Sensational Syria
10 Nights ~ From £2280 per person based on shared accommodation.London • Damascus • Palmyra • Krak Des Chevalier • Aleppo • Damascus • LondonDay 1. London to Damascus Fly from London Heathrow on a British Midland flight. Meet and assist on arrival with transfer by a chauffeur-driven air-conditioned Vehicle to your hotel. Check in at your Hotel for a 3-night stay. Day 2. Damascus Fully guided to of Damascus with a guide with entry to the National Museum, the Ummayad Mosque and the Azem Palace and a chance to explore the markets of the old town. Day 3. Damascus Head south to see the Roman City of BOSRA, the ancient Nabatean Kingdom, with its magnificent amphitheatres built from the unique black rock of the area. Bosra's Arab citadel largely built in the 13th Century to defend the Ayyubids from the crusaders. Making our way through the massive outer walls, climbing huge boulder steps and you will eventually emerge into the sunlight in what should have been a 13th-century keep, but instead is the gods of a Roman theatre. Centuries of sand have preserved one of the finest and largest theatres in the Roman world Day 4. Damascus to Palmyra via Ma’loula Check out and head north from Damascus to the predominantly Christian villages of Sednaya which is home to the sixth-century Convent of Our Lady, where a miracle-inducing icon of the Virgin Mary, said to have been painted from life by St Luke, has drawn pilgrims for more than 1,000 years. Ma’loula is one of the few places where they still speak Aramaic, the language of Christ. It is home to the Convent of St Tekla and the Greek Catholic monastery of St Sergius. Continue to Palmyra for a 2-night stay. Day 5. Palmyra This morning we start the day by touring the tower tomb before continuing on to the rest of the site that includes the Temple of Bel, The Agora and the Theatre. A nice relaxing afternoon at our hotel the Zenobia Cham Palace which is right on the fringes of the Roman site before setting off to Damascus where we stay the night. Day 6. Palmyra to Krak Des Chevalier Today you visit the imposing Crusader castle Krak Des Chevalier, where we will spend some time in the hands of a local guide before heading to Hama. In Hama take a walk through the town to see the ancient Roman waterwheels still used to this day and powered by the waters of the Orontes River. You have an overnight stay in Hama Day 7. Krak Des Chevalier to Aleppo An early morning start to head towards Aleppo. The first stop is on the interior of fertile plane of the Orontes valley, which leads us to the Roman ruins of Apamea. From here we head to the stunning location of Salah a Din Castle. Nestling in thick forest the ramparts can be made out from the road as you approach. After our visit there we head north again for a three-night stay in Aleppo. Day 8. Aleppo Along with Damascus claims to be the oldest inhabited city on earth, still feels like a hub of the Silk Route. All day and half the night, goods that have been traded here for centuries pass through the souks: silk, spices, tea, cloth, jewels, herbs, rope. The ancient caravanserai (large inns), with their carved arches and shady courtyards are still the storerooms of the souks. Wandering through the cobbled streets, you could be in any time since Mohammed. We see the Citadel, Aleppo museum, The grand Mosque, The Khans of Wazir and Sabon the Ancient Souk. Day 9. The Dead cities Today we head north west from Aleppo into the area known as The Dead Cities. Roman’s fled this area as the threat of invasion from the north grew leaving behind a world suspended in time. Here is the famous Basilica of San Simeon dedicated to a hermit monk who lived out his life on top of a pillar. Day 10. Aleppo to Damascus Transfer from Aleppo to Damascus where we have an overnight stay at the Elba Cham near to the airport. Day 11. Damascus to London Fly from Damascus to London Heathrow on a British Midland flight.
If you wish to travel from any other country outside UK please contact us and we will give you the cost of the holiday without international flights relevant to your travel dates.
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