Ok , i'm new to the middle east forum as ive been on the se asia one for the past 10 years. Ive seen many amazing things etc and am looking for the same here. I'm at the beginning stages but have a few questions. Looking thru guide books it seems that the following are places to see...Damascus, latlakia,aleppo,palmyra,hama,crakdes,chevaliers,and salah ad din. I'm trying to find pictures of some but wanted to know what your impressions where. I like to move around and see as much as possible as i'm young and energetic. What are the can't miss sights and am i missing any from above, how long in each place, and is it difficult to go from aswan egypt to syria relatively easy. I m planning on going to egypt first and to head south from cairo to aswan then hopefully fly to syria and then travel to jordan from there after seeing syria. I'll have about 17 full days for all. I guess i'm trying to figure a way to do all 3 countries with this amount of time. hey thanks for the help and look forward to your comments...
ok, i'm starting to get a bit nervous that the middle east doesn't have true fans. If this was the asia link i would of had 10 responses by now telling me what not to miss and what a great time i'll have. . Hmmm, maybe its back to Indonesia i go....
cochin, you probably should tag your post with Syria and you will likely get more replies.
As for the amount of time you have it's not a lot to see all 3 countries. I think you would want a minimum of a week to do all the Pharaonic stuff in Egypt but I think 2 weeks is better and try and get to the Western Desert as it is amazing and a completely different side to the usual Egypt visitors see.
I would suggest a minimum of at least 5 days in Jordan. Petra can not be missed as it is just breathtaking and definitely go swimming in the dead sea, I had a great time when I went.
I've not been to Syria but have heard it is amazing so can't give any suggestions about the places you have listed.
However I would suggest if you do the 3 countries look at getting the ferry from Egypt to Jordan and then travel up to Syria from Jordan.
I think the middle east is a fascinating region and the people are the most generous and open people I've ever met on my travels. Once you make your first trip here you'll probably find like I have that you just want to explore more of it's history and culture.
It is not realistic trying to cover all the 3 countries in that time. Skip Syria or prolong your stay in the Middle East.
hi
first things first! you are probably not getting a huge amount ot repies cos the level of tourism in Syria is not what it is in places like Asia.
you have 17 days. SPEND the entire trip in Syria if this is your first visit.....you will need every day of it.
Begin in Damascus for a few days, see the sights and abosrbe the atmosphere....then take a bus to Plymera and spend an over night there staying in the New Afga hotel (cheap, clean and nice staff), you could arrange from a trip into the desert with the bedoin (if you PM me I can give you some names and numbers who can arrange this for you) from there you have a choice: 1 go on to Deir es Zur, not a lot to see but a reasonable museum, nice provincial feel to the town, the euphrates river and the gateway to ancient mesopotamia or 2 hire a driver and get him to take you through the desert along hte ruins of some castles and on to Allepo. Allepo, like Damas, needs a few days. From there I would suggest you hire a driver to take you to St, Simeon and the dead cities.
you could take a train from there through some of the most fertile lands in syria, I am not a train nerd but this is a great journey!!! all the lay to Lattakia, a day of rest in lattakia (maybe the hotel Safwan, basic, very good central location and cheap) from there is it the journey south. on the way you have to see homs, hama (Riad hotel is a must!) with great advice on places to go and how to get there! but you have to see apamea, krak di chealveris. from there you need to see two christian sites, the monestary of ....( I cant remember right now the name, someone help me!....run by an itilain jesuit (Mar Musa!) and of course you need to visit the christian town of Maalula then its back to Damas.....if you have a few days at the end i recommend a few days over the border to Beruit, just to whet your appatite form your nect visit to the Middle East...to the Lebanon
you will love it
enoy and get there soon
Jason
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