Few places offer the diverse cultural past of Syria. A past that reflects all the great early civilisations that made their mark across these ancient lands. Our journey combines visits to the main historical sites that shaped Syria's rich and varied cultural history with a modern day perspective of the Middle East. In Damascus we wander the labyrinth of alleyways and visit the impressive Ommayad Mosque before heading to the imposing Crusader fortress of Krak Des Chevaliers, which is one of the most important preserved medieval military castles in the world. The ancient city of Aleppo with its souqs, castles and museums is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, since the eleventh millennium B.C. From the bustle of Aleppo we head to the eerie silence of the desert oasis city of Palmyra. In the mid-first century, Palmyra was a wealthy and elegant city located along the caravan routes linking Persia with the Mediterranean ports and is a fascinating site of historical interest. We return to Damascus where we conclude this all encompassing journey through Syria.

Brief Itinerary

Trip Notes

click here to download detailed trip notes

Inclusions

*7 breakfasts *3-4 star hotels on a twinshare basis *Sightseeing as per the itinerary including entrance fees *Ground transport in private vehicle (air conditioned) *Local English speaking driver / guides throughout *Site guides at the major sites visited *Arrival and departure transfers if arriving on group flight

Why Book with World Expeditions?

AIRFARES

World Expeditions has competitive airfares to get you to the starting point of your chosen adventure. CONTACT US for a full quotation including airfares, stopovers and any additional travel you wish to organize pre or post tour.

INFO NIGHTS

World Expeditions hold informative and inspiring info night presentations covering all of our adventures and journeys across the globe. CLICK HERE and join us for an informative evening in a location near you!

Upcoming Trip Departures

All World Expeditions adventure tours are small group departures and therefore places can fill quickly. To avoid disappointment, we suggest you book your trip as soon as possible.

Availability Available: Book this trip now as spaces are available. (However internal flights &/or special permits may still be subject to availability.) Limited Availability: Limited spaces are available so please click on the Contact Us link to enquire about the departure status. Closed: This date is unavailable. Please click on the Contact Us link to enquire about other trip departure dates or booking this trip as a private departure.
trip dates	availability	book
26 Sep  - 03 Oct 2010	Closed	Contact Us »
03 Oct  - 10 Oct 2010	Available	Book Now »
10 Oct  - 17 Oct 2010	Limited	Contact Us »
24 Oct  - 31 Oct 2010	Available	Book Now »
28 Nov  - 05 Dec 2010	Available	Book Now »
19 Dec  - 26 Dec 2010	Available	Book Now »
16 Jan  - 23 Jan 2011	Available	Book Now »
13 Feb  - 20 Feb 2011	Available	Book Now »
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08 May  - 15 May 2011	Available	Book Now »
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25 Sep  - 02 Oct 2011	Available	Book Now »
09 Oct  - 16 Oct 2011	Available	Book Now »
27 Nov  - 04 Dec 2011	Available	Book Now »
18 Dec  - 25 Dec 2011	Available	Book Now »
01 Jan  - 08 Jan 2012	Available	Book Now »
01 Jan  - 08 Jan 2012	Available	Book Now »
15 Jan  - 22 Jan 2012	Available	Book Now »
12 Feb  - 19 Feb 2012	Available	Book Now »
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22 Apr  - 29 Apr 2012	Available	Book Now »
06 May  - 13 May 2012	Available	Book Now »
10 Jun  - 17 Jun 2012	Available	Book Now »
08 Jul  - 15 Jul 2012	Available	Book Now »
19 Aug  - 26 Aug 2012	Available	Book Now »
23 Sep  - 30 Sep 2012	Available	Book Now »
07 Oct  - 14 Oct 2012	Available	Book Now »
25 Nov  - 02 Dec 2012	Available	Book Now »
16 Dec  - 23 Dec 2012	Available	Book Now »

1. Call or email a LP reservations consultant

If you would like to speak with a Reservations Consultant, call World Expeditions on 1300 720 000 (during office hours 9am - 5.30pm Mon - Fri) or email us

2. If you are ready to book -

 »Download Booking Form

3. Complete your details with deposit

Complete your details and fax or post to your nearest World Expeditions office along with your non-refundable deposit of AU$400 per person per trip, or US$1500 per person for Antarctica or AU$1500 per person for Arctic voyages.

4. Receive your pre-departure kit

On receipt of the booking form, we will confirm your booking by phone and our reservation staff will post to you a comprehensive Pre-Departure Kit. This kit will contain all necessary pre-departure information pertaining to your country including visa information, insurance information, a medical and personal details form, comprehensive gear list, discount vouchers for gear, our award winning Responsible Travel Guidebook as well as other information tailored to your adventure.

