Visit the two most spectacular ancient cities in the Middle East

Two of the most beautiful and diverse countries in the Middle East, Syria and Jordan have much to offer. This two week tour will explore the highlights of both countries, starting in historic Damascus; the oldest continually inhabited city in the world and ending in Amman, famed for its enchanting mixture of old and new. En route we will visit the ancient city of Aleppo; the impregnable Crusader castle at Krak des Chevaliers; the immense ruins of Palmyra and Jerash; and possibly the highlight, the magical city of Petra. Here we will have two full days, allowing us enough time to explore this truly magnificent ancient city. But it's not just history that we go to see. We also camp amongst the amazing landscape of Wadi Rum, float in the salty waters of the Dead Sea and wander through the atmospheric souks of Damascus. Journalist, Kevin Rushby of The Guardian, writes about Syria's mysterious Dead Cities (January 2010).