Lebanon

The attraction of Syria and Lebanon also lies in the diversity of landscapes, from the rocky Mediterranean shores in the West, through olive groves and mountains, valleys and plains to the Syrian desert in the east and the River Euphrates. Syria and Lebanon among the very early centres of civilisation and by 3000 BC, Mari on the Euphrates and Byblos on the Mediterranean were already powerful trading cities.

In Syria, the highlights of any trip are: Damascus, the oldest inhabited capital in the world, centre of the Arab world in the 7th century; Palmyra, the breathtaking Roman site in the heart of the Syrian desert and Krak des Chevaliers, the largest and most imposing Crusader Castle in Syria. In Lebanon, Beirut, Baalbeck and Byblos should not be missed.