To ensure we got the most out of our trip, the days are long, leaving the hotel at around 0830 and arriving at next hotel around 1730hrs. There are plenty of ‘comfort’ stops made and a stop is also made every day for lunch sometimes. On our trip lunches we an extra and cost, at around £5.00 each including a drink.

When visiting the sites, there can be many steps and steep inclines and this could be a problem if you have walking problems. There are also rough surfaces to walk over with loose rocks and no handrails in places.

None of the above however should be allowed to put you off  visiting what is a fantastic country. You literally trip over historical sites wherever you go. In terms of tourism it is very much developing slowly and lags behind Jordan in this respect.  It feels a very safe country and people seem genuinely keen to see you.

Historical digs and excavations are taking place and there is so much more to be unearthed in this fascinating country - It experienced heavy earthquake years ago with many buildings destroyed and new buildings just built straight on top of them.

The sights themselves are stunning in particular the crusader castle of Crac de Chevaliers, the wooden water wheels at Hama, the colonnaded street of Apamea, St Simeons Monastery and the fantastic historical city of Palmyra will live long in the memory. One other added attraction is that the main sights tend to be incredibly cheap to visit and also very quiet with no real hordes of tourists - yet !

One more point ,don't forget airport departure tax of around £20 and tips for the guide of around £25 and driver around £15 - although amounts are really up to the individual.

One final suggestion sterling is not always easy to change - US$ or Euros are better although some of the local shops will change it for you albeit at not such a good rate. One local boy who helped one of the ladies in our group walk round Crac de Chevaliers refused to take sterling as his tip and would only accept Euros or US$.