Visa:

Visa are free of charge and are given upon arrival at one of the Syrian airports or borders, provided clients travel with a foreign tour operator; individual travellers on their own have to pay for a visa. (A passport list filled with the full passport information of the participants stamped with the tour operator stamp is needed for check in formalities). As for individuals: They are kindly advised to obtain a visa from one of the Syrian consulates or representatives abroad.
Some nationalities can apply for an individual visa upon arrival. Passports must not have an Israeli visa stamp, else the bearer will be denied entry.

Syria's major airports:

Damascus international airport. 29 km from the city centre.
Aleppo international airport. 22 km from city centre.
Lattakia international airport. 30 km from the city centre.
The borders with Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon are open for 24 hours a day.

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Our services:

Meeting and Assistance at airports - Transfers:

We meet your clients in all airports, and at all ports as well as at the border stations. Wherever you arrive, we can modify the program accordingly.

Our representatives speak several languages. They wait for your clients inside (air)ports bearing a sign with your company´s or the clients´ name, and assist them with customs and immigration proceedings. They accompany them to their hotel, help them check in and explain everything about their stay.

Sightseeing:

Our sightseeing tariffs include guiding, entrance fees, and transportation.

Guiding:

We know the importance of the guide for a successful tour, and we provide the best government licensed guides for nearly all languages. For special groups we can employ academics!

Hotel Rates:

Hotel rates are considerably more favorable during the low season (06.01 - 14.03 & 01.06 - 31.08 & 06.11 - 19.12). Christmas/New Year and Easter week are peak periods with a special supplement in all cities. The 5*hotels only sell rooms on H/B, not on B/B.

Our Rates:

Our rates are competitive and up to date, and can be applied to small groups and F.I.T. For groups larger than 16 persons please request a special group rate from us!

Reservation, Confirmation and Cancellation:

Send us your request per e-mail or fax to get our quotation. After you have accepted this we will confirm as soon as we get written confirmation from the hotels. We will also inform you if and when prepayment has to be made. Please note that most hotels cancel if the deadline for advance payment is neglected! Also, these prepayments are not refundable in case of late cancellation! Cancellations without fees will also be accepted until one month before arrival (as long as there are no prepayments).

You can also establish dates for your sales and inform us about them as well as the group size you usually deal with, and we will confirm this. Deadline for final number is one month before arrival of the group.

Payment:

If hotels demand prepayment to keep the reservation you will pay us full or partially per bank transfer to our account in advance. We will give you the time in our reconfirmation.

Climate:

The climate varies from relatively hot Mediterranean type summers and warm often rainy winters on the coast, to hot summers and cold winters inland. In the desert temperatures fluctuate.
 

Time:

Syria is two hours ahead of GMT in winter (October to March) and three hours ahead in summer (April to September).

Geography:

Syria lies at the eastern end of the Mediterranean sea, occupying an area of 185.000 km². It has mutual borders with Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan & Palestine to the south, and Lebanon & the Mediterranean sea to the west. The highest point is 2814 Meter above sea level.

Population:

Syria has approximately 14.000 million inhabitants with an annual growth of 3.6%. Nearly 90% of the population are Muslims, the remainder is Christian. Arabic is the official language, English is widely understood. Some people, like the villagers of Maaloula, still speak Aramaic, the language of Christ.

Industry:

Syria's economy is largely dependent on its oil reserves, oil and oil based products which account for two-thirds of the export revenue. Other economic activity is largely concentrated around agriculture and employs one third of Syria's workforce. Main exports include cotton, woven fabrics and phosphates. Main imports include machinery, iron, steel, petroleum, petroleum products and cereals. Principal trading partners include Germany, Iran, Italy and now to a lesser extent Russia.

Health:

There are no inoculations needed for entry Syria; unless you are coming from an affected area. The medical services in Syria are well developed and many doctors have been trained overseas and speak English.

