Includes: Airport transfers on Days 1 and 14, Syrian visa on arrival, all transfers and touring in A/C modern coaches, professional English speaking guides, all entry fees to included sites, portage at hotels for one item per participant, excellent standard 4* hotels centrally located, some with heritage listing, meals as indicated.

Not included: Entry visas to Syria and Lebanon, international airfare, Syria departure tax, personal expenses, meals other than those included, drinks, optional excursions.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Damascus   [D]
Arrival at Damascus. You are met, assisted through formalities, and transferred to our 4* hotel within the walls of the Old City.

Day 2: Damascus   [BD]
A full-day guided tour includes St Ananias Church, St Paul’s Church, and the magnificent
Umayyad Mosque, the Tomb of Salah al-Din and the medieval city centre with its bazaar.

Day 3: Damascus   [BD]
A full day at leisure in the world’s oldest city. We suggest lunch at a traditional ‘garden’
restaurant in the Old City and a stroll through the narrow streets to the souq.

Day 4: Crac des Chevaliers   [BD]
Drive north towards the Christian towns of Seydnaya and Ma’aloula, where many people
still speak the Biblical language, Aramaic. Continue north to Homs and the great Crusader fortification of Crac des Chevaliers. After an extensive visit, check-in at our hotel.

Day 5: Aleppo   [BD]
En-route to Aleppo, some 140km away, we stop at Hama to see the ancient water wheels, and the ancient site at Sergilla, an eerie ‘Dead City’ abandoned some 1500 years ago. Continue to Aleppo for two nights.

Day 6: Aleppo   [BD]
A site of human occupation since at least 5000BC. A full-day guided tour includes a visit to St Simeon, the Citadel of Aleppo, the Madrassa Halawiye, the Great Mosque (founded in 715AD) and the ancient bazaar.

Day 7: Lattakia   [BD]
Today’s route crosses the Jabal az Zawiyah mountains. We stop at a viewing point near the
summit and at the Fortification of Salah al Din before descending to the city of Lattakia and the
Mediterranean coast.

Day 8: Lattakia   [BD]
A half day tour explores the sites of the city and surrounds. We tour through the white city centre and visit the ruins of the ancient Phoenician city at Ugarit.

Day 9: Tartus–Tripoli   [B]
We follow the highway south to the ancient city of Tartus where we visit the Awad Castle and the Virgin Mary Cathedral. We then cross the border into Lebanon and continue, via Tripoli, to
Beirut.

Day 10: Baalbek-Beirut   [B]
A day excursion visits Baalbek, named after the Phoenician god, Baal, Here the Roman temple of Bacchus is one of the major attractions. Return to Beirut.

Day 11: Jeita, Byblos   [B]
With your driver take a full-day excursion to the Jeita Grotto*, the Statue of Our Lady at Harrisa* (if open), and to one of the world’s most ancient cities, Byblos. Evening at leisure in Beirut.

Day 12: Tyre, Sidon   [B]
Another full-day excursion, this time south of Beirut to the mighty island fortress of Tyre and the Phoenician port of Sidon with its Crusader castle. Return to Beirut for an afternoon at leisure.

Day 13: Beirut   [B]
A day at leisure allows time to absorb the local culture. You could stroll along the Corniche,
take a ferry to Pigeon Rock Island, explore the shopping streets and relax at a pavement café,
or take a trip into the mountains to see The Cedars.

Day 14: Departure   [B]
Transfer to the airport for onward flight.