SYRIA & ITS HIDDEN SPLENDORS

At the crossroads of the Middle East, Syria’s colorful history dates back to primeval times.  Yet, Syria remains a land still to be discovered.  This fascinating country, stretching from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea to beyond the Euphrates River, is extraordinarily rich in historical sites.  And these ancient sites are refreshingly free of commercial ventures with an atmosphere of uncluttered authenticity no longer present at more well-trodden historical locations.  Stately Roman ruins, ornately-painted Byzantine basilicas, awe-inspiring fortress-castles built by the Crusaders, and elegant Ottoman turbas (tombs) - all and more abound in this ancient land. 

The cultural richness of Syria is demonstrated in its seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and we will visit all of them. Damascus was founded in the 3rd millennium B.C. and is one of the oldest cities in the Middle East. Located at the crossroads of several trade routes, the ancient city of Aleppo is four thousand years old and has been ruled successively by the Hittites, Assyrians, Arabs, Mongols, Mamelukes and Ottomans and remains of each are still visible. Bosra, once the capital of the Roman province of Arabia, was an important stopover on the ancient caravan route to Mecca. An oasis in the Syrian desert that was one of the most important cultural centers of the ancient world, Palmyra displays architecture that combines Greco-Roman techniques with local traditions flavored by Persian influences. The two castles of Salah El-Din (Fortress of Saladin) and Krak de Chevaliers represent the most significant examples of 11th to 13th century fortified architecture in the Near East. We will also cross into Lebanon to see Ba’albek, another World Heritage property and home to the Temple of Bacchus, the largest in the Roman world.

On this 17-day trip, we will walk through these fascinating sites unfettered by swarming crowds and enjoy the hospitality of Syria’s warm and friendly people. 

ITINERARY: (B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner

Day 1: Leave U.S.A.

Day 2: Arrive Damascus.  Overnight for the next three nights in the five-star Cham Palace Hotel, located conveniently in the downtown area.

Day 3: Our full-day tour of Syria's capital begins with the Old City, an UNESCO World Heritage site. First, we will visit the Chapels of Ananias and St. Paul, built at the site where Paul was lowered from the city wall in a basket.  From here we enter the Old City through the Bab Sharqi, the Roman Gate of the Sun, walk past an ancient Roman arch into the suq, or modern bazaar, the lifeblood of the city, and on through the spice market, cloth merchants' stores, and the shops of the metal workers.  Near the suq is the Azem Palace, the Ottoman palace built in the 18th century for the governor of Damascus.  The Umayyad Mosque sums up in one place the diverse and complex history of Syria. This magnificent monument contains the remains of the Roman Temple to Jupiter, a Byzantine arcade, a beautiful Umayyad mosaic in the courtyard, and the spacious prayer hall where the shrine of St. John the Baptist is located, said to house his head.  Continue into the Citadel, passing several modern bathhouses, coffee shops, and private homes. Finally, tour the Damascus National Museum with its collection from the entire history of Syria. (B/L/D) 

Day 4: Today we cross into Lebanon to visit the colossal Temple of Bacchus at Ba’albek.  Already converted into a fortress during the Byzantine era, the former temple precincts changed hands several times during the Arab invasions in the 7th and 8th centuries. Beginning with the First Crusade in the 11th century, the castle became an important outpost; it was captured by Saladin in 1174 and passed to his grandnephew upon his death. (B/L/D)

Day 5: As we leave Damascus, we will stop at Seidnaya, a major pilgrimage location built in the 6th century and famed for its miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary. Then it’s on to the village of Maalula, the only place in the world where many of the people still speak Aramaic, the language of Jesus Christ. Famed for its beautiful setting, the village is filled with Christian churches and monasteries, some dating back to the 6th century. Continue to the most magnificent example of Medieval castles in Syria and an UNESCO World Heritage site.  In the 12th century, this great fortress known as Krak des Chevaliers was the home of the Knights Hospitaller, and it controlled the trade route between the Mediterranean and Damascus.  From here, proceed through lovely orchard and olive-growing country to the picturesque town of Safita.  Here, the Crusader castle of Chastel Blanc sits atop the small mountain overshadowing the lovely town.  Overnight at the Safita Cham Palace Hotel.  (B/L/D) 

Day 6: Drive to Amrit, site of the Phoenician religious center Tartus, to see the crusader remains of Our Lady of Tartosa and Qala’at Marqab, a stunning crusader fortress.  Sitting on the edge of an extinct volcano, the black basalt ramparts stand out in dramatic relief against the turquoise-blue sky.  We will also see Ugarit, the Bronze Age Canaanite seaport where ships from Egypt, Cyprus, Crete and Greece stopped to trade their wares for goods from the interior. Dating back to 6000 B.C., the city developed an alphabet that greatly simplified record-taking.  Overnight in the Hotel Meridien in Lattakia. (B/L/D) 

