An Exploration of Syrian Treasures

Damascus International, Syria, Syria - Damascus International, Syria, Syria

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Details

10 Days | 9 Nights

Tour Types: Private

Runs:

Accommodation: 4* Hotels

Minimum Age: 20

Tour Description

This tour let travellers discover the Syria’s rich history, captivating ancient ruins, and vibrant culture. Begin in Damascus, exploring its bustling souqs and iconic Umayyad Mosque. Visit the ancient cities of Palmyra and Apamea, marvelling at their well-preserved Roman ruins. Discover the ancient port city of Ugarit, known for its archaeological treasures and ancient alphabet. Explore Aleppo's enchanting old city, including the Citadel and Grand Mosque. Journey to the impressive Crusader castles of Crac des Chevaliers and Salah ad-Din Citadel. Explore the captivating ruins of Halabia, an ancient city with fascinating historical significance.

Highlights

Experience the coastal charm of Latakia.
Marvel at the imposing Crusader fortress of Marqab Castle.
Visit the Deir Ezzor Suspension Bridge.
Journey to the ancient archaeological sites in Rassafa and Qalaat Doura Europos.
Wander through the enchanting streets of Aleppo's Old City.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival in Damascus
1 Stop

Damascus Airport

Upon arrival at Damascus airport our representative will meet and assist you through immigration. Then transfer to your hotel in Damascus, check in, rest of the day is free.

30 mins

Day 2
Damascus City Tour - Damascus
1 Stop

Damascus City Tour

- After breakfast we begin the full day city tour of Damascus starting with the Via Recta (straight street) already mentioned in the Bible. We visit a the Azem Palace housing the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions and the impressing Umayyad Mosque with the tomb of Salah ad-Din. We continue to the chapel of St. Ananias built in the first century. Then you have the possibility of shopping in the Souq and end the day by passing the Church St. Paul's Window. Overnight at hotel.

6 hours

Day 3
Maaloula - Crac des Chevaliers - Amrit - Lattakia
4 Stops

Maaloula

Depart to Maaloula, a picturesque village about 60 km from Damascus where people still speak Aramaic, the language of Jesus.

3 hours

Crac des Chevaliers

Then we head for the Crac des Chevaliers, the best-preserved fortress from Crusader times in Syria. Next stop will be Tartous, the ancient Antarados built by the Phoenicians.

2 hours

Amrit

On the way we visit Amrit, a Phoenician site, corresponding to the old Marathus. A necropolis and a temple are still to see of the vanished town.

1 hour

Lattakia

Overnight in Lattakia at the Mediterranean Sea.

1 hour

Day 4
Salah ad-Dins's Castle - Marqab - Ugarit - Lattakia
4 Stops

Salah ad-Dins's Castle

After breakfast we visit the castle of Salah ad-Din, a masterpiece of military architecture, built on a rocky buttress.

2 hours

Marqab

We also see Marqab, an impressive Crusaders castle, built on the coastal route overlooking the sea and the Alawit mountains. In the afternoon we continue to Ugarit, 9 km north of Lattakia, where were found the remains of the capital of the Syrophoenician kingdom Ras Shamra.

2 hours

Ugarit

In Ugarit the first consonantal alphabet was put together in the 14th century B.C.

2 hours

Lattakia

Return to your hotel in Lattakia.

1 hour

Day 5
Apamea - Hama - Serjille - Baouda - Ebla - Aleppo
5 Stops

Apamea

Today we head to Aleppo across the Alawit mountain toward inner Syria to visit Apamea, the most important and beautiful Hellenistic site in the country. We see the Great Colonnade, the Agora, the theatre and the caravanserail built by the Ottomans in the 16th century housing a Mosaic Museum.

2 hours

Hama

In the town Hama we view the Norias, large water wheels dating from the time of Umayyad dynasty in 8th century.

2 hours

Serjille & Baouda

In northern Syria are 350 Dead Cities from the 3rd to the 5th century located, as examples we drive to Baouda and Serjille.

2 hours

Ebla

Last site for today is Ebla, one of the most important archeological sites of Syria revealing marks of an important kingdom of the 25th century B.C.

1 hour

Aleppo

Continue to your hotel in Aleppo and overnight.

