Arrive at the Damascus airport, meet and greet, transfer to hotel. Overnight in Damascus.

Entire day sightseeing in Damascus. In the morning visit to the National Museum to admire its archeological treasures. In the afternoon visit to the inspiring Umayyad Mosque, the lavishly decorated 18th-century Azem Palace which looks like it comes straight out of a tale in the Thousand and One Nights, the tiny Chapel of Ananias of the biblical association and the vibrant souks. Sunset over Damascus from the Mount Kassioun. Overnight in Damascus.

Visit of Maaloula, a picturesque village perched in the rocks concealing the church of St. Sergius, where Mass is still celebrated in Aramaic, the language of Jesus. Drive up to visit the Krack des Chevaliers. This imposing Crusader castle is the archetype of a medieval castle from our legends. Drive over the mountains and along the coast populated in antiquity by the Phoenicians. Via Tartus to Amrit, a Phoenician site with a unique water temple. Continue to the coastal city of Lattakia. Overnight in Lattakia.

Morning visit to Ugarit, home of the world's first alphabet, transfer to the famous Saladin Castle dramatically seated on a tall cliff, to reach the complex you must pass through a deep narrow canyon between two walls of sheer vertical rock. Drive north through the region of rugged lime hills to the St. Simeon Monastery considered the most beautiful cathedral of the Orient offering a breathtaking views that stretch to Turkey. Transfer to Aleppo.

Sightseeing in Aleppo, perhaps the most picturesque and unspoiled of Arab cities. A magnificent citadel dominates the maze of narrow alleyways, fabulous mosques, ancient Christian churches, khans, madrassas and the colorful medieval souks, the richest and the most fascinating in the Orient. Overnight in Aleppo.

Drive east towards Rasafeh (known as Sergiopolis). Its crumbling walls loom up on the edges of the desert providing a dramatic prelude to this huge awesome fortified caravan city. Although associated essentially with the Byzantines era, the site of Rasafeh had been mentioned in earlier sources, both in Assyrian texts and in the Bible. After the visit continue to Raqqa strategically situated city on the Euphrates river founded in the 4th century BC by Alexander the Great. Ahead to Deir ez-Zor, ancient port which watched over many fabled conquerors, armies and caravans crossing the Euphrates. Stopping on the bank to contemplate the river's blue mystic depths. Overnight in Deir ez-Zor.

Driving east along the stream of Euphrates to Mari, great Mesopotamian city-state dating to the third millennium B.C. which rose and fell, and to the strategic port Dura Europos, a used-to-be frontier town for Romans and Persians, nicknamed 'the Pompeii of the Orient' due to its impressive frescos. Follow in the path of the Silk Road to Palmyra, wealthy trading emporium of the past with luxurious villas and magnificent temples. Overnight in Palmyra.

Entire day devoted to Palmyra, one of the most awe-inspiring of all Roman sites and one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the whole of the Orient. It is the famous city of the legendary Queen Zenobia, who conquered Egypt and rebelled against the Romans. The principal monuments are the colossal Temple of Baal, which is almost identical in structure to the Temple built by Herod in Jerusalem, the triumphal arch, colonnaded avenues, theatre and agora, as well as the mystic Valley of the Tombs. In the evening drive back to Damascus.