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 0 KLIA: Assemble at KLIA 11PM 13 September 2010 Monday (no need to take annual leave)
Day 1 Damascus:
Fly on 14 September Tuesday on Emirates Airlines EK409 to Dubai at 2AM arriving 450AM (7hr). From
Dubai, we fly EK912 to Damascus at 715PM arriving 930AM (3hr). Transfer
to Hotel and we have a full day to visit the Old Town, a UNESCO site.
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. Overnight (ON) Damascus.
Day 2 Bosra Roman Theatre: Its 4hours return trip to
Bosra to visit one of the best preserved Roman theatre encompassed by
an Arab fortress. ON Damascus. This is a UNESCO listed site and was the
last stop for Muslims on their way to Mecca.
Day 3 Palmyra: We bus to
Palmya 3hr, Syria's prime tourist attraction and one of the most well
preserved ancient Roman city in the world (UNESCO). The town grew around
the ruins which is just over 500m from the town centre. We will spend
the whole day visiting the extensive site. ON Palmyra.
Day 4 Dier Ez Zur: Visit to
8th century Qasr Al-Heir Ash-Sharqi (aka East Wall Palace) We finish in
Dier Ez Zur 2hr, a busy little market town by the Euphrates River. The
streets are filled with colourfully dressed peasants from the
surrounding countryside, in town to buy and sell in the small but
thriving local market. ON Dier Ez Zur.
Day 5 Rasafa Walled City & Aleppo:
We bus 2hr to the abandoned town of Rasafa, which was a thriving site
for Christian pilgrims. We proceed on to Aleppo 2.5hr for ON stay.
Day 6 Aleppo's Old Market: Unesco listed 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 7 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. ON Aleppo.
Day 8 Sergila Dead City & Hama:
We visit Sergila, one of hundreds of Dead Cities,which were former
Christian settlements producing wine before Muslim took over. We then
move to Apamea, a Roman City before going to Hama to see the 20m giant
water wheels called Norias. ON Hama.
Krak des Chevaliers / Bosra Roman Amphitheatre
Day 9
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.
Day 10 Ugirit Alphabets: 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 Kraks
des Chevaliers 3hr (UNESCO). The whole afternoon will be spent visiting
this still intact Crusader's Castle. 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 Kracs des
Chevaliers.
Day 11 Baalbeck & Beirut: We
cross the Syrian/Lebanese border some 10km away, and proceed to Baalbeck
4hr, Lebanon's premier tourist site (UNESCO). We move on to Beirut, so
called the Paris of the Middle East for its modern buildings. One sees
numerous American influences in its fast food chains and the American
University. ON Beirut.
Day 12 Byblos & Bcharre Valley:
We begin the day visiting UNESCO listed Byblos, then proceed on to the
beautiful Bcharre Valley to visit the Cedar Trees and Grottos of
Qadisha. Bcharre Valley and Cedar Forests are also UNESCO listed. We
return to Beirut for overnight stay.
Day 13 Beirut: We have a full
day visiting Beirut aka the Paris of the Middle East and other areas of
Beirut. We transfer to the Airport at 5PM for flight EK954 departing
845PM arriving Dubai 1AM.
Day 14 Arrive Home: From Dubai EK 346
departs at 315AM arriving KLIA at 215PM 27 September 2010 Monday.
