Day 1: Fly Heathrow to Damascus. On arrival you will be met by your guide and after assistance with your visa arrangements, transferred into the city to check into your hotel for the night.
Day 2: Enjoy a full day's sightseeing tour of Damascus. Sites will include the National Museum,the Omayyade Mosque, the Azem Palace and typical example of a Damascene house.
Day 3: Travel south of Damascus to visit the beautiful black basalt city of Bosra, a major archaeological site which contains ruins from Roman, Byzantine and Muslim times. It is also home to the famous Roman theatre built in the 2nd century A.D., which seats 15,000 spectators and is considered one of the most beautiful and well-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world.
You will also have the chance to visit the museum at Shahba. The town itself stands in an oasis of orchards and vineyards and is the famous birthplace of the Syrian Emperor Philip, who ruled the Roman Empire between 244 and 249 A.D.
Day 4: Travel north of Damascus towards Aleppo. En route you will visit Krak des Chevaliers, a beautiful crusader castle dating from the 12th century, built by the Knights Hospitallers and described by T.E. Lawrence as ‘the finest castle in the world’. Ccontinue north to Aleppo itself where you will check into your hotel.
Day 5: Today you will enjoy a full day’s sightseeing tour of Aleppo and the surrounding area. You will have the chance to visit the Citadel. You will also visit the Grand Mosque and Syria’s famous museums and souqs.
Travel on to Qalaat Samaan, home to one of the most significant early Christian buildings in Syria, built on the edge of an escarpment and boasting stunning views over the Syrian countryside against the backdrop of Turkish mountains.
Before dinner you can visit the famous Baron Hotel, popular with many well-known 20th century figures including Agatha Christie, T. E. Lawrence and Charles Lindbergh.
Day 6: Transfer south to visit Apamea, where the restored columns of the colonnade are a remarkable example of ancient stonemasonry, with the pavement still bearing the marks of ancient chariot wheels. The mosaic floors here are reputed to be among the best in the world.
You can also visit some of the 16 norias (water wheels), among the largest in the world and found along the Orontes River at Hama. Each one has its own distinctive sonorous 'voice', with many believed to be more than 500 years old.
Continue eastwards into the desert to Palmyra, where you will check into your hotel in time to watch the sunset from the Saracen Citadel. Its stunning location allows you spectacular views across the ruins of Palmyra.
Day 7: Visit the stunning sites of Palmyra, including the unique Temple of Bel, the Colonnaded Street with the famous Arch of Triumph, Zenobia Baths,Temple of Nebo and the Senate House. You can also explore the Agora, the Tariff Court, the Theatre, the Nymphayem and Diocletian's Camp. Then transfer back to your hotel in Damascus.
Day 8: Early transfer to the airport for your flight to London Heathrow, arriving later the same day.