egyptian Museum in Cairo Including the Mummy Room. See the Mohammed Ali Mosque, the Citadel and the famous Khan Al Khalli bazaar. O/N Cairo.
Day 26. Drive to Alexandria. See New Library, the Catacombs, Pompey's Pillar, Citadel and Fort. O/N Alexandria.
Day 27. Return to Cairo via Ismalia and see Suez Canal. O/N Cairo.
Day 28. Fly to Aswan. Join Luxury Cruise Boat. See High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk & Philae Temple. Later sail around the islands on a traditional felucca. O/N Cruise Boat.
Day 29. Depart for Kom Ombo. Visit Temple, sail to Edfu and visit Temple of Horus. Pass through Esna Lock. O/N Cruise Boat.
Day 30. Leave for Luxor. Explore Valley of the Kings including Tomb of Tutankhamun, Colossi of Memnon and Queen Hatshepsut's Temple. Later Temples of Luxor and Karnak. O/N Cruise Boat.
Day 31. Disembark and fly to Cairo. O/N Cairo.
Day 32. Transfer to Cairo airport for our international flight home.
Day 33. Arrive in Sydney.

CLICK HERE TO READ RECENT ARTICLE ON AACCI BUSINESS LUNCHEON WHERE TOURISM AND TRADE WAS DISCUSSED WITH VISITING DIGNITARY MR. HESHAM YOUSSEF, CHIEF OF STAFF AND ADVISOR TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ARAB LEAGUE, MR. GORDON SHORT, CHAIRMAN AND NATIONAL DIRECTOR AACCI, SANDRA VENESS, EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AACCI AND LAUREN O'NEIL FROM DFAT .