This tour has it all! It has a fascinating subject in the shape of Thomas Edward Lawrence - a 26 year-old Oxford archaeologist, sent to Arabia in late 1916, where he became a liaison officer to Prince Feisal, coupled with a seemingly un-ending series of dramatic and exotic locations.

This tour is enjoyed in the company of one of the leading experts in the subject, who, over the course of a fascinating 9 days, will not only follow the fortunes of Lawrence of Arabia, but also introduce us to the desert, the dramatic Wadi Rum, recently excavated and discovered haunts, the Hejaz Railway, the incomparable rock hewn city of Petra, the Dead Sea and the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Crusader Castle at Kerak. History, architecture & archaeology - all in one tour - a truly exciting cultural experience! If that is not enough, why not extend your tour to visit magnificent Roman ruins at Jerash, stand where Jesus was baptised and enjoy Moses' first view of the Promised Land?

Initially dismissed by critics as a sideshow, the Arab Revolt was one of the most successful campaigns of the First World War. Conceived and plotted by the Arab Bureau, a branch of British Military Intelligence, from their rooms in Cairo’s Savoy Hotel, Lawrence and his colleagues brought the idea of a Bedouin uprising to life. Between 1916 and 1918, the Arab Revolt wrought havoc and destruction upon Ottoman-Turkish forces, from the deserts of Arabia to the gates of Damascus. Subsequently called “the first modern intelligence war,” the Arab Revolt is the perfect example of what we might today call asymmetric warfare. Using guerrilla tactics and superior knowledge of geography and tribal alliances, the irregular Bedouin forces, supported by Lawrence, secured numerous dramatic victories – keeping tens of thousands of enemy troops tied down in static garrison duties trying to defend their supply line - until their eventual, triumphant entry into Damascus.

Day 1 - Depart

Fly London to Amman and check in to our hotel for three nights.

Day 2 - Amman

A full day exploring Jordan’s capital including its Roman Theatre, Odeon, citadel and the Jordan Museum with its examples of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Day 3 - Azraq and the Hejaz Railway

Visit Amman’s Hejaz Railway station and museum, home to hundred-year-old idle steam locomotives, carriages and rolling stock. Thence to Azrak and its castle utilised by Lawrence as his operations base for much of the Arab revolt. En-route visit the desert castles of Qasr al-Kharaneh and Quseir ‘Amra.

Day 4 - Kerak

Visit the dominating Crusader castle at Kerak which most impressed Lawrence the architecture undergraduate prior to WW1. Thence to Abu al-Lissan where Lawrence participated in a cavalry charge of 450 horses and camels. Continue to Aqaba for one night.

Day 5 - Aqaba and Wadi Rum

Subject to access, visit the archaeological and Arab Revolt museums in Aqaba and explore the battle site, also known as Aqaba Castle. Then on to Wadi Rum, the multi-coloured gorge from where Lawrence and the Arab troops operated throughout 1917 and from where they launched their attack on Aqaba. The wadi was widely used by David Lean for the epic 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia, with sites including Lawrence Springs and Lawrence House. Spend the night in our luxury tented camp (with full facilities) and enjoy the desert sunset.

Day 6 - The Railway War

Travel through the desert in 4x4s following the guerrilla route from Wadi Rum to the Hijaz Railway and visit many recently discovered and excavated sites such as Lawrence’s camp at Tooth Hill, the Ottoman forts and stations at Batn al-Ghoul, Tell Shahm and Wadi Retme and the track-bed of the railway itself. Re-join the coach and travel to Petra for two nights.

Day 7 - Petra

A full day to explore the wonders of Petra, the incomparable capital of the Nabatean Empire, known throughout the ancient world for the wonders of its architecture and innovative means of moving water across the city. Lawrence visited Petra before and during the war and was captivated by the beauty of the rock-hewn Treasury, the Royal Tombs, Qsar al-Binty and the Temple of the Winged Lion.

Day 8 - Little Petra and the Dead Sea

Visit the lesser known Nabataean site at Siq al-Barid with its buildings carved in to sandstone canyon walls. Thence to our final hotel set beside the banks of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, where you might choose to reflect upon a wonderful holiday as you float on the Sea’s famous healing waters.

Day 9 - Depart

Fly Amman to London

2 Day Extension (with local guide)

Day 9 - Jesus and Moses

Drive to the banks of the River Jordan to Bethany, the baptism site of Jesus Christ. Visit Elijah’s Hill, the hermit caves, baptismal pools and the spot where Jesus was baptised. Thence to Mount Nebo, the supposed burial site of Moses and from where he first glimpsed the ‘promised land’. Weather permitting, enjoy that same view over the Jordan Valley and modern-day Israel. At St George’s Church in Madaba examine the 6th century mosaic, believed to be the oldest map of the Holy Land. Continue to Amman for two nights.

Day 10 - Jerash

Explore the magnificently situated Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman sites in the world. Its wealth of remains include almost complete city walls, an aqueduct, the temples of Zeus and Artemis, a hippodrome, an oval Forum, a long colonnaded street, two theatres, communal baths and much more.

Day 11 - Depart

Fly Amman to London