Important Information About Your Trip Map
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CONTENTS: IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR TRIP MAP OF SYRIA DAY BY DAY SUMMARY OF YOUR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS QUOTATION WHY TRAVEL WITH US YOUR ITINERARY IN DETAIL ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION GENERAL INFORMATION AITO QUALITY CHARTER S YRIAN C IVILISATIONS G ROUP T OUR M ARCH-APRIL 2012 New Mill, our offices in the Windrush Valley on the edge of the Cotswolds We are proud to have received a number of awards over recent years. We have been the Daily Telegraph Ultra Travel Best Small Tour Operator winner and runner-up for the previous two years and, similarly, have been the winner or runner-up of the Guardian and Observer’s Best Small Tour Operator award for the past four years as well as featuring in Wanderlust magazine’s Top 10 Tour Operators for the past eight years. These awards are widely recognised as being the most respected in the travel industry as they are professional surveys of the publications’ readerships. With over 500 tour operators for you to choose from in the UK alone, we hope you find these awards are an additional reassurance of the quality of service you can expect from Audley. *** AN INTRODUCTION TO OUR SYRIAN CIVILISATIONS TOUR Syria is a country slowly regaining its place as a major destination in the Middle East, Few countries can lay claim to a history as long and varied; and crucially for our purposes, a history that has left such fantastic monuments and ruins for us to wander round, explore and understand. In this tour we’ve aimed to give a comprehensive insight into Syria: as well as the renowned highlights, we’ve included places on the path less trodden, places that are definitely worthy of your time but would get missed on a shorter trip. So the must-sees are all covered here: ancient Damascus and Aleppo with their mosques, citadels and souqs, famous Palmyra and legendary Crac Des Chevaliers. But we also venture to the Euphrates to see Hellenistic fortresses, and delightfully situated Arab castles. We go out of our way to see sights like Qalaat Marqab: a seldom visited crusader castle that is almost the match of its near-neighbour, Crac Des Chevaliers. There are visits to remote monasteries and the mysteriously-deserted Byzantine Dead Cities. Climate This is a trip for those with a Spring is one of the best times of the year to visit Syria. Temperatures will generally deep interest in the history and be in the mid-to-late twenties Celsius and it’s unlikely you’ll see rain more than once culture of the region. In order to or twice (and in small amounts) during your trip. A range of mountains runs north- see some of the more out-of- south through the country. To the west of this is a fairly narrow strip of land where the-way places we’re staying in the climate is moderated by the Mediterranean, so it is never quite as cold, or as hot, one or two towns that don’t as the land to the east of the hills, where a predominantly desert climate is to be feature on most itineraries. The found. hotels are perfectly comfortable but sometimes not as slick or polished as in more established Our Syria Team tourist destinations: we feel it is Harry, Sarah & Megan will be coordinating arrangements for this tour. Each of them has definitely worth this compromise travelled extensively in Syria covering all of the sights included in this itinerary. You in order to take advantage of the can contact them with any queries on 01993 838 424. sights that become accessible. This tour does require a Throughout each portion of the trip, the group will have the services of a local guide reasonable level of fitness. Many and driver. At certain key sights, we may also need to make use of further local guides. of the excursions are done on The maximum size of the group will be 16, plus our local representatives. foot, the terrain can be uneven, and at one or two places there are some steep paths to be negotiated. Syria never disappoints and can lay claim to being one of the most hospitable countries in the region. Together with the remarkable monuments, scenery and sense of antiquity, this makes it a wonderful place to visit. DAY BY DAY SUMMARY OF TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS DAY DATE ITINERARY IN BRIEF ACCOMMODATION ARRANGEMENTS 1 Saturday 31 After your flight from London Heathrow to Turquoise Hotel, Damascus March 2012 Damascus, you’ll be met by our local agents 1 x Standard - No meals are included and transferred to your hotel. 2 Sunday 01 Your drive from Damascus to Palmyra first Tadamora Palace, Palmyra April 2012 heads north into the hills to visit the 1 x Standard - All meals are included Aramaic village of Ma’alula and the remote monastery of Deir Mar Musa, before heading east to Palmyra. 