Currency:

Syrian pound (SP), known locally as the lira. = 100 piastre(s). Paper notes are in denominations of 5,10,25,50,100 and 500 pounds. In Syria, Lebanon and Jordan exchange facilities are available at all points of entry and hotels. Rates are displayed and you may wish to ask for a receipt. There are no restrictions on visitors to bring in, and take out, foreign currencies. All major credit cards are welcomed anywhere.

Official holidays:

January 1st, March 8th Revolution day, April 17th National day, May 1st Labor day, May 6th Martyrs day, and Christmas, Easter, end of Ramadan Feast El Fitr 3 days, Al Adha feast 4 days, Al Hijra day and Prophet's day. Museums and Castles close on Tuesdays all over the country but they are open on all other days even during holidays. Souks and Bazaars are closed on Fridays as well as during the Islamic Eids.

* Muslim holidays are approximate, as they are timed according to local Sightings of various phases of the moon.

Electricity:

The current is 220 volts, 50 AC. The sockets are of the two-pronged European variety.

Weights & Measures.

Syria uses the metric system.

Business Hours:

Banks: between 8 AM & 2,00 PM

Offices: between 8.30 AM & 1.30 PM / 4.30 & 7.30 PM

Shops are open all day from 9.00 AM until 8.00 PM in winter and 9.00 PM in summer.

Some shops close for siesta in the summer.

What you need: ·

Conservative dress is needed to visit mosques and churches.
An extra pair of socks.
A hat & sun-glasses for travelling in summer.
Stout walking shoes.

Food and Drink:

The Syrian kitchen is varied and interesting. A typical meal begins with appetizers ( mzzeh ) like hommus: mashed chick peas with sesame oil, mutabbal: mashed aubergines with sesame oil, kibbeh: fried balls made from wheat and mince meat, burak: little pastries filled with mince meat or cheese.

Lamb or beef or grilled chicken is served as a main course prepared in the typical Syrian way. Fruit like grapes, apples, apricots and peaches may be served as dessert, or the famous Syrian sweets. And afterwards one drinks tea or coffee spiced with cardamom.

Alcoholic beverages are served in hotels and restaurants, except of the area around the grand mosques in Damascus and Aleppo, where restaurants do not serve alcohol. The local drink is arak, made from grapes and spiced with aniseed, which is recommended to aid your digestion while travelling!

Security:

There is no official advice against travelling in Syria, it is one of the safest countries in the world. The crime rate is extremely low compared to European countries, theft is rar, women may walk unmolested even in the old cities and narrow alleys. Due to the political tension in the area Syria is sometimes misrepresented in the media. Travellers who undertake a trip to the country are usually pleasantly surprised by the hospitality, helpfulness and natural friendliness of the Syrians, as Syria has not yet been discovered by mass tourism. You may travel to Syria and feel right at home!

Festivals & Fairs:

The International Festival of Bosra is held in the amphitheatre of Bosra and includes Arabian and foreign artist groups, plastic arts and exhibitions highlighting industry, hand crafts and photography – biannually from 1.-15.September.

Annual Festival of Syria’s Artists, held in the National Museum, the People’s Hall of Arts, including painting, sculptures and engraving, from 1.-20.November.

Damascus Cinema Festival is held biannually from 4.October – 6.November, screening films from many Arabn and foreign countries.

Theater Festival is held biannually from 10.-20.November, with participants from many western and Arab countries.

Music Festival held annually by the High Institute of Music in Damascus, Aleppo and Latakia in April and May.

The Desert Festival “Al Badiyah” is held by the Ministry of Tourism in the historical city of Palmyra.

Arabian Tourism Day is held annually on 23.June.

International Tourism Day is held annually on 27.September.

The National Documentation Exhibition is held annually between 21.-31.November.

The Book Fair is held annually in the Al Assad Library and accompanied by a program of cultural activities – 15.-25.September.

Damascus International Fair is held annually in the city centre during August, exhibiting local, Arabian and international products.

The Flower Show is held annually in Tishreen Park between 15.-30.June.

Distances: