Syria Early Empires

12 Days / 11 Nights

Day 1

Arrive Damascus International Airport. Meet & Assist, transfer to hotel.

Day 2

Full day tour of Damascus, visiting the National Museum, Tekkieye Mosque, Hamidiye Souq, Umayyad Mosque, Azem Palace, Saladin’s Mausoleum and the Christian neighborhoods of Bab Touma and Bab Sharqi, with the St. Ananias Chapel and St. Paul’s Window. Overnight in Damascus.

Day 3

Full day excursion to Southern Syria: See the 6th century church of Ezraa, the Roman theatre of Bosra, the mosaic museum of Shahba, and the ruins of Byzantine Qanawat. Overnight in Damascus.

Day 4

In the morning visit Maalula and the monasteries of Mar Taqla and Mar Sarkis, then continue to the famous Krak des Chevaliers crusader castle for a visit. Before reaching Hama, see the colonnaded street of Apamea. Arrive in Hama in the late afternoon and discover its famous wooden waterwheels, the Norias. Overnight in Hama.

Day 5

Visit Ugarit, a town dating back to 1500 B.C., Lattakia, Syria’s biggest port, and Saladin’s Castle. Return to and overnight in Hama.

Day 6

Travel to Aleppo. On the way visit Ebla, one of the most important sites in Syria. Later discover Aleppo: the largest covered market in the Middle East, the Aleppo citadel, and the National Museum. Overnight in Aleppo.

Day 7

Visit the Dead Cities. See St. Simeon, Qalb Lozeh and Serjilla. Overnight in Aleppo.

Day 8

Continue East along the Euphrates. Visit the Castle of Jaber, today on the coast of Assad Lake, then the fortress of Resafa and finally the Palmyrian Castle of Halabiye or Zalabiya. Overnight in Deir Ez-Zor

Day 9

Continue along the banks of the Euphrates to the southern sites of Dura Europos (Hellenic) and Mari (Mesopotamian). Overnight in Deir Ez-Zor.

Day 10

On the way to Palmyra, make a short excursion to Qasr al Heir ash Sharqi, the Eastern desert castle of the Umayyad dynasty. Upon arrival in Palmyra, visit the Temple of Bel, the colonnaded streets, and the Necropolis. After a Bedouin party in a traditional tent, overnight at your hotel in Palmyra.

Day 11

In the morning, continue visiting Palmyra. Return to Damascus in the late afternoon and enjoy panoramic views of the city at sunset from Mount Qassioun. Overnight in Damascus.

Day 12

Airport transfer for final departure or extension to Lebanon or Jordan.

For individual or group travelers, Tours services may include the following:

Meet and greet, assistance with visa formalities
Accommodation in cities mentioned in your chosen category (2,3, 4, 5 stars)
Meal Plan, Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner, at the hotels or in local restaurants
Entrance fees to all archeological sites
A multilingual guide
All transfers and transport in the latest A/C vehicles