The Hedjaz Railway - Jordan and Syria
Friday 19th September to Tuesday 30th September 2008
The Hedjaz Railway was originally built to transport pilgrims from Damascus to Medina. The railway was severely damaged during the First World War, largely by Lawrence of Arabia. Luckily for us several parts have been kept in running order so the romance of the railway remains alive for our tour. We travel on all the available sections on our privately chartered trains, steam hauled throughout. The trip features many different steam locomotives and includes visits to many fascinating places. The Red City of Petra, Aqaba, Wadi Rum, the ruined Roman city of Jerash and the ancient cities of Amman and Damascus all lie in wait for us. Much of our route is in desert but we also visit the Dead Sea and the mountainous area of southern Syria.
Friday 19th September
Fly to Amman
Our flight leaves London Heathrow late morning to fly to Amman in Jordan. On arrival, we transfer to the Crown Plaza in time for a light supper. (D)
Saturday 20th September
Steam to Quatrana
We leave the hotel for Amman station where our first locomotive, a British built Stephenson Hawthorn 2-8-2 no. 23, will take us south into the desert to Quatrana. This section is not open to regular traffic and we will have opportunities to capture some rare pictures. The long climb out of Amman is fascinating as we pass through its suburbs. At Quatrana we have lunch in the nearby Sultani Resthouse after which we continue along the Desert Highway to Aqaba. We stay at the Radisson SAS Hotel, a five star hotel newly built on the beach front. (B L D)
Sunday 21st September
Aqaba to Wadi Rum
Our steam hauled train awaits us in Aqaba.
The coaches have been refurbished and we will be hauled by a large Japanese Pacific. We climb through the desert on a line used by modern freights. There will be opportunities to take more desert pictures. On arrival in Wadi Rum we have lunch in a restaurant before setting out on a jeep safari into the desert scenery. Wadi Rum is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock.
It is the largest wadi in Jordan. After our visit we transfer by coach to Petra and check into the five star Crown Plaza Hotel for two nights. (B L D)
Monday 22nd September
Guided Tour of Petra
Although much has been written about Petra, nothing really prepares a visitor for this amazing place. It has to be seen to be believed. Known as the ‘city of rock’, it was carved out of the local multi-coloured sandstone over two thousand years ago and its imposing facades and tombs are a testament to the one-time wealth of the Nabateans. The most famous buildings are the Treasury and the Great Temple, worth visiting as it contains exquisite art and architecture from this period. This palatial building displays elephant heads, frescos, and elegantly carved pilasters that demonstrate the bringing together of many cultures. During our guided tour we have lunch at the Basin Restaurant. (B L D)
Tuesday 23rd September
Dead Sea Resort
Our coach will take us from Petra to the Dead Sea where we can bathe and reap the benefits of the mineral-rich promoting natural health and beauty benefits that are acclaimed around the world. Changing facilities and towels are provided by a local hotel. The Dead Sea has great significance biblically, archaeologically, historically and geographically. It is the lowest water surface on earth at 1,373 feet below sea level. After lunch at the resort we return to Amman and the Crown Plaza. (B L D)
Wednesday 24th September
Train to Syria
We join our train hauled by a Japanese Pacific no. 82 at Amman station for a northbound run along the Hedjaz railway to Dera’a in Syria. A steam hauled border crossing is a rare event anywhere in the world today. The city of Dera’a dates back to the Canaanites and was mentioned in the time of Pharaoh Thutmose III between 1490 and 1436 BC. We visit the locomotive depot at Dera’a where an ancient 2-6-0T no. 61 will be specially steamed for us to shunt in the station yard. A Hartmann 2-8-2 no. 263 will work into Dera’a with a freight train from Damascus. Another Hartmann 2-8-0 no. 91 hauling Syrian rolling stock will then take us down the little used branch line to Bosra where we check into the five star Cham Palace Hotel for two nights. (B L D)
Thursday 25th September
The Ancient City of Bosra or Steam to Dera’a
