BEST OF SYRIA

7 Nights - 8 Days Land Only

TOUR ITINERARY:

Day 01
Damascus - Bosra
Arrive at Damascus Airport to be met & assisted by your assigned guide. Transfer to Bosra for overnight.

Day 02
Bosra - Damascus - Palmyra
After breakfast, you will be escorted through the monuments of Bosra (the theater which is the best among its type in the world, the Lantern Gate, the Nabatean Gate, the Wind Gate, Al-Omari mosque, St. Serj & Bacchus Cathedral are to be visited) Head to Chahba, which was built as a replica of Rome. Qanawat is to be visited before arriving in Damascus for lunch. Departure for Palmyra via the famous Syrian semi-desert. Dinner and overnight.

Day 03
Palmyra - Hama - Aleppo
After breakfast visit the spectacular ruins of Palmyra, the archaeological museum, the tombs, the temple of God Bel, the arch of triumph & the colonnaded Street Lunch in a local restaurant. Hama and the archaeological site of Ebla are to be visited before proceeding to Aleppo for dinner and overnight.

Day 04
Aleppo - St.Simeon - Aleppo
After breakfast, tour the highlights of Aleppo (the Citadel of Aleppo, the Archaeological Museum, the Grand Mosque and the Souk). After lunch, drive to the countryside of Aleppo to visit St. Simeon monastery. Back to Aleppo for dinner and overnight.

Day 05
Aleppo - Lattakia - Safita
After breakfast, head west across the coastal mountains to visit the medieval castle of Saladin. Lunch in a Mediterranean restaurant in the city of Lattakia. After lunch, visit Ugarit, the 2nd millennium site found by the Phoenicians. Head to Tartous to visit the Crusaders’ Cathedral then to Safita Village for overnight.

Day 06
Safita - Crac Des Chevaliers - Ma’aloula - Damascus
After breakfast visit the white Crusade tower of Safita. Drive to Crac des Chevaliers to see the best Crusader Castle in the world. Lunch is in the King’s daughter’s tower. Afternoon visit to Ma’loula. Arrive Damascus for dinner and overnight.

Day 07
Damascus
After breakfast, walk on “The street Called Straight” of Damascus. See the Folklore Museum and the fine collection in the National Museum of Damascus. Hear the story of the Conversion. After lunch drive to the top of the Qasioun mountain before returning to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 08
Departure
Transfer to airport for departure.

SYRIA IN DEPTH
9 Nights - 10 Days Land Only

TOUR ITINERARY:

Day 01
Damascus
Arrive at Damascus airport. Meet and transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 02
Damascus
After breakfast, drive to the National Museum of Damascus, then head to the old quarter to visit the Folklore Museum, which is a typical 17th century Damascene house. We visit the Omayyad Mosque, and the tomb of the hero of Islam, Saladin. After lunch in a local restaurant, continue on to a street called straight, St. Paul’s window & St. Ananias Chapel. Take in a view of Damascus from 350 meters above the city level. Back to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 03
Damascus - Palmyra
After breakfast, depart for Palmyra, one of the greatest trading posts on the antique Silk Road. Visit the museum, the temple of God Bel, the monumental arch, the viarecta, the agora, and the tower tombs. After lunch visit Ibn Maan castle to watch the sunset. To the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 04
Palmyra - Dura - Europass - Mari - Deir - Ezzor
After breakfast, head east to the Euphrates basin to visit the ruins of Dura-Europos, a historical town built by Seleucus Nicator. We continue the visit to the archaeological site of Mari, where a great kingdom flourished in the third millenium BC. Over to Deir-Ezzor for dinner and overnight.

Day 05
Deir - Ezzor - Halabia - Resafa - Aleppo
After breakfast, head upstream to visit Halabia, a fort built by the Palmyreans to look after their affairs in the east. Visit Resafa, a 5th century Chrisitian holy town. You will also visit the Islamic Jabar, castle & Al-Assad dam on the Euphrates. Follow the sunset to Aleppo for dinner and overnight.

Day 06
Aleppo
After breakfast see Aleppo, including the archaeological museum, the citadel of Aleppo, and the Grand mosque. After lunch, visit the bazaars and the caravanseraies of Aleppo. Back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 07
Aleppo - St. Simeon - Ebla - Apamea - Hama
After breakfast, a morning visit to St. Simeon’s Cathedral. After lunch in Aleppo, drive south through the fertile country side to visit Ebla. Visit Apamea, the main street, Antony & Queen Cleopatra once strolled on this street. Visit the cathedral, the palace and the mosaic museum. Arrive in Hama for dinner and overnight.

Day 08
Hama - Homs - Crac Des Chevaliers - Damascus
After breakfast, depart to Homs. Visit Khaled Ibn Al-Walid Mosque. Khaled is an Islamic leader, who conquered Syria in the 7th century AD. Visit the church of Um-Alzunar. Continue on to visit the castle in Crac des Chevaliers. Visit Ma’aloula, the picturesque village on Qalamoun mountain. Arrive Damascus for dinner and overnight.

Day 09
Damascus - Shahba - Sweida - Bosra - Damascus
After breakfast head south to visit the Basaltic hills and view the great monuments of Sweida, Shahba & Bosra whose enormous edifices built of basaltic stones revel a glorious past. Return to Damascus for dinner and overnight.

Day 10
Departure
Transfer to airport for departure.