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Syrian Panorama

Scene in the old souk, Aleppo

Click on the name of the hotel for details

11 days from £1690

excluding international flights

DAY 1 – Depart UK.

On arrival in Damascus you will be met by arepresentative of World Discovery outside immigration and customs andtaken by private car to your hotel.  Recommended flight from London: bmi from London Heathrow (see below). If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.

DAY 2 – Damascus.

After breakfast your guide will meet you at the hotel and take you for an morning's sightseeing in a city that is believed to be the oldest continually inhabited in the world. You will visit the old city including the Omayyad Mosque, originally built in the 8th century as a Byzantine Cathedral, and also the Tomb of Saladin dating from 1193.  Afternoon at leisure.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 3 - Damascus.

Further visits this morning will include the Street Called Straight, mentioned in the Bible, the National Museum and the Azem Palace, a magnificently decorated former home of the Governor of Damascus (18th century). The afternoon is at leisure.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 4 - Sednaya, Maalula, Krak des Chevaliers.

After breakfast you will head north to visit the mountain villages of Sednaya and Maalula [more] before reaching the highlight of today's sightseeing - the imposing crusader castle of Krak des Chevaliers [more]. You will spend overnight at a hotel in the city of Homs.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 5 - Hama, Apamea, Ebla.  Drive to Aleppo.

Your first visit of today is to Hama on the Orontes River, where you will see the famous 'norias' or ancient wooden water-wheels which have become the symbol of the town. A short drive takes you to the archaeological site of Apamea [more]. After your visit, continue to Ebla, where thousands of clay tablets in cuneiform script dating back to 4,000 B.C. have been found. Visit the Royal Palace and the Acropolis. Your final destination today is Aleppo, Syria's second city, where you will stay for 2 nights.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 6 - Aleppo, St Simeon.

Morning sightseeing in Aleppo [more]. In the afternoon drive out to the 5th century basilica of St Simeon, built around the pillar on top of which the saint spent the last 37 years of his life.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

THE CITIES OF THE DEAD
Why not stay an extra day in Aleppo to fit in an excursion to the little known but amazing 'Cities of the Dead', early Christian settlements dating back to the 2nd century AD? [more]

DAY 7 - By road to the banks of the Euphrates.

Travel eastwards through the Syrian Desert to visit the imposing walled Byzantine city of Resafe, the pilgrimage centre of Sergiopolis during Roman times. Continue to Halabiye, an ancient fortress city perched dramatically above the calm waters of the Euphrates (pictured left), before ending your journey in Deir Ez-Zour.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch.

DAY 8 - Doura Europos, Mari. Drive to Palmyra.

Whilst Deir Ez-Zour has little in itself to offer the tourist, it is the perfect base for exploring the sites of the northeast, and this morning you will explore the Hellenistic caravan city of Doura Europos, strategically located on a bend of the Euphrates, and Mari, Syria's most important Mesopotamian site, dating from the 3rd millennium B.C. In the afternoon drive to the oasis city of Palmyra, where you will stay for the next two nights.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 9 - Palmyra.

A full day to explore the impressive ruins of Palmyra [more].
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 10 - Return to Damascus.

Drive back to Damascus for your final night in Syria.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 11 - Depart for home.

Private transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

International Flights

We recommend the direct services of bmi from London Heathrow. Flights are daily, although the timings differ slightly each day.  Current timings, based on Friday departures, returning on Monday (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Damascus. Depart at 16.00; arrive Damascus at 11.10
Damascus/Heathrow. Depart at 09.05; arrive Heathrow at 13.55

Syrian Panorama (Tour Reference: WDSY003)
2010/2011 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Single Room Supplements on request.

The price includes:

• Hotel accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded rooms with private bathrooms.
• 10 full breakfasts and 1 lunch as shown in the itinerary.
• Private transportation throughout.
• All sightseeing as shown, including guiding and entrance fees.

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance.
• Optional sightseeing. The World Discovery representatives in Syria will be pleased to organise any additional sightseeing you may wish to include during your stay.
• International airport taxes.
• Tipping. We will be pleased to give guidance in this often sensitive matter.
• Syrian visa. Although this can be obtained on arrival in Damascus, delays of up to an hour are not unusual, so we strongly advise you to obtain your visa in the UK prior to departure. We recommend that you obtain it through CIBT in London - www.uk.cibt.com.

A deposit of £250 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your travel arrangements must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.