Today we can choose to join a sightseeing tour of Bosra or have no. 91 take us back to Dera’a where there will be photo opportunities. Bosra is famous for its magnificent fifteen thousand seat Roman amphitheatre, later converted into a fortress by the Ayyubids. Other things to see include the Western Gate, the Roman Baths, the Mosque of Omar, the Cathedral of Bosra, the Mameluke baths, a Nabatean arch and the basilica known as the Church of Bahira. Those choosing to take the sightseeing tour will return to Dera’a by private coach. Lunch is at the Al Sharak restaurant in Dera’a. In the afternoon, we join our train hauled by no. 263 to the scenic Yarmuk Gorge area beyond Mezerib to Zeizoum. The journey is fantastic as we pass through tunnels and across viaducts whilst heading deep into the gorge. Here the locomotive runs round the train for the return journey back to Dera’a where our coach will take us back to Bosra. (B L D)
Friday 26th September
Yarmuk Gorge and Damascus
We return to Dera’a station to join our special train hauled by no. 160 for a second run down the spectacular gorge to Zeizoum, or choose to stay in Dera’a for the morning. We have lunch at the Al Sharak restaurant in Dera’a. Afterwards we leave hauled by 2-6-2 no. 262 and travel along the main line towards Damascus. We stay at the five star Cham Palace Hotel, Damascus for two nights. (B L D)
Saturday 27th September
Cadem Works and Fijeh
Today we visit the Cadem works in Damascus, a treasure chest of old steam locomotive carriages and machinery. Following our visit, we go to Hameh station to join our special train hauled by Swiss Loco Company 2-6-0T no. 755, a train of old four-wheel coaches for our journey to Fijeh. Here we have lunch at a restaurant with a small river flowing through it. We return to Damascus by coach for a guided tour of the city, which includes the chapel commemorating the lowering of St Paul in a basket to escape his persecutors. For enthusiasts there is the option to return to Damascus by our steam train. (B L D)
Sunday 28th September
Ruined City of Jerash
We travel to Cadem station where a Mallet Tank no. 962 will be waiting to haul our train along the Hedjaz main line to Dera’a. This is a fascinating line that includes a mixture of street running in Damascus and desert scenery. After lunch, we join a coach to visit the ruined Roman city of Jerash. We can imagine being back in the 2nd century AD as we walk around one of the best-preserved provincial Roman cities anywhere in the world. The city has ruins from Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic periods, showing that it existed for over a thousand years. We stay back at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Amman for two nights. (B L D)
Monday 29th September
Steam to Qasir
Our coach will take us to the Royal Automobile Museum to view its impressive collection. From here, we go to Mahatta station where Haine St Pierre 2-8-2 no. 71 will haul our train southbound to Qasir station. There will be photo stops on this highly scenic line. On arrival, a coach will take us to St Georges Church. This will be followed by lunch and a visit to Mount Nebo before we return to Amman. (B L D)
Tuesday 30th September
Return to the UK
Our flight departs early afternoon for London Heathrow giving an early evening arrival. (B)
Fly to Amman
Our flight leaves London Heathrow late morning to fly to Amman in Jordan. On arrival, we transfer to the Crown Plaza in time for a light supper. (D)
Saturday 20th September
Steam to Quatrana
We leave the hotel for Amman station where our first locomotive, a British built Stephenson Hawthorn 2-8-2 no. 23, will take us south into the desert to Quatrana. This section is not open to regular traffic and we will have opportunities to capture some rare pictures. The long climb out of Amman is fascinating as we pass through its suburbs. At Quatrana we have lunch in the nearby Sultani Resthouse after which we continue along the Desert Highway to Aqaba. We stay at the Radisson SAS Hotel, a five star hotel newly built on the beach front. (B L D)
Sunday 21st September
Aqaba to Wadi Rum
Our steam hauled train awaits us in Aqaba.
The coaches have been refurbished and we will be hauled by a large Japanese Pacific. We climb through the desert on a line used by modern freights. There will be opportunities to take more desert pictures. On arrival in Wadi Rum we have lunch in a restaurant before setting out on a jeep safari into the desert scenery. Wadi Rum is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock.
