A continuation of the Thomas Cook tour itineraries of 1897.
SEVENTH ITINERARY.
The Beaten Track of a Thirty Days’ Tour in Palestine.
This Itinerary is described in the programmes of our Personally
Conducted Tours. In the late autumn we prefer to travel from north
to south, thus going with the season. In the spring the contrary way
is preferable, as the way of the Lebanon and Mount Hermon is frequently snowed up in the early part of the year. Twelve days are shown in the Fifth Itinerary to Jenin, and from that point we travel on the
Thirteenth Day—To Nazareth, crossing the Plain of Esdraelon by
Jezreel, Gideon’s Fountain, Shunem, leaving to the right Nain, Endor Cave, Mount Tabor, etc., and going by Shunem, across the plain to the foot of the Galilean Hills to Nazareth. Moderate riders
accomplish the journey from Jenin to Nazareth in seven to eight
hours. Again we advise the spending of Sunday at this place of
sacred memories.
Fourteenth Day.—At Nazareth.
Fifteenth Day.—The journey from Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee,
by Kenna, or Cana, occupies about six hours in the saddle, or more
if the camp is stationed at the head of the lake. If possible, two days
should be appropriated to this locality, so rich is it in historical reminiscences, in addition to its pleasant natural attractions.
Sixteenth Day.—Two ways present themselves from the head of the
lake—the site of the ancient Capernaum—to Banias (Caesarea Philippi). The way by the Waters of Merom occupies two days, and that by Safed and Naphtali takes three days. The latter is the most interesting, and is free from the swamp and damp of the lower road. The choice of these two ways is generally left to the travellers, who may be guided by the state of the weather and the time at their disposal. Assuming that the high road is preferred, three days will be occupied between the Sea of Galilee and Banias, and to that section of the Itinerary we allot the Seventeenth, Eighteenth, and Nineteenth Days of travel, arriving at Banias on the Nineteenth Day.
Twentieth Day.—Starting from Banias there is a pretty sharp rise
up the slopes of Hermon until an elevation of about five thousand feet from the sea-level is reached. It is a rough way at best, and in stormy weather the most disagreeable part of the journey often blocked with snow. Eight hours of uninterrupted travel bring the riders to Kefr Hawar, a camping-ground still too elevated and exposed to the rude blasts from Hermon to be very agreeable. It is always pleasant to get safely on the way to the great plain on which Damascus is located, and the Twenty-first Day is generally a pleasant ride of about six hours to Damascus, where a Sunday and about a couple more days are required to get a good view of the peculiarities of the city.
Twenty.sixth, Twenty-seventh, and Twenty-eighth Days are spent
in traversing the heights and depth of the Anti-Lebanon, following for a day or more the course of the Barada (the Abana of Scripture), which is crossed and recrossed at several points. The ride altogether is very fine in good weather, and the day’s work not very heavy. We generally get into Baalbec a little after mid-day on the third day out from Damascus, and a long afternoon and evening and pleasant early morning are consumed amid the ruins of the famed group of demolished temple, which still present features of great artistic beauty and strength.
Twenty-ninth Day.—A comparatively easy ride of about eight hours
down the fertile valley of the Lebanon brings the traveller to a convenient camping-ground, adjacent to the diligence road from Beyrout to Damascus. It is interesting to deviate a little from the beaten track, and pass through the Christian village of Zahleh, where the good effects of Christian education are seen in the marked decorum of an apparently thriving population.
Thirtieth Day.—The journey to Beyrout is continued over an
excellent coach road rising to an elevation of five thousand feet and
then descending by winding slopes, with magnificent scenery on either hand, to the best built and most prosperous city in Syria. At Beyrout the Itinerary terminates. The journey from Damascus to Beyrout may be made by railway, breaking the journey at Maalaka to visit Baalbec. From Beyrout the usual course is to take steamer along the coast to Cyprus, Rhodes, Smyrna, and Constantinople; from thence to the Piraeus for Athens, thence, via Patras and Corfu to Italy and Austria. But of the routes to and from Palestine, see Cook’s latest Palestine Programme.
