Our most capable young driver and the excellent guide provided for our Austrian Verkehrsbuero group by the local Syriana travel agency - Said - got us safely and well informed from Damascus to Palmyra (Tadmur), up and down the steep hill to the citadel, to Mari, Dura Europos, Deir ez-Zur (where the coach wouldn't start and had to be repaired), Rusafa, the Assad dam, Aleppo (Halab), St Simeon's monastery, Hama, Krak des Chevaliers, Maloola and back to Damascus in 6 days. They also provided us with picnic lunches and hot cardamom coffee, tea and arak (aniseed schnaps) while en route. Great guys!