Petra & Palmyra

You should check out the Cave Bar at the entrance to Petra. It's a 2000 year old Nabataean tomb, transformed into a classy pub! This is an excellent place to wind down after a long day in Petra, sipping a beer, a cocktail or a sheesha. The place has daily live Bedouin music and also serves local style food.
Prices are high, especially by Jordanian standards, but even so it is worth it just for the experience!

Sharmil Goswami - Sales

It is great to go on a glass bottom boat ride when you are in Aqaba and the sea life is magnificent. You will have a chance to snorkel and see all the colourful fish for only 15JD!

Chloe Knott - Product Manager

Staff member Rebecca Caldicott travelled with Exodus to Jordan and you can read her article to get a personal viewpoint of the country and its highlights.

Sterling cash is best, and just change it locally when you arrive. You can arrange some local currency in advance but there is really no need and no advantage in doing so. ATMs are widely available as well, in case you need to top up towards the end of the trip!

Danuta Janik - Customer Operations

You can take your money in Sterling or US$. The risk of theft on this trip is quite small, so if you are a reasonably careful person, you may prefer to bring most or all of your money in cash.
The national currency of Syria is the Syrian Pounds (SYP), with an exchange rate of approx. 99.6 to the UK£ and 46 to the US$.

There are ATMs in Syria, and they can be found in the major towns and cities. Not all ATMs will take British/ European style cards, but your leader will be able to advise you.

Alessandra Van Dyk - Customer Operations

In terms of shopping, there's lots of small souvenirs you can buy in most towns on the itinerary, but most people on my trip ended up with shisha pipes!

Kai Aylward - Sales

Jordan is fairly relaxed compared to other Middle Eastern countries and in the main tourist areas such as Petra there are no real clothing restrictions (within reason!). In the smaller villages it is advised for women particularly to be more conservative in their clothing.

Chloe Knott - Product Manager

Middle Eastern food is delicious and you're in for a treat! Kebabs and grilled meat are ubiquitous and plentiful. Local salads are fantastically fresh, with lots of flavour. Fresh bread is provided with most meals, along with lots of nut/bean based dips and humous. Drinking water, in the form of cheap bottled water, is on sale everywhere. Enjoy!

Kai Aylward - Sales

Please visit the Exodus Travel Guide to Jordan where you can find out what plugs they use, as well as more detailed Country information in the menu on the left of the page.

Please note that the holy month of Ramadan will take place from the 20th of July to the 18th of August 2012 (dates can shift slightly). This is a time when followers of Islam do not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. This can sometimes affect the opening hours of certain tourist sites. However we will ensure that that the itinerary is affected as little as possible if you travel during this period. Food and drink is available to tourists during the day.

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

If you are on the group flights, and the group is 5 or more, then it is obtained free of charge. When the group arrive in Amman, a local representative will meet you before immigration and take you though the process. The tour leader will then meet you on the other side, once you are through. If you are not on the group flights, and are a British passport holder, it is still quite straightforward. The cost is approx 10JD (Jordanian Dinar).

Alessandra Van Dyk - Customer Operations

You are visiting a predominantly Muslim country, therefore you should dress modestly at all times when visiting cultural sites, and there may also be times when you are asked to 'cover up'. During your trip the tour leader will always advise you on appropriate dress for each day's activities. 

If you are asked to 'cover up', you'll need to cover your shoulders, arms and legs. We recommend packing lightweight trousers or a long skirt, and a long sleeved shirt. Women may also be required to cover their hair with a scarf if entering a mosque or religious quarters.

Jim Eite - Product Manager

There is so many things you could bring back from Syria. You can take back home the scents and flavours of Middle East - some coffee freshly ground for you with cardamom pods or various essential oils sold in all the souqs. With a bit of luck and careful packing you will be able to fly back home with a narghile (a water pipe) and still have it in one piece on arrival. You can bring back half a suitcase of absolutely delicious baklava sold by kilograms (well, usually rather by grams).
Relatively cheap are beautifully decorated silk scarves. A keffiyeh (a traditional Arab headdress) makes for a great present. How much - it depends on your haggling skills!

Karol Rogacki - Customer Operations

Please visit the Exodus Travel Guide to Syria where you can find out what plugs they use, as well as more detailed Country information in the menu on the left of the page.

Highly recommended is the Beit Jabri restaurant in the old town of Damascus. You will probably starve to death trying to find it yourself in the maze of the old town so please ask your leader for directions. It's in the heart of the old town, a couple of minutes from the Umayyad Mosque. Beautifully decorated inside, with a fountain in the middle of the restaurant, orange trees inside and a bread oven on the top floor, it is a feast for more than just one sense.
To finish the day in a good way, walk back to the west wall of the Umayyad Mosque and with a bit of luck you will find a street vendor with his bicycle selling coffee. He's got a box with a small stove fixed on the bike's rack and serves amazing sweet cardamom coffee. If he's not there there are some great cafes on the opposite side of the mosque - it's a perfect place for a 'glass' of tea and people-watching.

Karol Rogacki - Customer Operations

In general, the more northerly countries of the Middle East are a little cooler than further south. It is hot and dry in the summer season in most of Syria's regions and daytime maximums can be as much as 37- 38°C. In winter (November - late January) it is generally crisp and mild in the day (12-18°C) but can approach freezing and below at night. It is liable to rain a little more and can even snow. Please note that days are also shorter at this time and the itinerary might have to be slightly curtailed in places.
Spring and autumn are popular seasons in the Middle East as it is warm - around 24°C in the day and down to 8-10°C at night.

Alessandra Van Dyk - Middle East Operations

If you have a British passport and are travelling with the group from London, the visa for Syria will be obtained at the airport. The visa is obtained on a group basis and is provided free of charge - please note that this is only if the group size is or exceeds 8 people on group flights. Those on the group flight (group visa) will need to take 2 photocopies of their passport details page in order to get the visa. Please note that due to a change in regulation by BMI, you will not be able to board the plane without a letter guaranteeing your group visa. Exodus will send this letter to you 2-3 week before your trip. If you are unsure of any of the above, contact us for clarification. If you don't have a British passport, contact your nearest embassy.

You will not be able to enter Syria if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport.

Alessandra Van Dyk - Customer Operations

The king of kings of local cuisine - delicious shawarma (sorry vegetarians and those in the quest for gourmet food!). You can find it pretty much everywhere. Waiting a minute and watching it being prepared gives you a good opportunity to talk to Syrians standing next to you and waiting for exactly the same as you.
Great and refreshing lemon and mint drink sometimes called 'polo' (most restaurants/cafes) or a coffee with cardamom from a street vendor. All simple food - well, life is sometimes just good and simple!

Karol Rogacki - Customer Operations

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!