Syria - The Journey to Palmyra

9 nights escorted tour of Syria from just £1815 per person

Syria is a country where visitors trip over history, so extensive are the remains of the many civilizations that have held sway in the region. Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, early Christians, Crusaders and Arabs have all left their mark with temples, arcades, churches, castles and mosques. This tour offers an excellent insight into the country’s fascinating history.

See the best of Syria - The Journey to Palmyra...

• Crusader castle of Crac des Chevaliers - described by T.E. Lawrence as 'perhaps the best preserved and most wholly admirable castle in the world'
• Aleppo - labyrinth souks, the Old city and the Great Mosque
• Serjilla - close to Apello this is a 'dead city' with stone structures from around 500 AD
• Palmyra - climb the hill to the Arab castle overlooking the ruins of Palmyra and see the sun setting over the vast site
• Damascus - experience the peace & tranquillity of the Umayyad Mosque from 715 AD

Damascus (1 night)

Friday

Fly from London Heathrow to Damascus with BMI and upon arrival transfer to the Safir Al Sayedah Hotel for 1 night.
The flight duration is 5 hours, and the times are as follows:
Heathrow (16:00) - Damascus (23:00)
Damascus (10:10) - Heathrow (14:00)

Accommodation

1 night at the Safir Al Sayedah Zeinab

- Click here to visit the hotel's own website

Crac des Chevaliers & Lattakia (1 night)

Saturday

Late morning drive to visit the imposing Crusader castle of Crac des Chevaliers. Continue to Lattakia and visit the ancient coastal city of Ugarit. Stay overnight at the Afamia Rotana Resort.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

1 night at the Afamia Rotana Resort.

- Click here to visit the hotel's own website

Saladin’s Castle, Serjilla & Aleppo (2 nights)

Sunday

Morning drive to Aleppo via Saladin’s castle and the ruins of Serjilla , one of the many ‘Cities of the Dead’. Stay 2 nights at the Beit Salahieh, Aleppo.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Monday

Morning visit to the church of St. Simeon, where the stylite sat atop his pillar for 42 years. Afternoon tour of Aleppo.

Breakfast & Dinner

Accommodation

2 nights at the Beit Salahieh, Aleppo

- Click here to visit the hotel's own website

Apamea, Hama & Homs (1 night)

Tuesday

Drive to the Graeco-Roman site of Apamea. Continue to Homs via Hama, noted for its huge wooden water wheels. Stay overnight at the Safir Hotel, Homs.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

1 night at the Safir Hotel, Homs

- Click here to visit the hotel's own website

Palmyra (1 night)

Wednesday

Morning drive to the oasis city of Palmyra for an afternoon tour. Stay overnight at the Dedeman Hotel, Palmyra (or similar).

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

1 night at the Dedeman Hotel, Palmyra (or similar)

- Click here to visit the hotel's own website

Damascus (3 nights)

Thursday

Continue sightseeing in Palmyra this morning and then drive to Damascus, stopping en route in the village of Maalula where Aramaic, the language of Jesus, is still spoken. Stay for 3 nights at the Beit Zaman Hotel, Damascus (or similar).

Breakfast

Friday

Morning visit to Bosra, famous for its Roman theatre. Afternoon tour of Damascus.

Breakfast & Dinner

Saturday

This morning, continue your sightseeing of Damascus. This afternoon is at leisure to allow time for shopping in the extensive souqs.

Breakfast

Accommodation

3 nights at the Beit Zaman Hotel, Damascus (or similar)

- Click here to visit the hotel's own website

Travel home

Sunday

Transfer to the airport. Fly from Damascus to London with BMI.

Breakfast

Tour Extensions

Damascus - 4 nights from £695

  2011 prices

Call 01462 677 111 to book your place today

Friday 11 March	£1815 - FULL
Friday 25 March	£1815 - FULL
Friday 15 April	£1945 - FULL
Friday 29 April	£1695 - FULL
Friday 27 May	£1915		Enquire
Friday 3 June	£1915		Enquire
Friday 9 September	£1915		Enquire
Friday 23 September	£1845		Enquire
Friday 7 October	£1845		Enquire
Friday 21 October	£1915		Enquire
Friday 11 November	£1815		Enquire

	Notes 1. Group sizes are between 8 and 25 people. You will have a tour leader and local guides. All transfers are taken care of.