Day 7: Salah ad-Din, known to Westerners as Saladin, was a brilliant statesman and leader who re-took Jerusalem from the Crusaders in the 12th century.  Built on the remains of Phoenician, Greek and Roman buildings, Saladin’s Castle or Qa’alat Saladin is in an almost impregnable position. The fortress is perched atop a wedge-shaped steep ridge almost 500 high and flanked by two spectacular ravines. The third side is protected by an impressive man-made ditch cut 90 feet into the rock. Today we will climb up to this UNESCO World Heritage site where, on a clear day, we will be able to see the Mediterranean and understand the importance of control of this castle. We continue to the Roman city of Apamea where we will walk in the footsteps of Antony and Cleopatra along the mile-long main street lined with massive columns concealing the facades of ancient shops. In the small museum we will see fine mosaics found here.  Our final destination is Hama dating back to the Neolithic period and considered the most picturesque city in Syria. The greatest attraction of the city is the huge norias, or water wheels, originally used to raise water from the river into aqueducts. The wheels and blocks on which they are mounted are wooden, and the friction between the two produces a moaning noise which pervades the air of central Hama. Overnight in the Hama Cham Palace. (B/L/D) 

Day 8: Our first stop today is ancient Ebla, one of the most important and powerful city-states in northern Syria during the Bronze Age.  Here, we will view the remains of a palace where more than 15,000 clay tablets were discovered that documented a thriving culture of the third millennium B.C. Continue to the Church of St. Simon Stelovitus. St. Simon lived atop a column for 42 years.  Pilgrims went there to consult with him in life, and after his death, they continued to visit the splendid church that was built around the column. From here we move to Ain Dara with its extraordinary 2500 year old Aramaean temple crowning the site's acropolis. The sacred shrine was built of black basalt and white limestone, creating a dramatic juxtaposition of light and dark contrasts. A frieze of deities, lions and sphinxes runs around the facade of the temple, and two huge menacing lions guard the entrance.  Overnight for two nights in Aleppo at the five-star Aleppo Sheraton Hotel. (B/L/D) 

Day 9: Aleppo is one of the oldest inhabited cities in history. This ancient city, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, was first settled in the eleventh millennium B.C. Lying on a land route between Europe and the East and once one of the major commercial cities of the Orient, Old Aleppo was encircled within a formidable wall, 3 miles in circuit with seven gates. The13th century castle is built atop a huge ancient tell rising 150 feet above the modern city and dating back to the Neolithic period. Today’s explorations take us on a walking tour of the ancient city including the castle and the Great Mosque, founded by the Umayyad dynasty in the 8th century.  Commerce has always been Aleppo’s claim to fame, and we will end our day in the old city’s suq where covered shops cover 8 square kilometers - the oldest enclosed shopping center in the world! The afternoon is free to explore the suq or visit the Aleppo Museum containing an important collection of artifacts from all periods. Tonight's special dinner party will be held in the charming BeitWakil, a restored 16th century Aleppo palace. (B/L/D) 

Day 10: Drive into the Syrian Desert to Rasafa, the site of the martyrdom of the Roman soldier St. Sergius. The city is enclosed by still-standing sparkling walls of light-reflecting gypsum.  Explore Halabiye, a massive fortification designed to secure the Roman and Byzantine frontiers along the Euphrates River. Overnight for two nights in the four-star Furat Cham Palace in Deir ez Zor.  (B/L/D) 

Day 11: Explore the furthest outpost of the Roman Empire, Dura Europos, overlooking the Euphrates River and the fertile plain beyond. Within the massive walls of the city are the remains of a synagogue, a Christian chapel, and the Temple of Zeus. At the ancient site of Mari, an important trading center in the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC, walk through the ruins of the ancient palace into a labyrinth temple complex. Return to Deir ez Zor for the night. (B/L/D) 

Day 12: This morning we will travel deep into the desert to explore Qasr al-Heir al-Sharqi, a remote oasis desert castle built by Caliph Hisham as a hunting palace during the Umayyad period.  The vast walled enclosure contains the remains of two castles, with two semi-cylindrical towers. One of the extraordinary doorways now serves as the entrance to the National Museum in Damascus. Though today a seemingly enigmatic and forlorn ruin, this “Walled Castle to the East” once thrived with orchards and olive groves.  The agricultural offerings were so bountiful in fact that a thick wall was erected to prevent nomadic herds from entering the gardens.  Overnight for two nights in the Palmyra Cham Palace.  Time permitting, explore the suq where we might see Bedouin women dressed in vivid satin robes with tattooed faces and hands. Dinner is on our own. (B/L)

Day 13: Spend today exploring the extensive remains of Palmyra, sometimes called the Queen of the Desert and known since antiquity as Tadmor.  Located midway between the Mediterranean and the Euphrates, this oasis was an essential watering place for the many camel caravans that formerly traversed the route in the time of the Roman Empire.  Visit the massive Temple of Bel, dedicated to the god who controlled the movement of the stars, the colonnaded street running to the Funerary Temple, the recently restored theatre, and the 2nd-century agora.  In the Valley of the Tombs, examine underground catacombs, house tombs, and towers designed as the burial apartments for an entire family.  And, finally, we will have a wonderful photographic opportunity as we watch the spectacular sunset create a rosy hue on the remains of this breathtaking city. (B/L/D)