It is the largest wadi in Jordan. After our visit we transfer by coach to Petra and check into the five star Crown Plaza Hotel for two nights. (B L D)
Monday 22nd September
Guided Tour of Petra
Although much has been written about Petra, nothing really prepares a visitor for this amazing place. It has to be seen to be believed. Known as the ‘city of rock’, it was carved out of the local multi-coloured sandstone over two thousand years ago and its imposing facades and tombs are a testament to the one-time wealth of the Nabateans. The most famous buildings are the Treasury and the Great Temple, worth visiting as it contains exquisite art and architecture from this period. This palatial building displays elephant heads, frescos, and elegantly carved pilasters that demonstrate the bringing together of many cultures. During our guided tour we have lunch at the Basin Restaurant. (B L D)
Tuesday 23rd September
Dead Sea Resort
Our coach will take us from Petra to the Dead Sea where we can bathe and reap the benefits of the mineral-rich promoting natural health and beauty benefits that are acclaimed around the world. Changing facilities and towels are provided by a local hotel. The Dead Sea has great significance biblically, archaeologically, historically and geographically. It is the lowest water surface on earth at 1,373 feet below sea level. After lunch at the resort we return to Amman and the Crown Plaza. (B L D)
Wednesday 24th September
Train to Syria
We join our train hauled by a Japanese Pacific no. 82 at Amman station for a northbound run along the Hedjaz railway to Dera’a in Syria. A steam hauled border crossing is a rare event anywhere in the world today. The city of Dera’a dates back to the Canaanites and was mentioned in the time of Pharaoh Thutmose III between 1490 and 1436 BC. We visit the locomotive depot at Dera’a where an ancient 2-6-0T no. 61 will be specially steamed for us to shunt in the station yard. A Hartmann 2-8-2 no. 263 will work into Dera’a with a freight train from Damascus. Another Hartmann 2-8-0 no. 91 hauling Syrian rolling stock will then take us down the little used branch line to Bosra where we check into the five star Cham Palace Hotel for two nights. (B L D)
Thursday 25th September
The Ancient City of Bosra or Steam to Dera’a
Today we can choose to join a sightseeing tour of Bosra or have no. 91 take us back to Dera’a where there will be photo opportunities. Bosra is famous for its magnificent fifteen thousand seat Roman amphitheatre, later converted into a fortress by the Ayyubids. Other things to see include the Western Gate, the Roman Baths, the Mosque of Omar, the Cathedral of Bosra, the Mameluke baths, a Nabatean arch and the basilica known as the Church of Bahira. Those choosing to take the sightseeing tour will return to Dera’a by private coach. Lunch is at the Al Sharak restaurant in Dera’a. In the afternoon, we join our train hauled by no. 263 to the scenic Yarmuk Gorge area beyond Mezerib to Zeizoum. The journey is fantastic as we pass through tunnels and across viaducts whilst heading deep into the gorge. Here the locomotive runs round the train for the return journey back to Dera’a where our coach will take us back to Bosra. (B L D)
Friday 26th September
Yarmuk Gorge and Damascus
We return to Dera’a station to join our special train hauled by no. 160 for a second run down the spectacular gorge to Zeizoum, or choose to stay in Dera’a for the morning. We have lunch at the Al Sharak restaurant in Dera’a. Afterwards we leave hauled by 2-6-2 no. 262 and travel along the main line towards Damascus. We stay at the five star Cham Palace Hotel, Damascus for two nights. (B L D)
Saturday 27th September
Cadem Works and Fijeh
Today we visit the Cadem works in Damascus, a treasure chest of old steam locomotive carriages and machinery. Following our visit, we go to Hameh station to join our special train hauled by Swiss Loco Company 2-6-0T no. 755, a train of old four-wheel coaches for our journey to Fijeh. Here we have lunch at a restaurant with a small river flowing through it. We return to Damascus by coach for a guided tour of the city, which includes the chapel commemorating the lowering of St Paul in a basket to escape his persecutors. For enthusiasts there is the option to return to Damascus by our steam train. (B L D)
Sunday 28th September
Ruined City of Jerash
We travel to Cadem station where a Mallet Tank no. 962 will be waiting to haul our train along the Hedjaz main line to Dera’a. This is a fascinating line that includes a mixture of street running in Damascus and desert scenery. After lunch, we join a coach to visit the ruined Roman city of Jerash. We can imagine being back in the 2nd century AD as we walk around one of the best-preserved provincial Roman cities anywhere in the world. The city has ruins from Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic periods, showing that it existed for over a thousand years. We stay back at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Amman for two nights. (B L D)
Monday 29th September
Steam to Qasir
Our coach will take us to the Royal Automobile Museum to view its impressive collection. From here, we go to Mahatta station where Haine St Pierre 2-8-2 no. 71 will haul our train southbound to Qasir station. There will be photo stops on this highly scenic line. On arrival, a coach will take us to St Georges Church. This will be followed by lunch and a visit to Mount Nebo before we return to Amman. (B L D)
Tuesday 30th September
Return to the UK
Our flight departs early afternoon for London Heathrow giving an early evening arrival. (B)
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Price
| Price per person | £2075 |
| Single supplement | £249 |
Price includes:
- Flights London to Amman and return
- 11 nights hotel accommodation in luxury hotels, with breakfast and dinner
- Lunch included each day, but on three days we will have a picnic lunch
- All rail and coach journeys as described
- The services of a tour manager
Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner