Syria lay at the crossroads of great empires, was a battlefield, a staging area, and a point of contention – between Hittites and Egyptians, Greeks and Persians, Byzantines and Muslims. For our guests with little time but great interest in Syria, we have packed numerous highlights into a concentrated program.

Flight to Aleppo. Overnight in Aleppo.

In the morning, we visit the National Museum in Aleppo, where we discover art treasures from early Syrian history. We stroll through the Old Town with its various khans and the Umayyad Mosque. Afterwards, enjoy a walk through the most beautiful souq in the Orient.

Drive north, near the Turkish border, to the ruins of Cyrrhus from the 3rd century BC. Continue to the central limestone massif to the pilgrimage site of Simeon Monastery. Continue to Idlib, overnight in Idlib.

Drive to the southern limestone massif to the ancient city of El-Barah, visiting tombs, churches, and villas. Next to it lies Serjella from the 5th century, one of the best-preserved ancient cities in northern Syria. We visit Ebla, where clay tablet archives from the 2nd millennium BC were discovered. The day ends with a walk along the colonnade street of the Hellenistic-Roman-Byzantine city of Apamea. Through the coastal mountains, we reach the coastal city of Latakia. Overnight in Latakia.

In the morning, we visit the royal palace, the temple quarter, and the tombs in the port city of Ugarit from early Syrian times, where the world's first alphabet was discovered. North of Homs lies the Krak des Chevaliers, undoubtedly the best-preserved Crusader castle. Overnight in Homs.

Drive through the desert to Palmyra (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Visit the colonnade street, the Baal temple, and the Valley of the Tombs. In the museum, we deepen our knowledge of the history of the oasis city.

We follow the caravan routes to Maalula. Visit the two monasteries Mar Tekla and Mar Sarkis and hike through the rock gorge. Continue to Damascus and visit the Christian quarter with the Ananias Chapel. Then stroll through the old alleys and the oriental bazaars (souqs). Overnight in Damascus.

The National Museum offers a unique opportunity to learn about the historical development of Syria. Next door, we visit the Tekia-Suleimania Mosque from the Ottoman period. The suburb of Salihie, one of the few Islamic city foundations in Syria, and the mosque of Sheikh Muhedin Ibn al-Arabi, built as a pilgrimage site, are also on the program.

We visit the magnificent Umayyad Mosque with its unique mosaic decoration. Visit Saladin's tomb and stroll through the narrow streets of the Old City and the souq. The Azem Palace demonstrates the splendor of oriental rulers. The afternoon is free.

Day trip to the Hauran, the volcanic basalt landscape of the south. We see the unique floor mosaics in Shahba and visit Bosra (UNESCO World Heritage Site) with its best-preserved theater and ancient city layout. Return to Damascus.