Grand Tour of Arabia and Africa
Embark on an African Safari Adventure
then tour Dubai and Jordan a la Indiana Jones
All in an 18-Day Near East and African Adventure
This
is truly an experience for those who have been dreaming to see the Near
East, Arabia and Africa . For those who can afford and enjoy the ultimate
African Safari and Middle East Tours . This combination of the Near
East , Arabia and the Safari Adventure is a diverse itinerary offering
an array of Arabia's & Kenya's finest travel experiences.
From
the luxurious Stanley in Nairobi, travel on safari to the Aberdare Mountains
and spend an evening of all night game viewing at the world famous tree
hotel - The Ark. Thereafter, experience luxury tented accommodations
at Sweetwaters Tented Camp on the privately owned Ol Pejeta Ranch. These
luxury tents with ensuite facilities have showers with plenty of hot
water and modern flush toilets. Explore the flamingo-lined shores of
Lake Nakuru from the unique Lion Hill Lodge. Finally, safari to the
grand spectacle of East Africa -- the Masai Mara Game Reserve. The Sarova
Mara Tented Camp is our base camp to venture out onto the rolling Savannah
plains teeming with large populations of Africa's finest game. Join
us on and experience Jordan's Petra , Dubai , and Kenya the way it was
meant to be .
Remember because there is limited space on the safari vehicle,
ONE medium sized bag (soft luggage preferred) is allowed on the safari
vehicle per person, plus your carry on.
DAY
1 -
AMMAN
- Tuesday - Weekly Year Round
In Amman . Our local rep will assist with your visa : Complimentary
Jordanian visa fee (valid only for American , Australian , Canadian,
EU , NZ , Singaporean & Japanese citizens. Passports must be valid and
in order . sample hotels : Sheraton. Hyatt. Kempinski Hotel Amman or
similar .
Prefer to add air
fare from USA and a stay on the Dead Sea ? please click here .
DAY
2 - AMMAN
- Jerash - Wednesday (BLD)
After breakfast, starts a city tour of Amman, the capital of the Hashimite
Kingdom. Often referred to as the “White City” because of
the white stone used to build houses, Amman offers a contrast between
oriental and cosmopolitan. The tour will take you to the museums, the
Citadel, the amphitheater, the souks and the modern part of town. The
tour will also include a stop at: “Wild Jordan Café
Wild Jordan is the vision of the Royal Society for the Conservation
of Nature (RSCN), a non-governmental organization devoted to the care
and protection of Jordan's natural heritage. The Society was created
in 1966 under the patronage of His Majesty, the late King Hussein. Its
work is focused on the establishment of protected areas (nature reserves),
enforcement of wildlife protection laws. Construction of the Wild Jordan
Center was financed by USAID Jordan. It’s located in the heart
of old Amman overlooking the Temple of Hercules... the Café served
all nature and organic foods and drinks... Two whole floors are devoted
to the unique crafts and gifts made by the people living around Jordan's
nature reserves, like Dana and Mujib. All the crafts are inspired by
nature and use natural materials. Here is their web site for more info
http://www.rscn.org.jo/NatureCenterWhat.asp?ID=ctr2_3
In
the afternoon, the group will proceed to the North of Amman for a 45
minute drive to the best preserved example of Roman civilization, the
city of Jerash. Jerash, part of the Decapolis (the ten big Roman cities
of the East) has been called the Pompeii of the East for its unique
state of preservation. The city features theaters, churches, temples
(Zeus and Artemis), a Nymphaeum and colonnaded streets. Lunch will be
served at Jerash Rest house. In the late afternoon, the group will return
back to Amman where they will have dinner at Kan Zaman Restaurant. The
walled village of Kan Zaman is an old Ottoman settlement, located minutes
from city center. It was transformed into a replica of an Jordanian
village, affording its clientele the experience of the of life in such
a village. The handicraft center sells only products, made on-site in
various little studios where one watch craftsmen practice their trade.
The Main Restaurant at the offers a variety of home-made Arabic food
and at least 16 salads and appetizers. After dinner, head back to Amman
for overnight in Amman.
