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Istanbul to Damascus - OLD Inclusions

Pre-departure information dossier on Turkey and Syria
Economy class flights from Australia to Istanbul and from Damascus to Australia
16 nights’ accommodation in good quality hotels with private facilities (3-4 star)
16 breakfasts and 9 dinners
All airport transfers and touring in air-conditioned vehicles
English-speaking local guides in Turkey and Syria
Spend two nights in exotic Istanbul where your sightseeing includes Topkapi Palace, the unique Blue Mosque, the colourful Spice Bazaar, the Hippodrome and the awe-inspiring Basilica of St Sophia
Tour the Turkish capital Ankara and visit the vast Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey
Explore the incredible lunar landscape of the Goreme Valley in Cappadocia and wander through one of the many hidden underground cities. Dating back to 2,000BC, these cities were built for protection from increased invasions and also had religious purposes
Tour the city of Gaziantep including the citadel, the Ethnography Museum and the Archaeological Museum
Visit Harran, situated on the flourishing trade route between Mesopotamia and Anatolia, which enabled a rich and diverse culture to permeate the area for many centuries. Also visit the Cave of Abraham and the Sacred Pool
Explore the amazing hilltop ruins at Mount Nemrut and marvel at the fragments of large statues built more than 2,000 years ago, depicting lions, eagles, kings and various ancient gods
See the rich collection of ancient Roman statues and mosaics at the museum in Hatay
Tour through lively Aleppo, visiting the bustling bazaar, the citadel and the Grand Mosque before travelling to the ancient ruins of St Simeon Monastery
Explore the ancient ruins of Ebla then drive through the picturesque Orontos Valley to the beautiful city of Hama, famous for its amazing ‘norias’, or waterwheels
Visit the imposing Krak des Chevalier. Considered the greatest Crusader fortress in the world, it was built to control the so-called ‘Homs Gap’, the gateway to Syria from the Mediterranean
Travel into the heart of the Syrian desert to see the magnificent ruins of Palmyra, an immensely wealthy city until the 3rd century BC when Queen Zenobia turned against the Romans - obviously a bad move!
Drive through the scenic Qalamoon Mountains to Maaula, home to the isolated Monastery of St Sergius and the Convent of St Thecla - and to Aramaic, the language of Jesus
Spend two nights in Damascus, the capital of Syria where our touring includes the National Museum and the lively Souq al-Hamidiyeh and great views of the city from the top of Qasyoun Mountain