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About Syria

It is a magical world and a thrilling escape, an experience limited only by imagination and creativity !

Syria is a unique destination that magnificently contrast East and West. Its complex history and legendary civilizations created a cultural mosaic unequalled in the world.

Our guests can discover the diversity of the region, enjoy the stay in comfortable hotels, taste exclusive food, relax in modern vehicles and have professional tour guidance at the same time !

SYRIA played an incomparable role in the history of mankind. It is often described as the cradle of civilizations since many of the greatest human achievements that later spread to encompass the world had their beginnings in ancient Syria (which extended from the Taurus Mountains to Sinai and from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates).

In this land, Man discovered the secrets of agriculture and metallurgy, and invented the very first alphabet. Religions, philosophies, language of trade, systems of urban development, of diplomatic and cultural exchange; all these germinated in geographical Syria.

Rivalries About a Cradle

The oldest remains testifying to human settlement in Syria go as far back as one million years. They were unearthed in the valleys of the Orontes and the Nahr-el-Kebir on riverbanks. We are still very far from the roughly two millions, three hundred thousand years which is the age of the famous " Lucy", exhumed in the valley of the Omo in Ethiopia. Actually, in Syria there is a huge gap of 400 to 500,000 years between the hardly visible signs of settlement we mentioned and the oldest evidence of an extended human activity. This will carry us back to Paleolithic, and in particular, to the site of
EI-Latamneh in the valley of the Orontes, but also to some other places.

Let us skip this period to reach the early Neolithic age which is particularly interesting in this part of the universe. Because of various excavations, Syria claims at least in its present state of knowledge, the title of the oldest " country " in the world where Man ended his nomadic life to settle down in hamlets and villages. This is a particularly important moment in the evolution of mankind to the credit of a culture called the Natoufian which spread its area of influence from the Nile to the Euphrates, between 10,000 and 8,200 B.C.

How To Get There

Damascus, the main gateway to Syria, Aleppo & Latakia are connected with all continents by the national carrier (SYRIAN AIRLINES) and major international Airlines. By land, Syria is connected by highways with Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. There are seaports facilities at Latakia and Tartous.

Currency

The Syrian pound (called Lira) is divided into 100 pastries. The bank notes are 5,10,25,50,100,200,500 and 1000 Liras. The coins are 1,2,5,10,25 Liras.

Languages

The official language is Arabic. Most Syrians also speak another language most often, French or English.

Cuisine

There is a great diversity in Syrian Cuisine which is reputed throughout the Arab world. The best known dishes are: Kibbeh (pounded lamb meat and crushed wheat) which itself comes in countless variations, Meshwi (skewered grilled meat) Hoummos (pureed chick peas) Tabbouleh (cracked wheat salad) and Kounafa Pastry (shredded baked wheat dough filled with cheese cream and pistachio, covered with sugar syrup). Western cuisine is available in all international hotels and major restaurants.

Shopping

Shopping in Syria is an endless delight due to the variety, beauty and fame of Syrian products and handicrafts such as: brocades, hand blown glass, embroideries, engraved copper works, silverworks, etc...