Nazareth Virgins Well
EIGHTH ITINERARY.
Combining all that is included in the Seventh, with the
addition of the Coast Route by Sidon, Tyre and
Carmel, to Jaffa.
Forty days are requ’red to do justice to this extended tour, which
should commence at Beyrout, and be taken in the following routine
to Jaffa, from which point the whole of the Seventh Itinerary may be taken as given above.
First Day.—Start with the camp from Beyrout, cross a sandy plain
and get to the coast as soon as practicable, continuing near to the seato Sidon. Seven to eight hours will be required for this section.
Second Day.—Pass the little village, or “city of Sarepta,” as
described of old, to Tyre, and stop there a night. Eight hours in
the saddle.
Third Day.—Descend to the Valley of the Kishon, halting for a
night at Acre. A day’s ride of about nine hours.
Fourth Day.—Pursue the course from Acre to the foot of Mount
Carmel and encamp there. It will be interesting to visit the monastery,and get the commanding view which its position affords of the “great sea” and the Carmel range, which are full of interesting
Scripture memories.
Fifth Day.—Leaving the camp at Caîfa, an excursion of eight hours
may be made to the place of Elijah’s Sacrifice at the eastern end of
Carmel, the view embracing the Plain of Esdraelon.
Sixth and Seventh Days should suffice for the journey by the coast,
past Caesarea, the seat of Roman power and magnificence, and the
scene of various events and incidents recorded in the Acts of the
Apostles. There is not much left to indicate the magnificence of the
Palace that existed there, but the village has been re-peopled by
emigrants from Herzegovina. As indicated above, having arrived at Jaffa, the route already described may be taken just as it stands in the Seventh Itinerary, or deviations may be made at discretion. Either way, by Kirjath-Jearim or Bethoron, may be taken to Jerusalem, or it would be practicable to go southward to Philistia, reversing one or other of the Itineraries already given, round by Gaza or Gath to Hebron, and thence to Jerusalem.
In forty days this might be accomplished.
The foregoing eight Itineraries cover the chief districts of interest
west of the Jordan and in the Lebanon. We now propose to cross the
Jordan, and show a couple of practical routes to the Land of Moab,
and one in the Hauran to the east of Damascus
Travellers at Damascus Gate, Jerusalem, c. 1890s
TWELFTH ITINERARY.
Tour to the Great Desert and Palestine.
We conclude the series of Itineraries by indicating the general
route from Egypt to Sinai, Petra, Mount Hor, and Palestine.
Forty days are required for the journey from Cairo to Sinai, Petra,
and by Mount Hor to Hebron and Jerusalem. One of our parties
through the Desert was headed by Dr. Strong, of Drew Seminary, and consisted of ten or eleven energetic and enthusiastic explorers. The party had with them a photographer, who took home a fine collection of photographs, which were exhibited in the Photographic Hall of the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia. An extensive map has also been prepared by two gentlemen of the party, and other educational results of their great tours may be anticipated. Without attempting to define the course of these and other travellers for whom we have had the honour to arrange, we may say here briefly that we can take engagements and supply all necessary camp equipments for tours through the Desert; and in every engagement of this kind we will employ none but the most trustworthy dragomans, who will do justice to the travellers
as well as to ourselves. A graduated scale of charges according to the number of party is adopted, and we can take engagements for Desert travelling nearly as cheap as for Palestine. But the details and conditions of such tours are best settled by private negotiation, and we are ready to go into them as soon as required
View of Jaffa from The Sea with Fishermen, c. 1905
MODEL ROUTES AND TIMES FOR 44 DAYS
TOUR IN PALESTINE.
FIRST DAY.—At Jaffa.
SECOND DAY.—Travel to Jerusalem as already described.
THIRD DAY.—The delicate and weary can enjoy themselves in the
Holy City. Those who wish can ride or proceed by carriage to Hebron, the most ancient city in Palestine, situated in and on both sides of the Valley of Eshcol; here Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob are entombed, in the Cave of Machpelah. A small extra charge is made for this excursion.
