SYRIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM • SYRIA MAIN

This is a sample HLO Tours itinerary. HLO Tours will customize your tour to meet your specific travel tastes, wishes, and expectations.

	Day	Description
	Day 1	New York/Damascus: Depart New York for Syria. Overnight on board. D, B
	Day 2	Damascus: Arrive Damascus this evening. Gather for a "Welcome Reception" and Dinner at the Hotel. D
	Day 3	Damascus: City Tour Walk the streets of Syria's ancient captial. Damascus is said to be one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, dating back to 5,000B.C. We will visit the National Museum, which includes cylinders etched with the "First alphabet", dating from the 14th century B.C. Continue to the tranquil Omayyad Mosque, the Azem Palace, and the discover the city's old quarter. Dinner and overnight in Damascus. BB, L, D
	Day 4	Damascus/Aleppo: Today you travel North, your first stop at Maaloula, a Greek Orthodox village, carved in the mountain, where people still speak ARAMAIC, the language of Jesus Christ. Continue to Krac Des Chevaliers fortress still intact. Also we will visit the church of Saint Sergis, one of the oldest churches in the world, then continue to HAMA, an old and timeless city famed by its (NORIA ) the huge water wheels that have been scooping water from the Orontes and pouring it into irrigation canals for centuries. After the visit continue driving to Aleppo for dinner and overnight. BB,D
	Day 5	Aleppo: After breakfast, begin your visit to the city of "architecture" and to the most important site in Aleppo, the Citadel which is located in the center of the city, then proceed to the famous covered "Grand Bazaar" ( Souk ) and wind through the old city for more than 8 miles visiting these exotic covered bazaars. Evening enjoy dinner and a folk performance in an old caravansary. Overnight in Aleppo. BB, D
	Day 6	Aleppo/Easafah/Halebiye/Dar Az Zawr: Today you will investigate the beautiful Byzantine walled city of Rasafah and the castle town of Halebiye on the Euphrates River. This town was founded by Palmyra's Queen Zenobia, the Byzantines later converted Halebiye into a frontier fortress. Dinner and overnight in Dayr az Zawr. BB, D
	Day 7	Dayr Az Zawr/Dura Europus/Mari/Palmyra: The ancient Silk Road passed from China to Syria through powerful cities along the Eurphrates until it reached Syrian ports on the Mediterranean. Explore the ruins of two of the greatest cities: the Greco-Roman fortress city of Dura Europus and the Mesopotamian city of Mari, which flourished for more than 1,000 years. The city of Palmyra with its magnificent ruins whispering of grandeur of this metropolis which, in the 3rd century A.D. was ruled by the extraordinary Queen Zenobia. Dinner and overnight in the Silk Road city of Palmyra. BB, D
	Day 8	Palmyra: Continue touring Palmyra, The city tour of Palmyra will include visit to The Temple of Bel, Arch of Triumph, Colonnade, Bath of Queen Zenobia, Theater, Agora, Valley of the Tombs. The oasis town grew wealthy because of its position on the Silk Road. The ruins of Palmyra line the eastern edges of the Syrian desert and make a lovely photo! Overnight in Palmyra. BB, D
	Day 9	Palmyra/Damascus: Today drive south to Damascus. Enjoy your day at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Damascus. BB, D
	Day 10	Damascus/Borsa/Damascus: This morning journey south by road to Borsa. Bosra a beautiful Roman Amphitheater hidden inside an Arab castle. Bosra is rich in its history, at various times in the past it has been a capital city under the Nabateans and Romans, capital for the province of Arabia and a very important Christian city. Try singing here and listen how well you voice carries up and out. Return to Damascus in the afternoon to relax and catch-up on postcards.This evening celebrate your adventures at a special farewell dinner. BB,D
	Day 11	Damascus/USA: AM Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA! Welcome Back!!!

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