5. We can also handle all those extras

World Expeditions is a licensed travel agent and we are able to handle every aspect of your booking from issuing travel insurance, booking your flights, stopovers and other travel related services. Our reservation staff are eager to help so please do not forget to include any extra arrangements that you may need.

Booking Form / Terms and Conditions

Please download, print and complete the booking form below and fax or post to your nearest World Expeditions office along with your non-refundable deposit. Please ensure you read the Terms and Conditions of Contract on the booking form.

Download Booking Form »

The Responsible Travel Guidebook »

Note: If you cannot download this Booking Form contact your nearest World Expeditions office on on 1300 720 000 and we will post, email or fax you a copy.

World Expeditions

World Expeditions is one of the world’s leading adventure travel companies offering ground breaking itineraries on every continent. The company has been operating small group trekking and adventure travel holidays and vacations since 1975.

We are widely recognized for ground breaking Responsible Tourism initiatives.  In particular, the award winning Community Project Travel Program helps to improve the living conditions of some of the world’s most remote communities

Today, with offices around the globe, we offer more than 500 stand alone itineraries; small group active adventures and expeditions, cycling and walking tours and cultural journeys. Each itinerary has several scheduled departure dates throughout the season.

Supported by some of the world's most experienced and respected adventurers, including mountaineers Peter Hillary and Tim Macartney-Snape working with us as specialist guides, World Expeditions’ has helped shape the adventure travel industry standards since its inception almost four decades ago.

Our all-inclusive, no hidden extras pricing policy combined with longer, creative itineraries and the use of quality ground services attracts people who have high expectations of their travel experiences.

In 2004, we became the first adventure operator whose product was being distributed on Lonely Planet’s Travel Services section on their website.

World Expeditions is truly global company with offices in London, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, as well as Auckland, Ottawa and Montreal.

Why Travel with World Expeditions?

We own most of our operational bases around the world. This ensures that we can provide high quality trips of exceptional value with no hidden extras. Our trips are all inclusive, so there is little need to pay for anything once your trip commences until it ends.  Our hands-on approach and years of experience has ensured a safety record second to none as we’ve pioneered some of the most unique itineraries in the adventure market place today.

World Expeditions has been seriously committed to responsible travel and true sustainability since we began in 1975 when we established our philosophy and stated ideal which was to “take only photographs and leave only footprints”.

Almost four decades of pioneering adventure travel has proved the positive conservation outcomes when travel is managed for sustainability. We believe a responsible, long-term vision can deliver true sustainability and with the participation of all our clients and business partners the challenge is being met and achieved.

An example of this commitment to sustainability has been our efforts to preserve the forests of Nepal. This has involved changing an entrenched culture of burning wood for fuel. World Expeditions has pioneered the change to kerosene as an alternative to wood on all trekking expeditions in Nepal. We do not have camp fires and we strongly discourage trekkers from buying wood-fueled hot showers in lodges along the trail. As a founding supporter of the International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) we also lead the way in porter protection by providing a good working wage for all Nepalese staff, food and extra clothing for those working above the tree line, life insurance cover and emergency helicopter insurance. Our efforts were recognized at the World Travel Mart in 2006 when our porter policies received a ‘Highly Commended’ in the Mountain Environment category.

Our philanthropic program ensures we ‘give something back’. Our current initiative is Community Project Travel. The concept behind our Community Project Travel range of trips is based on the ethos of “travel with a purpose”. It is a range of small group adventures, each about two weeks in length, whereby participants commit four to five days of their holiday to making a difference to a community in need. A portion of the traveller’s participation fee contributes to the associated material costs of the project.  In 2006 our travellers helped to refurbish the Saramthali school in Nepal, collected 7 tonnes of ghost nets from the Arnhem land coastline, helped to build a new school room for the Xo village in Vietnam as well as erect a footbridge for the village of Qelqanqa in Peru so that kids could access the school safely.
 
In recognition of our environmental policies, we are the only Travel Company ever to be fully endorsed by the Wilderness Society in Australia. In 2001, we received the National Travel Industry’s Environmental Achievement Award, presented by WWF Australia, for our responsible tourism policies.
 
In addition, we create excellent adventures! Our trips have featured in the world’s most prestigious magazines and newspapers including: OUTSIDE magazine, both National Geographic Adventure & National Geographic Traveler magazine, Wanderlust, The Sunday Times, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, The Age, The Sunday Telegraph (UK) plus much more.  Visit www.worldexpeditions.com for details of all our adventures.