From the Apostles to the Crusades
Viewing the great civilisations of ancient times in the Levant
In Brief
| Damascus - 2 nights. Palmyra - 1 night. Homs area - 1 night. Aleppo - 2 nights. Damascus - 2 nights. |
Day 1 Fly from London Heathrow to Damascus and transfer to the 4-star Sheraton Sednaya Hotel near Damascus for two nights.
Day 2 Visit the National Museum in Damascus and Bosra.
Day 3 Travel into the desert to Palmyra (3 hrs). Visit the Colonnaded street, Valley of the Tombs and Temple of Baal. Overnight at the 5-star Dedeman or Semiramis or 4-star Zenobia Cham. View the sunset from the Castle above Palmyra and enjoy a night walk through the ruins.
Day 4 Travel to Crac des Chevaliers castle and the Monastery of St. George (3 hrs). Overnight at the 4-star Hotel Mashta Al-Helu or Safir in the Homs area.
Day 5 Visit Hama with its waterwheels, then ancient Apamea. Two nights in Aleppo at an old town hotel (see page 70 for description) or the 5-star Hotel Dedeman or Sheraton.
Day 6 Visit the National Museum, Citadel, covered bazaars and old city quarter of Jdayde. ‘Dining in the Old Town’ and a night walk in the Citadel area.
Day 7 Visit St. Simeon. Travel to Maaloula (3 hrs). Two nights in Damascus at an old town hotel (see page 70 for description) or the 5-star Hotel Cham Palace or Dedeman.
Day 8 Visit the Street Called Straight, Church of Ananias, St. Paul’s Gate, Omayyad Mosque, Saladin’s Tomb and Hamidiyeh souk. Afternoon free. ‘Dining in the Old Town’.
Day 9 Return flight to Heathrow.
Important note
The first two nights are spent outside Damascus while the last two nights are spent in a centrally located hotel giving ample time in the city.
Please click here for important Syria travel information.
