A Cultural Tour to Syria & Lebanon
Thursday, 2 - Sunday, 12 December 2010
Leader: Khun Bilaibhan Sampatisiri, President of the Siam Society
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Syria has an area of 185,180 sq km. It is very roughly a 500 x 500 km. square with Lebanon intruding in the south-west, and sharing borders with Jordan and Iraq in the south and east and Turkey to the north. There are four broad geographical regions in Syria: The coasted strip, backed by the mountains, which then flatten out into the cultivated steppe, quickly giving way to the desert.
The name Syria is believed to have first been applied by the Greeks. By Roman times, in the form of Provincia Syria, it had come to mean that part of the empire that lay between Egypt in the south and Anatolia in the north. Therefore, any history of Syria has also to deal with the regions now known as Lebanon and Jordan, both of which only came into being this century.
Modern Syria was created as a French mandate and attained independence in April 1946, as a parliamentary republic. Syria has a population of 17 million, and its annual growth rate is 3.4%. The two biggest cities are Damascus and Aleppo with their respective population at about six million and three million inhabitants. The population is mainly Sunni Muslim. About 90% of the population are Arabs, which include some minorities such as the Bedouin. The remainder is made up of smaller grouping of Kurds, Armenians, Circassians and Turks.
Syria’s capital, Damascus is a city of fascinating contrasts and claims to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Damascus was an important city under the Romans and it became a military base for the armies fighting the Persians. Hadrian declared it a metropolis in the 2nd century AD and during the reign of Alexander Severus it became a Roman colony. It was here that Saul of Tarsus was converted to Christianity and became St. Paul the Apostle. By the end of the 4th century AD most of the population had adopted Christianity. The temple of Jupiter became a cathedral dedicated to St. John the Baptist, whose head supposedly lies in a tomb inside the Umayyad Mosque.
With the coming of Islam, Damascus became an important centre as the seat of the Umayyad caliphate from 661 to 750 AD. The city expanded rapidly and Christian cathedral was turned into a mosque. Today, there are two distinct parts to Damascus: The old City and the rest. The Old City is tightly defined by its encircling walls, while modern Damascus sprawls around it and stretches off in all directions. Most of what there is to see in Damascus in within the Old City.
Palmyra – Known to the locals as Tadmor, is Syria’s prime attraction and one of the world’s great historical sites. The ruins of the city dating back to the 2nd century AD. The emperor Hadrian visited Palmyra in 130 AD and declared Palmyra a “free city”. The city was destroyed by Aurelion in 273 AD following an other rebellion in which the inhabitants massacred 600 Roman archers who were station here. In response, Aurelian’s troops were particularly brutal, slaughtering Palmyra’s residents and torching the city. The city fell to the Muslims, led by Khaled ibn al-Walid, in 634 and from then on, despite the building of the castle, it dwindled to a small village beside extensive ruins – the result of a devastating earthquake in 1089.
Aleppo – is Syria’s second largest city. It is a city of commerce and since Roman times it has been an important trading center between Asia and Europe. Caravans arrived from Mesopotamia, Persia and India to be met by merchants from Venice and Genoa, who had a presence in Aleppo as early as the 13th century. The city is quite unique in that it’s estimated somewhere between 20 to 30% of its population is Christian, representing perhaps the greatest concentration of Christians anywhere in the Middle East.
Hama is one of Syria’s more attractive towns. The peaceful atmosphere, good restaurants and excellent hotels combine to make it a very pleasant place to spend a few relaxing days. Hama has occupied a position of importance city for many centuries and remained an important Roman and Byzantine center until its capture by the Arabs in 637 AD.
Republic of Lebanon is a 10,452 sq km country situated on the crossroads of three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa. It is the historic home of the Phoenicians, Semitic traders whose maritime culture flourished there for more than 2,000 years (c.2700-450 B.C.). Lebanon encounters a very rich heritage and a special charm which have attracted, throughout the ages, travelers, tourists and conquerors. At different periods of its history, it has come under the domination of several rulers, including Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Mamluks, Crusaders, Ottomans and French. Although often conquered, Lebanon was never subdued; the Lebanese take pride in their rebellions against despotic and repressive rulers as they strived to gain their independence and freedom. Evidence dating back to the beginning of history recorded the presence of Lebanon as a group of coastal cities and a heavily forested hinterland. During the Greek, Roman and Byzantine periods, Phoenicia’s cities were economically and intellectually active, and flourished mainly under the Pax Romana during which the inhabitants of the principal Phoenician cities (Byblos, Berytos, Sidon, and Tyre) were granted Roman citizenship. Furthermore, trade and maritime activities in the Phoenician coastal cities continued to flourish later on for several centuries.
