4D/3N Syria Highlights

Day 1

ARRIVAL – DAMASCUS - PALMYRA
Upon arrival in Damascus airport, meet & greet by our local representative and then proceed to half day tour of Damascus . Visit the National museum, Azem Palace, the Omayyad mosque , the Straight street, St. Paul’s window & St. Ananias chapel.

Later we proceed to Palmyra. Palmyra (Tadmor in Arabic) is in the heart of Syrian Desert, and is often described as the bride of the desert. Its magnificent remains tell of a heroic history during the reign of Queen Zenobia. The Oasis, as it is sometimes called, is located near a hot-water spring called Afqa, which make it an ideal halt for caravans moving between Iraq and Al-Sham (present day Syria, Lebanon, Holy Land and Jordan), trading in silk from China to the Mediterranean. This strategic location made Palmyra prosper in a well-established kingdom from the 2nd century BC.

Upon arrival in Palmyra, we check into hotel.

Day 2

PALMYRA - HAMA
After breakfast, visit Palmyra ruins, which covers an area of 6 square kilometers, and see the beauty of the remaining architecture such as Baal-Shamin Temple, Bel Temple, Arch of Triumph, the Amphitheater, the Baths, the tower tombs & the underground tombs. Then proceed eastward to Hama, the old Aramaic Kingdom. Hama, situated between Homs and Aleppo on banks of the Orontes river, is an important agricultural and industrial center. Except for Damascus, Hama is considered the most picturesque city in Syria and one may wish to take time to relax in its attractive gardens along river banks.

Upon arrival in Hama, check into hotel.

Day 3

HAMA – DAMASCUS
After breakfast visit the great norias, the huge ancient wooden waterwheels from the Middle Ages, which is the chief attraction of Hama. Originating in Byzantine times, the oldest surviving wheels date from the 13th century. The norias, which all have given names, were used to raise water from the river into aqueducts. The purpose of the wheels nowadays is purely decorative and of historical interest.

We continue to Krak des Chevaliers. The Krak des Chevaliers (French for "Fortress of Knights"; Arabic: Qala'at Al-Hosn) near Homs in Syria is a popular tourist destination that was declared a World Heritage Site in 2006. Author Paul Theroux described it as the dream castle of childhood fantasies, while T.E. Lawrence called it "the finest castle in the world."

The remarkably well-preserved Crusader castle looks almost exactly as it did during the Crusades. Built and expanded between 1150 and 1250, it eventually housed a garrison of 2000. The castle guarded the only major pass between Antioch in Turkey and Beirut in Lebanon. It held out against several attacks, but was lost to the Mamluk Sultan Beybar in 1271.

Then we continue southward to the historical city hidden among rocks, Ma’aloula Village. Maaloula is one of the most scenic villages in Syria and is of particular interest as the only place in the world where Aramaic; the language spoken by Christ is still used as a living language. The word Maaloula means entrance in Aramaic.

It's situated at an altitude of more than 1500 meters; with its little houses clinging to.the face of an enormous rock; making it look suspended in mid-air. This is Maaloula, the unique village, still genuine in this whole world, a magnificent plaque that contains a strange mixture of past and present, reality and legend, sanctity and beauty.

Then we continue to Damascus to check into hotel.

Day 4

DAMASCUS – DEPARTURE (B)
After breakfast at hotel free at own leisure until transfer to airport.