Syria is an ancient land which has been at the crossroads of trade between the east and the west for millennia. The cities of Damascus and Aleppo have seen countless cultures and rulers come and go and they have all left their mark in the urban architecture and numerous sites in the surrounding desert. This itinerary introduces the traveller to this deep culture and the country as it is today. Highlights include the historic centres of Damascus and Aleppo, the mighty castles of the Crusaders and the ruins of the desert city of Palmyra.