Syria is rich in exquisite ancient wonders, abundant natural beauty, and a people renowned for their friendly hospitality. Our journey begins in Damascus, the oldest continuously inhabited city on earth, a great metropolis bountifully bequeathed with intricate mosques and mausoleums. The ancient cities of Damascus, Aleppo and Bosra are all listed on Unesco's World Heritage list, as is the sensationally beautiful ruined city of Palmyra. Mighty Crusader castles, labyrinthine medieval souqs, jewel-like Damascene houses and sacred Umayyad mosques are a few of the highlights. These monuments are often woven into the fabric of daily life - the locals worship in the mosques, shop in the souqs, drink tea in the houses and picnic in the ruins. And they're happy for visitors to join them.