SYRIA … LAND OF ANCIENT EMPIRES Departures Available All Year Round Prices Valid until December 2021

Above the layers of antiquity lays a land of mesmerizing beauty and contrasts, is a country of fertile plains, high mountains, and deserts. It is also home to diverse ethnic and religious groups including Syrian Arabs, Jews, Greeks, Armenians, Assyrians, Kurds, Circassians, Mandeans, and Turks. Begin your tour in Lebanon, a country well-deserving the title of “Switzerland of the East” then cross into Syria to , as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Leaving Damascus, you'll head east site of , an oasis in the , containing the monumental ruins of a great city that was one of the most important cultural centers of the ancient world. Continue north to Syria’s second largest city, . and complete your circular route with stops in Christian Valley, Lattakia and Tartous as you make your way back to Damascus. Experience the warmth of the people, the tastes of the cuisine, the aromas of the souks, the majesty of the past and explore some of the best-preserved Roman cities in the Near East as well as Byzantine gems and Islamic jewels!

Ihab Zaki Managing Director, Spiekermann Travel

Day one famous street that was mentioned in the bible. Have Arrive in Beirut dinner and then head to the hotel for check-in and Upon arrival at Beirut International Airport, meet, assist overnight. (B,L,D) and transfer to the hotel for check-in, dinner and PS: Dinner at a traditional Damascene house in the old overnight. (D) city.

Day two Day Three Beirut - Damascus Damascus We’ll depart to the Lebanese/Syrian borders. After the We'll start the day by visiting the Umayyad Mosque, also formalities, we’ll head towards Damascus to visit known as the Great Mosque of Damascus, located in the the National Museum, then head to Tekkieh heart of the old city. The mosque was built on the location Sulyamanieh, and walk through the famous Souk al of Temple Haddad during the era, which was Hamidieh of Damascus, which was built during the replaced by Jupiter in the Roman days, and converted into Ottoman Days on the Documanus Maximus. In the a church in the Christian dynasty. After the mosque, we afternoon, we’ll walk along “the Straight Street,” the will head to visit the Saladin tomb, and then continue to Azem Palace, built by the governor of Damascus in the Saint Takla convent, and Saints Serjous and Bacchus 18th century. It has all the characteristics that elaborate monastery. Saint Takla was converted into Christianity by on the style of the Damascene houses. In the afternoon, Saint Paul in the First Century AD. Those churches are we'll walk through Qaimayrieh Street, then continue to considered some of the oldest in the world because they visit Anania's house. Ananias was the disciple who heeled were converted from Pagan temples in the early day’s St. Paul when he came to Damascus. Also, we'll visit St. right when Christianity became the religion of the Paul's window, where it is believed to be the place where Byzantine Empire. Transfer to the hotel for check-in, St. Paul lowered in a basket and escaped the city. Have dinner, and overnight. (B,L,D) dinner and then head back to the hotel for Ps: We will have a farewell dinner at one of the overnight. (B,L,D) prominent restaurants in Damascus. PS: We will have a cocktail and Dinner at a traditional Day Nine Damascene house in the city Damascus - Beirut Day Four Spend your morning at leisure, and then after lunch, we’ll Damascus - Palmyra - head to Beirut and transfer to the hotel for check-in, Prepare yourself for a long drive where we’ll depart to dinner, and overnight. the Syrian Steppe to visit the ruins of one of the famous cities in the Middle East: Palmyra, in ancient times; it was Day Ten the home of Queen Zenobia. At the end of the 3rd century Beirut - USA Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the US. AD, she defied the Romans and was consequently destroyed by them. One of Syria’s most magnificent “Order of the itinerary or hotels used or guides hired ancient sites, Palmyra, spreads over many acres and has and sites visited are all subject to modifications an abundance of entire edifices from the 2nd century AD. if required or necessitated by any Late afternoon, we'll drive to Hama and transfer to the unforeseen conditions” hotel for check-in and overnight. (B,L,D)