Day 14: Today, we drive to Dumeir, site of the intact 3rd century Roman temple to Zeus Hypsistos during the reign of the Emperor Philip the Arab. The portrait carved in relief in the southern tympanum is of the Emperor and his wife Otacilia, or relating to a lawsuit in 216. An earlier altar dedicated to the Semitic deity, Baal Shamin, in 94 BC, indicate that a Nabatean religious building previously stood on the site. Drive on to southern Syria to see the Roman city of Bosra, the southern capital of Roman Syria and an UNESCO World Heritage site. Here we will see one of the best-preserved Roman theaters, converted to a fortress in Umayyad times.  The castle fortifications completely encircled the original theatre, and a moat was dug with a single bridge for entry.  The spectacular amphitheater seats 9,000 people.  Dinner is on our own. Overnight for two nights in the Bosra Cham Palace. (B/L) 

Day 15: Drive from Bosra to Shahba, the Roman city of Philippolis. The ancient walls and buildings of the city were constructed from black volcanic rock.  After exploring the well-preserved theatre and extensive baths, we will visit the museum where exquisite 4th-century mosaics are on display.  Continue to Qanawat, perhaps the most enchanting of Syria’s ancient cities, where the Roman ruins are scattered amidst a grove of huge oak trees.  Our last stop will be in the modern museum at Suweiyda to see a well laid out display of spectacular Roman mosaics. (B/L/D) 

Day 16: This morning, enjoy a free morning in Bosra. After lunch, we will transfer across the Syrian border at Jabar into Jordan. Transfer to Amman. Overnight for one night in the Century Park Hotel in Amman. Dinner is on our own. (B/L)

DAY 17: Transfer to the airport for our flight back to the United States. (B)

STUDY LEADER: Amr Al-Azm received his BA (with honors) from University of London, Institute of Archaeology and his PhD in archaeology from the same institution. He is currently a Visiting Professor at Brigham Young University. From 1999-2004 he was the Director of Scientific and Conservation Laboratories at the General Directorate of Antiquities, Damascus, Syria, and from 2003-2006, was Co-Director of the Centre for Archaeological Research and Scientific Laboratories at the University of Damascus. Dr. Al-Azm has worked on archaeological projects in Syria, Jordan, Oman, Mongolia, and England, including renovation and reorganization of the National Museum of Damascus and the Rehabilitation of the Citadel of Damascus. From 2002-2003, he was the Director of the joint American/ Mongolian archaeological excavations of the Chinggis Khan Expedition, reputedly a possible burial place of Chinggis Khan. Since 2007 he has been the Co-director of the American expedition to both Apamea and Palmyra in Syria. Dr. Al-Azm has published extensively and is fluent in English, Arabic and French. He is an outstanding teacher with a wonderful sense of humor and an ideal scholar to lead our trip to Syria.

TRIP DATE:  May 22 – June 6, 2010

TRIP COST:  CALL (per person, double occupancy) includes international airfare from New York’s JFK to Damascus; all hotels; most meals (as listed in the itinerary); entry fees; and land transportation.

COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: a donation as outlined below; passport or visa fees; airport or departure taxes; gratuities to guides and drivers; alcoholic drinks, beverage or food not on regular menus; laundry; excess baggage charges; personal tips; email, telephone and fax charges; or other items of a personal nature.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:  CALL Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, the single supplement must be charged.

NOTE ON DONATION: As a tour company that benefits from the cultural and natural riches of our destinations, we have a policy of donating to the scientific and cultural projects, and museums we visit.  This has created a bond between Far Horizons and the academic and local communities that has helped us establish an extensive list of lecturers and contacts in each of our destinations.  We ask that each participant write a check to the noteworthy project we designate. The donation amount is $150.00 per person and is made by check directly to the donation project.  Note that the donation is required as part of your registration for the trip and that it is non-refundable.  We will be designating a donation project for this trip shortly. 

REGISTRATION AND FINAL PAYMENT:  A deposit of $500.00 per person along with a separate check made out to the donation project is required along with your registration form. Final payment is due 75 days before departure. Upon receipt of your deposit, the donation check, and completed registration form, you will be sent a reading list and a clothing and equipment list. An information book designed for this trip, including maps of archaeological sites and articles of pertinent interest will be sent upon receipt of final payment.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Cancellations received in writing at least 75 days before departure will receive a refund less a $250.00 administrative fee. Cancellations received less than 75 days before the departure date will not receive a refund. If for any reason you are unable to complete the trip, Far Horizons will not reimburse any fees. Registrants are strongly advised to buy travel insurance that includes trip cancellation.

FUEL SURCHARGES: Far Horizons must pass on price increases for uncontrollable charges such as flights and other services due to additional fuel charges.

PRIVATE TOURS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES:  The private tours of archaeological sites and talks by specialists are scheduled in advance and include a donation to each. Specialists working at these sites are excited about showing their work to interested enthusiasts.  However, please be aware that there may be times when the director or a member of the staff may not be onsite when our groups arrive due to other commitments. 

NOTE ABOUT ITINERARY CHANGES: Changes in our itinerary, accommodations, and transportation schedules may occur. A good book to read as well as a flexible attitude and a sense of humor are essential.

LIMITED TO 15 PARTICIPANTS