Thanks to its position at the heart of the Middle East, Syria has an ancient and fascinating history and rich cultural heritage whose traces can be seen throughout the land.

The fascination and delight of Syria 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 is one of the very early centres of civilization and some of man's first permanent settlements were established along the Euphrates River. By about 3000 BC with the development of trade came the rise of wealthy citystates such as Mari, Ugarit and Ebla.

Weather
Syria’s climate is partly Mediterranean and partly hot desert. The eastern desert is the hottest part of the country and it makes up more than half of Syria’s land surface. The desert area can be cold in winter but in most areas the weather is comfortable, making September to March (autumn, winter and spring) good times to travel. Summer can be unbearably hot.

Local Customs
Syria is a Muslim country but is used to western influences. It is advisable that ladies wear long trousers or skirts when they are walking around the cities as the local people maybe offended, by the wearing of skimpy clothing. Women should not enter mosques in shorts, short skirts or revealing clothing and should wear a headscarf when entering. Everyone must remove their shoes when visiting mosques.

When visiting any foreign country it is always polite to respect the local customs. Take the time before your trip to read up on the countries you will be visiting and perhaps learn a few words of the language.

Visas
British passport holders can obtain a free touirst visa on arrival, with special permission, if you have booked a holiday through a tour operator. However, if you prefer you can apply for the Syrian visa before deprture at the Syrian embassy in London. The consular fee for a single entry tourist visa is currently £35.00. Most other nationalities also require a visa, visas cost change frequently, please check with your consular office. Our visa service can assist with the visa application.

Vaccinations
Nothing compulsory, but we recommend protection against Tetanus, Typhoid, infectious Hepatitis and Polio. (Malaria if travelling to certain areas of Syria) It is your responsibility to check all relevant recommendations and also to get the most up-to-date health information for the destinations being visited. You can contact your GP or any of the following organisations:

MASTA: Telephone: 0906 822 4100 www.masta.org
Live Travel Health Line: 09068 633414
www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk

Flight Duration
Flight time to Damascus from London is 5hrs, with British Airways.

Accommodation and Transport
We normally use 4 stars and some 3 star accommodations on our tours, where possible with some local character. In more remote areas where the choice of accommodation is limited, we will use the best available small hotels or local pensions. We can also provide a range of 5 star hotels and some simple guesthouses depending on your budget.

A variety of transportation will be used on tour: cars, 4 wheel drive vehicles, minibuses or coaches, depending on the size of the party.