I have been to Syria two times on a personal trip and once in 2006 with a Yongo Group of 11 pax. I would rate it as one of the friendliest countries that I have visited. Breathtaking scenery, magnificent historical monuments and some the friendliest people in the world await the traveller, just as they have for centuries. Between explorations of majestic Roman archaeological ruins, such as Palmyra and Bosra, you wander the atmospheric alleyways and labyrinthine souqs or market of Damascus and Aleppo. You will be amazed by the great mix of both Muslim and Christian culture and sites.
We stay in budget hotels on twin-share basis with private bath. Its quite important participants be able to manage their own luggage and backpacks would be the preferred type of bag. As usual, you pay for your own meals, entrance fees and other activities. We hire a private bus to take us from Airport to Airport. There is good shopping in Syria with good and meals much lower than in Malaysia.
Day 1 Tue 14 Sep 2010 KLIA to Damascus:
Assemble at KLIA at 7PM night for EK409 to Dubai at 945AM arriving 1245noon (7hr). From Dubai, we fly EK912 to Damascus at 2PM arriving 335PM (3:35hr). Transfer to Hotel and free for rest of the day. Overnight (ON) Damascus.
Day 2 Palmyra: We bus to Palmya 3hr, Syria's prime tourist attraction and one of the most well preserved ancient Roman city in the world. The town grew around the ruins which is just over 500m from the town centre. We will spend the most of the day visiting the extensive site. ON Palmyra.
Day 3 Dier Ez Zur: Visti to 8th century Qasr Al-Heir Ash-Sharqi (aka East Wall Palace on our way to Dier Ez Zur 2hr, a busy little market town by the Euphrates River. The streets are filled with colourfully dreess peasants from the surrounding countryside, in town to buy and sell in the small but thriving local market. ON Dier Ez Zur.
Day 4 Rasafa Walled City & Aleppo: We bus to Raqqa 2.5hr before hiring local vans for the return journey to Rasafa 25km one-way. We proceed on to Aleppo 2.5hr for ON stay.
Day 5 Aleppo's Old Market: Aleppo vies with Damascus for the title of the world's oldest continually inhabited city. Today we spend the whole wandering and getting "lost" in the huge Old City souk, sharing the narrow lanes with donkeys and little Suzuki vans. ON Aleppo.
Day 6 St Simeon Basilica Aleppo: Locally known as Qala'at Samaan, this was a place of pilgrimage for Byzantine Christians. The Church today it is remarkly well preserved with Romanesque facade. We also visit the Dead Cities, former Christian settlements producing wine before Muslim takeover. ON Aleppo.
Day 7 Lattakia & Qala'at Salah ad-Din Castle & Lattakia: We bus to Lattakia 3.5hr, a busy port even since Roman times and one of the least conservative cities in the country. On the way there, we visit Qala'at Salah ad-Din Castle (Saladdin Castle), an ancient Crusader's Castle, second fiddle to Krak des Chevaliers but is perched on top of a heavyily wooded ridge with near-precipitous sides dropping away to surrounding ravines. Built by the Crusaders, control exchanged hands a couple of times before it was finally abandoned. Lattakia is a modern Christian ON Lattakia.
Krak des Chevaliers / Bosra Roman Amphitheatre
Day 8 Ugirit, Tartus and Arwad Island: From here its a small hop 16km to Ugarit, the origin of the world's earliest alphabets. The Ugaritic tablets found her is a greatly simplified system of 30 symbols, each of which represents one sound. We move on to Tartus 2hr, which was established by the Phoenicians and has a fortified Island of Arwad, 3km offshore. Tartus or Tortosa is another biblical town mentioned in the holy bible. ON Tartus.
Day 9 Krak des Chevaliers: Morning visit to other Christian sights like the Catheral of our Lady of Tortosa before moving on to Krak des Chevaliers or Qaalat Hosn. ed island of Arwad, which lies 3km offshore. Other sights include the Catheral of our Lady of Tortosa. Described by TE Lawrence (of Arabia fame) as 'the finest Crusader's castle in the world', the Krak is one of Syria's premier attraction and a must-see. ON Hotel near the Krak.
Day 10 Hamas Norias: We bus on to Homs 1hr and then on to Hamas 30min, one of Syria's more attractive town with river banks lined with trees and gardens. Town is famous for its norias or 20m giant water wheels. We also bus on a 50km journey to visit the quaint beehive houses of Tawlid Dabaghein. ON Hamas.
Day 11 Damascus & Bosra Roman Theatre: Its 2.5hr back to Damascus and we move on to Bosra 2hr, one of the best preserved Roman theatre encompassed by an Arab fortress. ON Damascus.
Day 12 Sat Damascus: In the morning we proceed to Maalula, touted as a pretty Christian village where Aramaic, the language of Jesus Christ, is still spoken. We return to Damascus to visit its equally complex souks and great shopping. Found in the old city is the Umayyad Mosque, which is found the mausoleum of Saladin, the greatest Muslim conquerer as well as the shrine of John the Baptist aka the Dragon Slayer, said to contain the biblical character's head. ON Damascus.
Day 13 Damascus: We spend our last day revisiting the souks and finsihing our last Syrian Pounds. We travel to the Airport for our EK914 flight to Dubai, taking off at 450PM arriving 940PM (2:50hr). We connect to EK342 to Kuala Lumpur departing 310AM.
Day 14 Arrive Home: Arrive KLIA at 205PM afternoon on Monday 27 Sep 2010.