DAY
3 - PETRA - Thursday (BLD)
Depart Amman to Petra via the Kings’ Road. En route, visit the
mosaic city of Madaba, where the oldest map of the Holy Land exists
on the floor of Saint George’s Church. Madaba, or Medeba in antiquity,
features many famous mosaics that exist in public and private buildings.
After Madaba, a short drive will bring you to Mt. Nebo, the alleged
burial site of Moses overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea.
Here Franciscans have built a structure that protects a 4th and 6th
Century Byzantine church. After visiting this site, continue on via
the scenic canyons of Wadi Mujib (Arnon’s Valley in the Bible)
to the Crusader castle at Kerak. This 12th Century hill top fortress
features galleries, towers, chapels and ramparts that recall the gallantry
of the Crusaders themselves. Then on to Petra for the check in at your
Hotel in Petra for dinner and overnight. Lunch is included enroute
DAY
4 - PETRA - Friday (BD)
We'll
spend the entire day at Petra, the stunning desert city hewn by the
Nabateans from solid cliffs of pink and violet sandstone. Petra was
known in the bible as Sela, and rediscovered only in 1812. You'll feel
like Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark as you penetrate into
the city through a narrow sandstone gorge, the Siq, and wander among
the Temple of the Winged Lion, tombs, Roman theater, and the imposing
Treasury.
Petra
has a lot to tell. The visit starts at the visitor’s center, where
each person is assigned a Bedouin guided horse for the journey to the
entrance of the lost city. After passing some tombs which are located
outside the city, the visitor passes through the SIQ, an immense crack
in the Nubian sandstone. It is a winding, one-kilometer-long fissure
between overhanging cliffs that seem to meet more than 300 feet overhead.
Near the end of the passage, the SIQ, with great style, makes one last
turn and out of the gloom in towering brightness appears Petra’s
most impressive monument, el Khazneh - The Treasury. This is one of
the most elegant remains of antiquity, carved out of the solid rock
from the side of the mountain, is nearly 140 feet high and 90 feet wide.
Beyond el Khazneh the visitor is surrounded on both sides by hundreds
of Petra’s carved and built structures, soaring temples, elaborate
royal tombs, a carved Roman theater, large and small houses, burial
chambers and much more. The Victorian traveler and poet, Dean Burgon,
gave Petra a description which holds to this day - “Match me such
a marvel save in Eastern clime, a rose-red city half as old as time.”
After that, the group will return to the hotel to get prepared for a
Moonlight dinner served at a Bedouin camp. This evening we have a fantastic
traditional dinner under the stars in a Bedouin camp, at a site that
dates back more than 2,000 years.
DAY
5 - WADI RUM and AMMAN -Saturday (BD)
We board four-wheel-drive vehicles for an expedition to Wadi Rum, the
"Valley of the Moon" where T. E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia") organized
Arab resistance to Ottoman rule during World War I. After our visit,
we return to Amman. Dinner is included at the hotel
DAY 6 - Amman / DUBAI -Sunday (BD)
We'll meet at your hotel in Amman and escort you to the Airport
for your flight to Dubai .Air fare is included in our rate in economy
class with tax : Amman / Dubai .
Arrive at Dubai International
Airport at the United Arab Emirate on the Arabian Gulf. ( Click here
to read more on Arabia' s early
history).
Complimentary visa will be issued upon arrival for the following nationalities;
UK,
EU , Switzerland, Sweden, USA, Canada , Australia, NZ, Japan, Singapore,
Malaysia, Brunei. You are responsible for having a valid passport .
Upon arrival , our local rep will meet you and escort you to your hotel.
Complimentary welcome dinner at the hotel
A taste of Arabia with a cosmopolitan lifestyle. In Dubai you'll find
year
round sunshine, un-crowded, clean sandy beaches. In this crime-free
society you 'll find a very warm & welcoming team & society
awaits you in Dubai. While shopping may not be high on your list, yet
Dubai’s tax free markets means bargains galore. Attractive traditional
Middle Eastern gifts - coffee pots, rugs, silverware, jewelry, brass,
and one of the world’s greatest gold trading centers offering unbeatable
value. Hong Kong is no longer able to compete with Dubai with the wide
selection of low - priced international brand name products - audio
equipment, VCRs, cameras, watches, fashions, perfumes and more , do
not forget : the award-winning Dubai Duty Free at the airport.