Lebanon’s enchanting and charming landscape has attracted the attention of many peoples and sheltered many others from the domination of conquerors and rulers. Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after WW1, the League of Nations mandated the now-known Lebanon to France. Under the French mandate, the Lebanese had started to call for their independence, and had drawn up in 1926 the country’s constitution which granted equal political power to its various religious groups. However, Lebanon has been the scene of political turmoil since its independence in 1943. In the mean time, Beirut had gained a major position as a regional center for finance and trade. Several uprisings broke out in the 1940s and 1950s, and it wasn’t until the 1960s that Lebanon enjoyed a period of relative calm when Beirut witnessed prosperity in both sectors of tourism and banking. In 2009, dispute a global recession, Lebanon enjoyed 9% economic growth and hosted the largest number of tourists in its history.
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Beirut survived a decade and a half of conflicts and had therefore earned the title "The city that would never die". Despite the chaos and destruction in Beirut during and after the war, the city was rebuilt to shine and glitter in the 21st century. Several archeological excavations led by the General Directorate of Antiquity revealed and unearthed priceless finds from the Phoenician, Roman Byzantine, Persian and Ottoman periods. The pearl city of Lebanon and the whole East has now re-flourished to become once again the scene of full scale day activities where trade, banking and financial sectors are thriving, as well as a lively nightlife scene for visitors and tourists.
The tentative programme will be as follows:
Day 1: Thursday, 2 December 2010: Bangkok |
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| 10:00 p.m. | Meet at Suvarnabhumi Airport, counter check-in for Royal Jordanian Airlines, Row S. |
Day 2: Friday, 3 December 2010: Bangkok / Amman / Bosra / Damascus |
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| 00:30 a.m. | Depart to Amman by Royal Jordanian Airlines flight RJ 183. |
| 05:15 a.m. | Arrive Amman, transfer to local restaurant for breakfast, and proceed towards the northern border with Syria, after crossing the border, continue to Bosra to visit its Roman amphitheater, which dated back to the 2nd Century AD. |
| Noon: | Lunch at local restaurant. |
| Afternoon: | Continue to Damascus, on the way visit Shahba. See the wonderful collection of mosaics resembling Greek Myths in the roman villas which is one of some remarkable monuments left from 244-249 AD reign of Roman Emperor, Marcus Julius Philippus, who was known as Philip the Arabian. He tried to make his birthplace (Shahba) a great Roman town like Rome, but failed because of his short reign. |
| - | After that we will see the famous hand-woven rugs made of pure wool. |
| - | Dinner at local restaurant. |
| Evening: | Overnight at Beit Zaman Hotel or Cham Palace Hotel in Damascus. |
Day 3: Saturday, 4 December 2010: Damascus |
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| Morning: | Breakfast at the hotel. |
| - | After breakfast start a full day tour of Damascus, visiting: The Omayyad Mosque , the Chapel of St. Ananias, St. Paul’s Window, the National Museum, Hamidiye Bazaar, Saladin Mausoleum and the legendary Straight Street of Damascus. |
| Enroute: | Lunch and dinner at local restaurant. |
| Evening: | Overnight at Beit Zaman Hotel or Cham Palace Hotel in Damascus. |
Day 4: Sunday, 5 December 2010: Damascus / Maaloula / Palmyra |
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| Morning: | Breakfast at the hotel. |
| - | Drive to Maaloula, one of the most beautiful and picturesque villages in the region, situated 1300 metres above sea level. It is said to be the first monastery in Christianity, and the unique thing is that the inhabitants still speak Aramaic (the language in which Christ preached and addressed his pupils). |
| - | After that proceed to Palmyra. |
| Enroute: | Lunch and dinner at local restaurant. |
| Evening: | Overnight at Hotel Dedeman in Palmyra. |
Day 5: Monday, 6 December 2010: Palmyra / Krak des Chevaliers / Hama |
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| Morning: | Breakfast at the hotel. |
| - | Visit to the spectacular ruins city of Palmyra, built by the Arab Queen Zenobia (267-272 AD). It is considered to be one of the most splendid ancient sites in the east. We will see the archeological museum, the tombs, the Temple of Bel, Arch of Triumph, The Agora, the colonnaded street, the Senate house, the funeral temple, Diocletian camp, etc. |
| Noon: | Lunch at local restaurant. |
| Afternoon: | Proceed to visit Krak des Chevaliers, a 12th century fortress which was occupied by the crusaders in 1110 BC. |
| - | Continue to Hama, a historical city located on the Orontes River, with it's famous water wheels, one of the most picturesque city in Syria. |
| - | Dinner at local restaurant. |
| Evening: | Overnight at Hotel Orient House in Hama. |