FOURTH DAY.—Ride to Bethlehem, and camp at Mar-Saba.
FIFTH DAY.—Ride on to Jericho.
SIXTH DAY.—At Jericho.
SEVENTH DAY.—Ride to Jerusalem.
EIGHTH DAY. To be spent in and around the City of the Great
King, having three clear days for sightseeing.
NINTH DAY. To be spent in and around the City of the Great
King, having three clear days for sightseeing.
TENTH DAY. To be spent in and around the City of the Great
King, having three clear days for sightseeing.
ELEVENTH DAY. Travel to Nablous.
TWELFTH DAY. Travel to Nablous.
THIRTEENTH DAY.—At Nablous, where the party can walk to
Joseph’s Tomb and Jacob’s Well.
FOURTEENTH DAY.—Make a very interesting excursion to Tirzah
(Solomon’s Song vi. 4), the Fountain of Faria, the site of Aenon
(John iii. 23), and back to Nablous.
FIFTEENTH DAY.—Leave Nablous; ride down a fertile and well-cultivated valley to Samaria; ride round the plateau on which Ahab’s ivory palace stood; pass through the remains of a colonnade which has stood since the time of Herod. It will be interesting to read, on the Hill of Samaria, 1 Kings xvi. 24; 2 Kings vi. 23-33, also Micah i. 6. Ride over hills and fertile valleys to Dothan (2 Kings vi. 13-19 and Genesis xxxvii. 13-30). It is two and a half hours’ ride from Dothan to Jenin (Engannim), where the tents will be pitched to the northeast of the village, on the Plain of Esdraelon, which is surrounded by mountains—on the south, the Hills of Samaria; west, Mount Carmel; north-west, the Hills of Galilee; and north-east, the mountains of Gilboa (2 Samuel 1. 21-27).
SIXTEENTH DAY.—Travel as far as Endor, and cross the plain to
the tents, either at the foot or on the top of Mount Tabor, from which there is a splendid view; on the north the Mount of Beatitudes, the head of the Lake of Galilee and Mount Hermon, east of which are the Hills of Bashan; on the east, the Jordan Valley and Mountains of Gilead; on the south, Endor, Nain, Little Hermon, the Mountains of Gilboa and the Plains of Esdraelon; on the west, Nazareth, Mount Carmel, and the Mediterranean Sea. On the top of Mount Tabor are some very fine ruins.
SEVENTEENTH DAY.—Ride over to Nazareth in two hours; see all the places of interest, and lunch there; then follow the route by Cana of Galilee to Lubieh, where the tents will be fixed for the night.
EIGHTEENTH DAY.—Ride down to Sea of Galilee, via Horn-Hattin; camp at Capernaum, and remain on and around the Lake until Saturday noon.
NINETEENTH DAY.—After lunch ascend the Mountains of Naphtali to Safed (“A city on a hill cannot be hid”—Matt. v. 14), where the tents are pitched for the night.
TWENTIETH DAY.—To be spent at Safed.
TWENTY-FIRST DAY.—Have a very interesting ride along over the
top of the mountains to Kedesh Naphtali (Joshua xii. 22; xx. 7); take
lunch, and have a look over the ruins, which are scattered over a great deal of ground. Afterwards ride over hill and dale for two and three-quarter hours to the tents of Hunin, the traditional site of Beth-Rehob (Judges xviii. 28).
TWENTY-SECOND DAY.—Descend the mountain, cross the plain
to Dan, and up to Banias for lunch. After lunch ride up to the old
castle and back again to Banias, where the tents will be fixed for the
night.
TWENTY-THIRD DAY.—Ride round the west side of Hermon to
Hasbiyah (distance, seven hours) via Rashiyet-el-Fukhar (place where stone jars are manufactured), and the ruined temple at a village called Hibbariyeh; then up over a high hill by a steep and rough road, descend through the town to the tents, pitched near the upper source of the Jordan, a mile from the town.