3 Monday 02 Today is a major highlight, with a full day Tadamora Palace, Palmyra April 2012 tour of the ruins of Palmyra. 1 x Standard - All meals are included 4 Tuesday 03 Continuing on from Palmyra, you stop at the Beit Salahieh, Aleppo April 2012 Roman site of Resafe and the castle at 1 x Standard - All meals are included Qalaat Ja’aber. Arriving in Aleppo, your hotel will be your base for the next three nights. 5 Wednesday 04 Your tour of Aleppo today will include the Beit Salahieh, Aleppo April 2012 impressive Arab citadel, the Grand (or 1 x Standard - All meals are included Umayyad) Mosque, the Aleppo museum and the covered souqs. 6 Thursday 05 West of Aleppo, you visit the Basilica of St Beit Salahieh, Aleppo April 2012 Simeon and the Dead City of Serjilla today. 1 x Standard - Breakfast and dinner are included 7 Friday 06 You head for the coastal town of Lattakia Afamia Rotana, Lattakia April 2012 today, stopping en route at Qalaat Saladin, 1 x Standard - All meals are included a crusader castle. 8 Saturday 07 This morning you’ll pay a visit to the Safir Hotel, Homs April 2012 crusader castle of Qalaat Marqab and the 1 x Standard Room - All meals are Roman complex of Apamea. Arriving in included Homs this afternoon, you’ll stay at your hotel for one night. 9 Sunday 08 On today’s transfer to Damascus you’ll stop Beit Al-Wali, Damascus April 2012 to explore the imposing Crusader 1 x Standard - All meals are included stronghold of Crac Des Chevaliers. When you get to Damascus, you’ll stay for four nights at your hotel. 10 Monday 09 On foot you’ll visit the Old City of Beit Al-Wali, Damascus April 2012 Damascus today, covering the Umayyad 1 x Standard - Breakfast and dinner Mosque, Straight Street, the Azem Palace, are included The Chapel of St Ananias and the souqs. DAY DATE ITINERARY IN BRIEF ACCOMMODATION ARRANGEMENTS 11 Tuesday 10 Your second foray into Damascus will Beit Al-Wali, Damascus April 2012 include time spent at The National Museum 1 x Standard - Breakfast and dinner and the Takkiyeh al-Suleiman complex and are included mosque. 12 Wednesday 11 Heading south from Damascus you visit Beit Al-Wali, Damascus April 2012 Bosra today. Home to a fantastic 1 x Standard - Breakfast and dinner amphitheatre in black basalt, there is also are included the extensive remains of the surrounding Roman city to explore as well. 13 Thursday 12 The drive to the airport will give you plenty April 2012 of time to check in for your flight back to London, arriving home on the same day. Marqab castle, Syria TOUR PRICE Arrangements as specified per person £3,180 Single supplement £995 Business Class flight upgrades available on request Per person deposit required to confirm these arrangements £500 AUDLEY PRICE POLICY We are confident that we offer excellent value for money and constantly monitor our prices to make sure we remain competitive. We may not be the cheapest but our specialist knowledge and close working relationships with our experienced partners overseas ensures we provide a high level of service without charging an exorbitant price. If another tour operator quotes what appears to be a lower price then we are happy to review our price with you, however in our experience when we examine alternative quotations we invariably find differences in the arrangements. These may be subtle or more fundamental but the impact these can have on your enjoyment is considerable. If you are able to provide a copy of the other proposal (with the name of the tour operator omitted if you prefer) we will compare the arrangements and forward a detailed reply to you. NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE • Meals not stated within your Itinerary • Items of a personal nature such as laundry, • Entrance fees and other costs when on 'free time’ drinks, etc. • Future Fuel Surcharges. • Tips for your guide and driver (discretionary). • Travel Insurance • Any camera or video fees at any sites. TOUR HEALTH & FITNESS REQUIREMENTS To ensure that all participants get the most out of the tour, it is important that you are fully aware of the level of activity and fitness and medical health required to successfully complete this itinerary. Please read this dossier carefully prior to confirming your place on the tour, and having established the facts, it is your responsibility to contact us with any concerns regarding individual levels of fitness, health or ability. Please be aware that our tour leaders have the right to exclude customers from the tour if they feel they are not sufficiently fit, healthy or able to complete the tour without affecting its safety, comfort or smooth progress.