Day 6: Tuesday, 7 December 2010: Hama / Aleppo |
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| Morning: | Breakfast at the hotel. |
| - | Tour of Hama city, visit the ancient grand mosque and the Famous Norias (Water Wheel) after that proceed to Aleppo, the second Capital of Syria. On the way visit the Basilica of St. Simeon, where St. Simeon, a Christian ascetic, settled in 412. He lived for nearly 40 years on the top of a column, surrounded by pilgrims. |
| Enroute: | Lunch and dinner at local restaurant. |
| - | Overnight at Martini Dar Zamaria Hotel in Aleppo. |
Day 7: Wednesday, 8 December 2010: Aleppo – Hom |
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| Morning: | Breakfast at the hotel. |
| - | After breakfast, visit to the Archaeological Museum of Aleppo and on to visit the Citadel, in the heart of the city surrounded by an impressive moat, dates back to the Fatimid and Ayyubid period - 11th and 12th Centuries AD. Then visit the souk, which is housed in miles of labyrinthine passageways at the foot of the Citadel. Also see the Grand Mosque and Al Wazir Caravanserai. |
| Enroute: | Lunch and dinner at local restaurant. |
| Evening: | Overnight at Homs Grand Hotel in Homs. |
Day 8: Thursday, 9 December 2010: Homs / Baalbeck / Beirut |
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| Morning: | Breakfast at the hotel. |
| - | Drive early morning towards the border, cross into Lebanon and proceed to visit Baalbeck, Lebanon’s greatest Roman treasure of the ancient world. The site includes the temples of Jupiter, Bacchus & Venus, with the remarkable Great Court and the Hexagonal Forecourt. |
| - | After that continue to Beirut, making a short stop to visit the Chateau KSARA for a taste of the Lebanese production then continue onto Beirut. |
| Enroute: | Lunch and dinner at local restaurant. |
| - | Overnight at Moevenpick Hotel & Resort Beirut. |
Day 9: Friday, 10 December 2010: Beirut / Jeita Cave / Byblos |
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| Morning: | Breakfast at the hotel. |
| - | Depart to visit Jeita Cave, one of the world's most beautiful caverns. |
| - | Proceed north to visit Byblos, a charming, small town of great history. One of the oldest Phoenician cities, it was a part of the coastal area once known as Canaan and is the world oldest continuously inhabited settlement (7000 years). We visit its ancient sites, see the remains from the Hellenistic and Roman eras and then explore the old part of the town and fishermen’s harbor on foot. |
| Enroute: | Lunch and dinner at local restaurant. |
| - | Overnight at Moevenpick Hotel & Resort Beirut. |
Day 10: Saturday, 11 December 2010: Beirut / Beit Eddin / Bangkok |
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| Morning: | Breakfast at the hotel. |
| - | Proceed to the Beiteddine Palace, the best example of architecture in early 19th century. |
| Noon: | Lunch at local restaurant. |
| Afternoon: | Back to Beirut, visit to the National Museum and drive to the downtown district to see the huge reconstruction project to create a new commercial and residential district for the 21st century. |
| Evening: | Dinner at local restaurant and transfer to airport. |
| 10:00 p.m. | Depart to Amman by Royal Jordanian Airlines flight RJ408. |
| 11:00 p.m. | Arrive Amman connect flight to Bangkok. |
Day 11: Sunday, 12 December 2010: Bangkok |
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| 00:55 a.m. | Depart to Bangkok by Royal Jordanian Airlines flight RJ 180. |
| 02:25 p.m. | Arrive Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. |
Booking
Bt.121,500 (Bt.124,500 for non-members). Single room surcharge Bt. 13,000. A deposit of Bt.36,450 and photocopy of passport must accompany the booking. Payment in full is required one month before the start of the trip (i.e. by Tuesday, 2 November 2010). Please pay by cash or cheque payable to ‘The Siam Society’. Alternatively you can deposit/transfer the money to the Siam Society account at the Thai Military Bank, Asoke Branch saving account no. 053-2-18000-7. Please fax or e-mail the deposit or transfer docket to us. There is a 4% surcharge for credit/debit card payment to cover bank charges.
Included/Excluded:
The contribution includes airfares, airport transfers, 27 meals, accommodation for two persons per room, sightseeing as mentioned in the programme and other costs incurred to make this trip possible. It excludes visa fee, personal expenses, tips to driver and porter, etc.
Cancellation charge:
Cancellation after booking: Deposit forfeited:
29-15 days of the start of the trip 30% of the tour cost
14-10 days of the start of the trip 50% of the tour cost
Less than 10 days before the start of the trip, or cancellation without notice No refund
The Siam Society reserves the right to change the programme as necessary. Seats are limited. Please book your place as soon as possible.
For further information and bookings please contact Khun Prasert (ext. 504) or Khun Ekkarin (ext. 506) on 0 2661 6470-7, fax 0 2258 3491 or e-mail: ekkarin@siam-society.org. Office hours: 9:00am.–5:00pm. Tuesday–Saturday (except holidays).