DAY
7 - DUBAI - Monday
(BD)
Half Day Dubai City Tour :
Sample the historic sites and vibrant cosmopolitan life of Dubai on this comprehensive
tour. The Tour begins in Jumeira, the picturesque palace and residential
area of Dubai, also home to the famous Jumeira Mosque. The next stop
is Sheikh Saeed House (former residence of ruling family). The Tour
then continues to Al Bastakiya, the old part of Dubai, to reach the
museum located in Al Fahidi Fort. All guests board the Abra (water taxi)
to cross the Creek to the spice souk . Before savoring the sights and
sounds of the fish, fruit and vegetable market, there is time to shop
in the most famous landmark of Dubai – the Gold souk.
Evening Dhow Cruise Dinner:
For a fabulous relaxing evening join our fully fitted Arabian dhow for an evening’s
cruise on the Creek. Enjoy a sumptuous feast of Arabic and Western cuisine
while gently gliding past illuminated souks, banks and palaces.
DAY
8 - Desert Safari with dinner in the Arabian Desert - DUBAI
- Tuesday (BD)
Half
Day Desert Safari (4 Wheel Drive ):
Morning
at leisure , enjoy beach activities. This tour departs in the afternoon
across the desert of Dubai with several photo-stops during an exciting
dune drive to the first destination a camel farm. The drive continues
across the desert.
We stop to watch the beautiful sunset before reaching our campsite where
you have the opportunity to do camel riding. After
working up an appetite enjoy a delicious barbecue dinner and a shisha
(the most famous Arabic Water pipe). We conclude the evening with
a true 1001 Arabian Nights tradition and With a belly dancer performing
her dance around the campfire before we head back to your hotel in Dubai
or Sharja.
DAY
9 - DUBAI - East
Coast Tour-
Wednesday (BL)
After
breakfast , we head for Dhaid and then on to the Hajar mountains that
offer a beautiful natural backdrop for Dubai . A stop at a local market
, where the local shop for locally made pottery, fruits and carpets
. WE stop as well in Dibba and a brief stop at the colorful local fish
market , always with the fresh catch from the Arabian Gulf., we drive
along the coast passing by most enchanting small villages and fishermen
wharfs , we arrive at Al Badiyah mosque, one of the earliest mosques
built in the UAE, continue on to Khor Fakkan, a regional popular spot
for diving and snorkeling, where there will be an opportunity to relax
at the beach and have a refreshing swim., stop as well as the Khor Fakkah
souk. Continue to Fujairah where we stop at the renovated Fort. Before
returning to Dubai, stop at the oasis of Bitnah and time to wander on
the “Friday Market” in Masafi. Lunch is included enroute
in a charming local restaurant .
DAY
10 - DUBAI - Full day
at Leisure on the Beach or Shopping Spree - Thursday (B)
Full day on your own, maybe to explore the souks & Bazaars,
or just relax on the beach.
DAY
11 - DUBAI - Nairobi
-
Friday (B)
After breakfast, we fly to Nairobi , air fare is included in economy
class, air ticket issued & delivered in Dubai. Arrival in Nairobi.
Our tour manager will meet and transfer us to the elegant New Stanley
Hotel, located in the heart of the city center. The remainder of the
day is at leisure for shopping, relaxation or optional city tours. This
evening, our safari briefing. New Stanley Hotel or similar
DAY
12 , Saturday- ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK
Safari life begins as we head towards the highlands. After lunch at
the Aberdare Country Club, we'll head deep into the Aberdare Mountains
to The Ark which is situated in a fairyland forest. Stay up all night
if you wish game viewing from the observation decks or underground bunker.
Situated beside a floodlit water hole and natural salt lick, a constant
parade of wildlife will visit throughout the night. There is absolutely
no limit to the number of animals we'll see. Birds and bushbuck are
joined by elephant, buffalo, rhino, hyena, forest hog or leopard. The
Ark (B,L,D)
DAY
13 , Sunday- OL PEJETA RANCH
After breakfast we're off to the Ol Pejeta Ranch - an 110,000 acre private
ranch which encompasses a rich terrain of plains, low hills and forest.
