Our tour of Syria, thought of by many as the cradle of civilization, starts and ends in Damascus, the world's oldest city. We explore some of the highlights of this fascinating country with its ancient cities, bustling souqs and expanse of desert plains. We explore Crac des Chevaliers, the mightiest and best preserved crusader castle built to dominate the pass which is the Syrian gateway to the Mediterranean. We see the famous Norias of Hama, the oldest waterwheels in the world which once provided water to fields and gardens. We wander through the old souqs of Aleppo, visit the dead city of Serjilah, and marvel at the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of the Syrian desert, once a caravan station, and later a Roman outpost and major city within the Roman Empire.