DAY 1
Arrive Damascus Airport where Saad Kaiali and I will waiting to welcome you. Saad will have our group visa which will ease formalities. A half hour drive to the centre of Damascus will bring us to the Hotel Afamia.  The hotel has been selected for its location which is perfect for exploration of the old city.  Afamia bedrooms have all modern facilities (TV, fridge, telephone) and private bathrooms however the hotel is plain and unpretentious.  After settling in there will be a briefing and our Welcome Dinner.

DAY 2
Damascus claims to be the oldest continually inhabited city on earth and was first cited in Egyptian and Mesopotamian sources in the 2^nd millennium BC.  It is a fascinating city that seems to grudgingly make room for modernity and a population over six million. When viewing the city from a distant hilltop Mohammed was asked why he did not enter the city to which he replied “A man may not twice go into Paradise”.  Today Damascus is not Paradise but it certainly fascinates!  

We will explore the Omoyad Mosque, the Tomb of Saladin, Straight Street (The only street mentioned in the Bible), the famous souk and museum. Second night in the Hotel Afamia.

DAY 3
An hours drive takes us from the great city to the fresh, high hill country of the Anti-Lebanon mountains.  Here we discover the enchanting and surprising village of Maalula whose inhabitants still speak Aramaic – the language of Jesus !We will visit the Monastery of Our Lady of Seidnaya and walk down the narrow gorge that, legend has it, allowed Saint Tecla to escape Roman persecution.  Later we take lunch with fabulous views over the Orontes Valley before exploring what has been called the most fabulous castle in the world – Krac des Chevaliers.  We overnight at Latakia where our hotel may be described as functional.  Later we join Saad for a Syrian dinner at a favourite restaurant in Latakia.

DAY 4
On the outskirts of Latakia lies Ugarit.  The name first appears around 2400 BC in the texts of Elba (Byzantine dead city).  French archaeologists discovered the site in the 1930’s and found texts that suggest that “Ugarithic” is the oldest known alphabet.  Following our explorations we drive to the Castle of Saladin.  The setting is dramatic as the castle is perched high above a deep gorge.  Though now named for Saladin the first defences here were built by the Byzantines however the Crusaders were largely responsible for the massive structure we see today.

Later we move to the Roman city of Apamea .  The city came to me as a wonderful surprise as the metropolis stands in isolation on a hilltop without disturbance from the modern world. As one wanders the avenues in the evening light the imagination is free to fill in the gaps.  Our home for the night will be Hama where we will see the amazing medieval water wheels for which Hama is famed before settling in at our accommodation – Orient House.  Orient House is a delightfully restored house dating from the 18^th century and is one of the most important historic houses in Hama.  Today the house provides modern comfort while retaining it’s Ottoman style and atmosphere – quite charming.

DAY 5
Our first destinations are the “Dead Cities” of Bara and Serjilla.  Built during the first century the cities were Byzantine but later abandoned after the Arab conquest and today remain surprisingly intact.  The area is quite lovely with gentle ochre coloured

hills covered with olive trees – a fine spot for our picnic lunch.  Later we travel to Qualat Samaan where in the 5^th century Saint Simeon spent 36 years preaching to the masses below his pillar which in turn gave rise to the Stylite phenomenon which lasted through the 12^th century.  In the 5^th century a church was built on the site which

looks out over the plains to distant Turkish peaks.  Later we drive to Aleppo and our home for three nights – Dallal House.

Dallal House was built as a church in 1826 and later converted into an Ottoman courtyard house.  Thirteen bedrooms (Including one in a cosy cave) are clustered around the courtyard where lemon trees grow and you will find an ancient gramophone with a 78 recording of the Scots Guards who will never again be heard – the record is cracked!   The house is located in the charming old Armenian quarter of Aleppo.

DAY 6
Saad will introduce us to Aleppo.  For myself Aleppo is the most interesting of all Arab cities with a history and architecture unmatched by any other than Damascus however this is a city that can be explored on foot.  The great Citadel, the souk, (Biggest and best in the Middle East), the mosque all await our discovery.  In the evening a wander over to the now rather decrepit old Barons Hotel is a must. It was here that Agatha Christie wrote “Orient Express” and Churchill stayed while deciding

the political fate of this land.  Barons was home to T.E. Lawrence for more than a year while he worked at Karkamish, indeed you can see his unpaid bill in the drawing room.  A brief tour of the bedrooms is sometimes possible and anyway the beer is good!  Second night at Dallal House.

DAY 7
Aleppo is worth another day but how to spend it ?  Some will wish to sip coffee overlooking the city from the Citadel ramparts, others explore the souk for bargins and some even relax for the day – this is a free day for you to choose as you wish.  You are free for both lunch and dinner.  Third night at Dallal House.

DAY 8
We travel south east into the eastern desert and so to Palmyra.  This town of 50,000 people owes its existence to the oasis that is a rich green tapestry of palm and olive trees in an otherwise starkly beautiful wilderness.  Two millennia ago the oasis stretched almost to Damascus and so the great Roman city of Palmyra was able to boast a population of almost half a million.  The sheer scale of what remains today, in remarkably good condition thanks largely to lack of humidity and pollution, is breathtaking and requires two days of exploration.  Palmyra is also the largest Greek necropolis in the entire Greek, and Roman world.  Perched high on its rocky mountain top, overlooking the entire region is Qualaat Ibn Maan – The Arab Castle.

Our hotel in Palmyra is the Zenobia, aptly named as the hotel stands about 45 seconds walk from the site of the palace of Queen Zenonia.  The hotel, though modern, is quite charming with bedrooms located down a short, twisting garden lane.  Breakfast on the patio watching the changing morning light spill over Roman Palmyra is a delight.

DAY 9
Second day exploring the ruins, tombs and castle.  In the evening Palmyra is a stroll of about 10 minutes away and very charming with a laid back attitude to life – a country town.  Second night at the Zenobia Hotel.

DAY 10
We return to Damascus by the eastern desert road and the famous Baghdad Café for morning coffee.  Our return to Afamia Hotel will be in time for you to spend the afternoon as you wish – you are free for lunch however later we meet for our special Farewell Dinner.  Night at Afamia Hotel.

DAY 11
Departure for airport and home

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

GUIDES: Dig Bulmer and Saad Kaiali

TRANSPORT:  20 seat mini bus with air conditioning.

GROUP: Limited to a maximum of 12 + guides.

WHAT THE LAND PRICE INCLUDES
Visa (Saad will meet you as you enter the airport and will have a group visa that will ease formalities).  I shall be waiting at the arrivals gate.
All entries to museums, castles etc
All accommodation and meals other than one dinner and two lunches
Syrian guide tip and mini bus driver tip.

WHAT THE LAND PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
Air Fare
Hotel tips
2 lunches and 1 dinner
Please ensure you have adequate insurance that covers medivac.  Hospitals in Syria vary greatly in standard of care offered and in the case of an accident you may require to be flown home.