TWENTY-FOURTH DAY.—Ride through very wild and picturesque
valleys to Rasheiya, prettily situated on a spur of Hermon; distance,
about six and a-half hours from Hashbiyah. (A very interesting excursion to the highest peak of Mount Hermon; it is a hard climb, and should only be attempted by such as can stand great fatigue. The view from the top is beyond description. The Arabs say that the whole world can be seen from the top of Hermon. The highest point is 10,000 feet above the sea level; it takes four and a-half hours to ascend from Rasheiya, and three hours to return. Some people recommend camping on the top. We most certainly do not, and think anyone who attempts to drive loaded mules up Mount Hermon ought to be punished for cruelty to animals. Those who make this excursion can proceed via Deir-el-Eshayir, continuing to Damascus on the Sunday or Monday, or arrangements may be made for the journey from Rasheiya to Damascus to be made in one day, Saturday, by telegraphing for a carriage to be sent from Damascus to Maysiloun to convey the passengers to Damascus (in 4 hours). (This will involve the extra cost of carriages.)
TWENTY-FIFTH DAY.—Ride about six and a-half hours to Khan,
Myl-el-Saloan, and camp by the side of the carriage road. On the route visit the ruins of three temples—first, Aiha; second, Rukhleh, a very fine ruin imprisoned among the mountains; and the third, Deir-el-Ashayir, by the side of a plain about one hour’s distance from the tents.
TWENTY-SIXTH DAY.—Ride into Damascus on the carriage road,
about four hours.
TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY. To be spent in and around the grand
old city of Damascus, which can be done with much pleasure.
TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY. To be spent in and around the grand
old city of Damascus, which can be done with much pleasure.
TWENTY-NINTH DAY. To be spent in and around the grand
old city of Damascus, which can be done with much pleasure.
THIRTIETH DAY. To be spent in and around the grand
old city of Damascus, which can be done with much pleasure.
THIRTY-FIRST DAY. Travel from Damascus to Baalbec.
THIRTY-SECOND DAY. Travel from Damascus to Baalbec.
THIRTY-THIRD DAY. Travel from Damascus to Baalbec.
THIRTY-FOURTH DAY.—To be spent among the ruins of Baalbec.
THIRTY-FIFTH DAY.—Cross the plain, pass near a lone column,
which stands about sixty feet high, commence the ascent of Mount
Lebanon at Deir-el-Ahmar, and in five hours from Baalbec reach the
tents pitched at a fountain of very nice water, called Ain-Ata.
THIRTY-SIXTH DAY.—Ascend to the top of Lebanon, and (if not
too cold) ride up to its highest point, about 11,000 feet above the sea level, then descend to the Cedars and halt there for lunch, after which, ride for two and a-half hours over a very rough and stony country, but wild scenery, to the tents pitched at Hasron, a very prosperous and healthy village surrounded with mulberry trees, which are cultivated for silkworms.
THIRTY-SEVENTH DAY.—Ride along on the west side of Lebanon,
six and a-half hours to Akurah. The way is rough, but very pleasant.
THIRTY-EIGHTH DAY.—Make an early start in order to visit the
Iron Fountain, the great fountain at Afko (source of the river Adonis), near which is a ruined Temple of Venus; pass the Honey Fountain, cross a stream by a natural stone bridge (well worth a visit), the stream flows from a spring called the Milk Fountain; ride over to a ruin called Kulat-Fukra, descend into a deep valley, cross a rapid stream, and ascend a steep hill to the tents pitched at a place called Megraah.
THIRTY-NINTH DAY.—Visit the renowned caves of Dog River,
then ride down to its mouth, where the tents will be pitched for the
night.
FORTIETH DAY.—Visit some inscriptions by the side of the old
road, and ride into Beyrout in time for lunch, completing the horseback riding.
FORTY-FIRST AND FORTY-SECOND DAYS.—To be spent at Beyrout.
FORTY-THIRD DAY.—Leave Beyrout for Smyrna.
All communications to be addressed to
THOMAS COOK & SON,
Chief Office, Ludgate Circus, London.
Source http://scholarship.rice.edu/jsp/xml/1911/9284/1/CooEg1897.tei-timea.html#index-div1-N1FD7E
Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem, late 1890s