Each of our luxury tents has a private verandah and overlooks a floodlit
water hole. Many different species can be seen here, including the reticulated
giraffe, buffalo, elephant, zebra, leopard, and oryx. Schedule optional
visits to the chimpanzee sanctuary, camel rides or nature walks. This
evening holds a special treat -- a night game drive to search for the
elusive leopard and other night animals. Sweet waters Tented Camp (B,L,D)
DAY
14 , Monday / LAKE NAKURU PARK
Today, we travel through serene farmlands to Thompson's Falls and then
on to Lake Nakuru. This is one of the world's most important bird sanctuaries.
Lake Nakuru is a shallow alkaline lake and boasts enormous flocks of
pastel flamingos, as well as other bird species. Lake Nakuru National
Park is a lush green park and home to many species including reedbuck,
bushbuck, wart hog, leopard, and the rare Rothschild giraffe. It has
also been designated a rhino sanctuary. Lion Hill Lodge (B,L,D)
DAY
15 , Tuesday / MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE
After breakfast, we drive to the Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya's most
spectacular wildlife sanctuary. This is big game country and our home
for the next two nights. The Masai Mara has been long-famed as one of
Africa's greatest concentrations of game. Staggering numbers of plains
game are found here, which in turn support a tremendous predator population.
During our afternoon game run, we have opportunities to see herds of
impala, giraffe, elephant, topi, buffalo, wart hog, as well as lion,
cheetah, and leopard. Mara Sarova Tented Camp (B,L,D)
DAY
16 , Wednesday / MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE
Our schedule today includes pre-breakfast and late afternoon game drives.
We shall travel across the rolling Savannah's to rendezvous with the
Mara residents: herds of buffalo, wildebeest, hartebeest, impala, and
gazelle. Near the riverain woodland, large numbers of giraffe and elephants
are to be seen. Hippo and crocodile can be found in the rivers. Boasting
Kenya's largest predator population, this reserve is renown for lion
prides up to 20 strong. Mara Sarova Tented Camp (B,L,D)
DAY
17 , Thursday /NAIROBI- Wednesday
After breakfast, we shall return via the Great Rift Valley to Nairobi
and transfer to our welcoming hotel. The balance of the afternoon is
free to pursue our own interests. New Stanley Hotel (B)
DAY
18 : Friday / DEPARTURE (B)
It's Kwaheri from Africa (a Swahili good-bye) as we transfer to the
airport, end of our service. Bon Voyage . Indiana
Jones himself couldn't squeeze more adventure into this journey
Rates
per person in USD
|
|
Deluxe |
| Triple |
US$
8690.00 |
| Double |
US$
8790.00 |
| Single |
US$
11,700.00 |
For
Dec 15 - Jan 3 arrivals : Please add %10 to any of the above listed
rates
Sample
Deluxe Hotels:
|
Amman |
Sheraton Al-Nabil Hotel, Hyatt Amman or similar |
Upgrade
in Dubai |
| Dubai
|
Hilton
Dubai JUmeirah , Sheraton Jumeirah , Le Meridien Mina Seyahi , JW
Marriott or similar |
For
The Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah
Royal Mirage - The Arabian Court Hotel:
Please add : $ 650 Per person in double
|
| Petra |
Movenpick
Petra Hotel , Marriott Petra Hotel , or similar |
For
Burj Al Arab Hotel :
Please add $3555 per person in double SUITE
Including Rolls-Royce
round-trip airport transfers in Dubai |
Rate
includes:
- All
transfers are provided on a private basis, private air-conditioned
vehicle, private chauffeur.
- Air
fare in economy class : Dubai Amman Nairobi , tax included
- Air-conditioned
hotel accommodations with tax and service charges
- Sightseeing
with professional guide and entrance fees as indicated
- Meals
as indicated, with preset menu (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
- UAE
( United Arab Emirates) & Jordanian visa fee (valid only for American
, EU & Japanese citizens ( As well some other nationalities , please
check with us). Passports must be valid for at least 6 month upon
arrival).
- Jordanian
departure tax.
- Safari
Camp accommodation in Kenya as per itinerary, tax included
- Safari
transportation with guaranteed window seating,
game viewing, park and entry fees
- Membership
in the Flying Doctors Society while you are in Kenya
Not
included:
More
choices :
|