1 hour

Day 6
Aleppo City Tour - St. Simeon – Aleppo
3 Stops

Aleppo City

The city tour in Aleppo, the second largest city in Syria, starts with the National Museum, then to the Great Mosque and the most famous Souqs of Aleppo dating back to the 16th century. The tour will be ended on the Citadel, already in Hellenistic and Roman times the acropolis of the town.

3 hours

St. Simeon

In the afternoon excursion to the monastery of St. Simeon the Stylit. The holy man lived for 42 years on top of a column, in 18 meters high. After his death a beautiful cathedral was built around the pillar, considered as the finest and greatest Christian monument in the Middle East.

2 hours

Aleppo

Return to your hotel Aleppo.

1 hour

Day 7
Qalaat Jabar - Rassafa - Halabia - Deir Ezzor
4 Stops

Qalaat Jabar

Across the valley of the Euphrates we head around 335 km to Deir Ezzor. On the way drive above the barrage of the Euphrates to visit Qalaat Jabar, an Arabic fortress from the 12th century located on an islet in the artificial Assad lake.

1 hour

Rassafa

Next destination are the remains of Rassafa, which rose-coloured marble encrusted with gypsum sparkle in the sunlight.

1 hour

Halabia

On the right bank of the Euphrates we visit the impressive castle Halabia, a late Roman Byzantine huge fortification.

1 hour

Deir Ezzor

Proceed to your hotel in Deir Ezzor.

1 hour

Day 8
Doura Europos - Mari - Palmyra
3 Stops

Doura Europos

In the morning we drive 85 km to Doura Europos, an enormous square fortified Hellenistic town founded by Seleucus Nicator in the 4th century B.C. Sixteen temples of different religions have been discovered here. Capital of an important Sumerian kingdom was Mari or Tell Hariri, situated halfway between Babylon and the Mediterranean dating back to the 28th century B.C.

1 hour

Mari

Very interesting statues and mosaics were discovered and on the site we visit the inside structure of the palace of Zimri-lim, king of Mari. The palace consisted of 300 rooms, court-yards, stores and a library with 20.000 cuneiform tablets.

1 hour

Palmyra

In the afternoon we proceed to Palmyra for overnight.

1 hour

Day 9
Palmyra - Damascus
2 Stops

Palmyra

Palmyra, called the Bride of the Desert, was an important oasis city, gaining wealth due to its location along the caravan routes. To get a general idea of the city we begin the day in the museum, visit then the Triumphal Arch, the Great Colonnade, the Agora, the Theatre and the Baal Temple.

2 hours

Damascus

Drive back to Damascus for the night.

1 hour

Day 10
Departure
1 Stop

Damascus Airport

After breakfast transfer to Damascus airport to say farewell and board your international flight.

30 mins

Inclusions

Meet & greet upon arrival.

Private transportation in air-conditioned vehicle.

1 night at hotel with breakfast in Palmyra.

1 night at hotel with breakfast in Dier Ezzor.

2 nights at hotel with breakfast in Aleppo.

2 nights at hotel with breakfast in Lattakia.

3 nights at hotel with breakfast in Damascus.

Professional English-speaking guide service in Syria.

Entrance fees to mentioned sites.

Syrian visa security clearance approval.

Exclusions

Airfare.

Travel insurance.

Syrian entry visa upon arrival (fee depends on nationality, between 40 USD and 125 USD per person).

Meals and beverage not stated.

Departure tax Damascus Airport 34 USD per person.

Tips, portage, and personal expenses.

Practical Info

• Best travel time is mid of March to end of May, from Sep to beginning of December.
• For entry visa regularities see our blog Visa and Passport Requirements and Country Information.
• Syrian visa: The passport must be valid at least 6 months and held no Israeli stamp; in this case the entry will be refused.
• All guides in Jordan and Syria are under Ministry of Tourism and are not part of our team.
• Check-in time at hotels is 14:00, check-out time at hotels is 12:00 noon.

How to Book this Tour

- After booking the tour with us online, one of our consultants will get in touch within 24 hours. You need to pay then a 25% deposit by credit card or by bank transfer. The full payment is due latest 14 days before tour start.
- Cancellations or changes need to be sent in written form. Charges are as follows:
• 25 USD of the total price of the trip for cancellations from the date of booking until 31 days before departure.
• 25% of the total price of the trip for cancellations or changes made 30 to 08 days before departure.
• 100% of the total price of the trip for cancellations or changes made 07 to 01 days before departure or no show.
- For refunds we do not cover transaction fees charged by credit card companies and banks.

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