Ancient World tours

Site Summary    Damascus:   National Museum, Old City, Hanania Church, Azem Palace, Tomb of Saladin, Omayyad Mosque, Mount Kassion.   Damascus to Aleppo: Kadesh on the Orontes, Qasr Ibn Wardan, Sheizar, Hama, Krak de Chevaliers, Qalaat al Marqab, Ugarit, Aleppo, Saladin Castle, Serjilla, Ebla, St Simeons.   Aleppo to Deir ez-Zawr:   Qalaat Jaabar, Russafa, Mari, Dura Europos.   Deir ez-Zawr to Damascus:   Palmyra.

Day 1 – Thursday 8th September

Fly London Damascus with British Airways. On arrival we transfer to the comfortable Beit Zaman Hotel for two nights.

Day 2 – The Ancient City

Damascus is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world and we begin our tour with a full exploration of the National Museum. We move on to the Old City and walk Straight Street within the city walls, the principal east-west route through the ancient city. Famous for its association with St Paul, we will view the Window of St. Paul and the Hanania Church. This evening, we take the short coach ride to Mount Kassion for the superb view of Damascus at sundown and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (BLD)

This morning we leave the city and journey to Kadesh on the Orontes, site of the great battle between Ramesses II and the Hittites recorded for eternity on monuments all over Egypt. Then on to impressive Qasr Ibn Wardan with its massive walls that enclose a palace, church and barracks. We continue to the Fortress of Sheizar with its stunning views over the Orontes gorge. Tonight we stay in the charming town of Hama of the Water Wheels for dinner and overnight. Hama, known as Hamath in the Old Testament, is a city built on river banks that are bordered by parks, gardens and mosques. Our hotel is the Apamea Cham overlooking the Orontes. (BLD)

After breakfast we leave Hama and head to the castle of Krak des Chevaliers for a visit. This is the most impressive crusader castle in the Middle East, with magnificent views over the surrounding countryside. Next we visit Qalaat al-Marqab, the Castle of the Watchtower – a great favourite of T. E. Lawrence with its commanding views over the coastal plains. Then to Ugarit – one of the earliest settled and most important sites in the ancient world and probable birthplace of writing. This is the great trading city mentioned on clay tablets found in the Amarna archives. We overnight at Le Meridian Hotel in Letakia, a relaxed and friendly town set on a fertile plain along the coast. (BLD)

Day 5 – Hill Towns and Tells To Aleppo. En route we will see our final castle, that of Saladin, famous for its gorge. Then to Serjilla, a ruined hill town, where we wander through pillared streets and see villas where people lived in some luxury. Next, ancient Ebla, Tell Mariah, where Abraham is said once to have lived. This city is still being excavated. Much of the citadel has been exposed revealing a Palace, with courts and stairs, ceremonial chambers and archives. We check-in for two nights at the Sheraton Hotel in Aleppo. (BLD)

Day 6 – The Hilltop Monastery

An early start sees us on our way to the beautifully situated church of St. Simeon Stylises, probably the most famous man in the world in his day. The rest of the day is spent in Aleppo where we visit the museum where we will see objects discovered at sites we have visited such as Hama and Ugarit and treasures from Palmyra. Then to the citadel and the ancient walled city. Time to explore the gates and the ramparts from where there are some lovely views of the city. (BLD)

Day 7 – City of Saints

We depart for the Arab fort of Qaalat Jaabar, itself impressive and near the battle that lead to the great schism in Islam. Once standing on a promontory overlooking the Euphrates, the fort now stands on an island in a lake due to the new modern dam and is accessed by a causeway. We travel onto Russafa – site of the martyrdom of St. Sergius – a beautiful walled town that has basilicas, cisterns and palaces in the midst of the Eastern Steppe. We continue to Deir ez-Zawr on the bank of the River Euphrates where we overnight at the Badia Cham Hotel. (BLD)

Day 8– The Palace of Zimrilim

Our first site today is Mari known as Tell Hariri. Here is one of the oldest mud-brick palaces left in the world – that of Zimrilim. Ziggurats rise in the desert. This royal city state flourished for over a thousand years until it fell to Hammurabi of Babylon in 1760 BC. Next, to Dura Europos, a stunning fortified town and river port on the banks of the Euphrates, which is being extensively excavated. We then take the desert road, past tribal settlements to the city of Zenobia, Palmyra, where we check-in for two nights at The Dedeman Hotel (BLD)

AWT is an agent of Bales Worldwide Ltd.

DEPARTURE DATE  Thursday 8th September 2011 TOUR CODE AWSD080911   Basic Holiday Price: £2,895 Single Supplement: £580     Land Only Discount: £471  Book tour

Day 9 – Queen Zenobia’s Palaces

Palmyra in the reign of the fabulous Queen Zenobia must truly have been a sight to behold! We explore the Temple of Bel with its great Corinthian columns that dominate the city; the richly decorated Arch of Triumph, and the Great Colonnade. We wander the Agora, viewing commercial houses, civic buildings, fine shops, theatres and baths and admire the strange tower tombs in the Valley of the Tombs. Time to view antiquities from the site in the Palmyra Museum. In the late afternoon, we find a secluded spot to enjoy a magnificent sunset on a quiet hill behind the Praetorium. (BLD)

This morning, we bid farewell to Palmyra and head back to Damascus. In the afternoon we will be taking in the most important of the Islamic sites. We start with a visit to the Azem Palace with its charming garden and fountains. Then to the modest domed tomb chamber of Saladin built in 1196 after his death in Damascus some three years earlier. We then visit the Omayyad Mosque - one of the most classically beautiful in the Middle East. This is followed by plenty of free time in the bazaar, just a short walk away. We spend our last night in Syria at the Beit Zaman Hotel. (BLD)

Day 11 – Sunday 18th September

After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our departure to London arriving later the same day. (B)

Expert: Nick Jackson is an archaeologist, lecturer and journalist and has excavated in Syria, Jordan and Turkey for nearly a decade. Nick lives in Berlin and is a guide and lecturer on the history of Berlin especially its underground history.