From the Apostles to the Crusades
Viewing the great civilisations of ancient times in the Levant: Damascus, Palmyra, Crac des Chevaliers, Ugarit, Apamea, Aleppo, St Simeon and Maaloula
Day 1 Fly from London Heathrow to Damascus and transfer to the 4-star Hotel Carlton or International for three nights.
Day 2 A full-day tour of Damascus. An evening reception at an historic Damascene house.
Day 3 An optional tour to the Roman city of Bosra and the basilica of St. George at Ezrae.
Day 4 A visit to Palmyra including the Valley of the Tombs, necropolis, colonnaded street and temple of Baal. Two nights at the 4-star Hotel Wadi near Homs.
Day 5 Visit one of Syria’s most impressive castles, Qala’at Salah ad-Din, and the Phoenician city of Ugarit.
Day 6 Visit the Monastery of St. George, Crac des Chevaliers and the Masyat citadel. Visit Apamea en route to Aleppo for two nights at the Diwan Rasmi.
Day 7 Visit the National Museum, Citadel, souk and covered bazaars. Also visit to the old city quarter of Jdeidah.
Day 8 Drive to the nearby 5th-century church of St Simeon before continuing to view the waterwheels and museum at Hama. In the afternoon visit Maaloula a Christian community which still speaks Aramean, the original language of Christ, en route to Damascus for overnight.
Day 9 Morning free. Return flight.
The Houses of Old Damascus
Our local representative is involved in the restoration of some of these houses and has arranged a special viewing of one such followed by an evening reception with local delicacies, libations and music in a traditional house which is now a restaurant.
Click here for more exclusive arrangements by VJV.
Extension - Damascus
A further five nights with time for independent exploration. Two morning walking tours of Damascus are included as well as an excursion to St. Moses monastery and the monastery of the Holy Virgin (Notre Dame) at Seidnaya.