Day Five Trip notes: Hama - Aleppo . A visa or stamp to Israel or the self- ruled In the morning, we'll head to visit the famous giant territories, used or unused / valid or invalid, will waterwheels of Hama, and then we'll head lead to an immediate entry refusal at all towards Aleppo, one of the oldest continuously inhabited Syrian/Lebanese ports of entry, even if the cities in the world. In the afternoon, we'll walk through traveler is carrying a valid entry visa. Also any the old city, have dinner at a traditional Aleppo restaurant Jordanian stamp showing entry or exit by any and then head to the hotel for check-in and overnight. land border into/out of Israel will also result in (B,L,D) denial of entry. . Passport should at least be valid for minimum 6 Day Six months period from return date to USA. Aleppo . Rates are subject to change without any prior We'll head to visit the newly renovated museum and the notice, in case of any sudden increase in fuel, Citadel. Then, in the afternoon, we'll visit Aleppo's souks government taxes, hotels rates or entrance fees. (parts of which have been totally demolished in the war . We have the full right to exercise any caution in but some sections are still the same as it used to be, lively visiting particular sites in Syria and if security and crowded and very colorful). We'll walk through the concerns dictate that we alter the program and Armenian quarter, enjoy dinner at a traditional Aleppo delete or substitute sites, we will do so. restaurant, and then return to the hotel for the overnight. (B,L,D)

Day Seven Aleppo - Krak Des Chevaliers - Christian Valley We’ll drive toward the Christian valley of Syria, and head to visit Krak Des Chevaliers, one of the famous 12th century Crusader Castles in the world. In the afternoon, we’ll head to visit Saint George Monastery, which a part of it was built around the six century AD. Enjoy dinner at a typical restaurant in the Christian valley, then head to the hotel for check-in and overnight. (B,L,D)

Day Eight Christian Valley - Ma’lula - Damascus We’ll drive back to Damascus via Ma’lula, where people still speak the Aramaic Dialect used to be spoken during the time of Jesus Christ. Ma’lula has two religious places,

Tour Cost (Land Only): 2 travelers: $4,195.00 3-5 travelers: $3,495.00 6-9 travelers: $2,995.00 Per person sharing in double occupancy

Single Supplement: $700.00

Valid only for 2 people minimum participating on this trip

Tour Includes: Tour does not include: . Airport - Hotel - Airport Transfers. . Any airline tickets from/to USA or from . Transportation from / to Hotel in Beirut. Lebanon to Syria. . 3 Nights’ accommodation in a Boutique Hotel in Damascus . Entry visa to Lebanon - free at present time on on Bed & Breakfast basis. arrival for US citizens. . 1 Night accommodation in Hama on Bed & Breakfast basis. . Syrian visa fee to be paid on arrival at the . 2 Nights’ accommodation in Aleppo on Bed & Breakfast border ($160.00 at time of printing). basis. . Transfers if not arriving/departing on . 1 Night accommodation in Al Wadi Area on Bed & Breakfast scheduled flights/tour dates or needing extra basis. days. . 2 Nights’ in Beirut pre and post the Syria trip. . Tips & gratuities to drivers, guides, restaurant . Lunches at local restaurants, dinners at traditional staff, etc., (suggested $10/day for guide and Damascene houses restaurants. $7/day for driver). . A cocktail at one of the Damascene houses that host a . Items of personal nature (camera fees at sites, gallery of the famous Syrian artists and sculptor and laundry, phone calls, emails, excess luggage, a prominent farewell dinner. etc.). . Water with lunches and dinners. . Beverages or any alcoholic drinks. . Qualified English speaking guide. . Travel protection insurance . Entrance fees to all Museums, Citadels and archeological (Highly recommended). sites as per the itinerary. . Visa approval for Syria (has to be applied 45 days before your trip departure). . Departure tax.

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