Our trips are led by two experienced crew who will share with you their knowledge and enthusiasm for travel to Turkey, Syria and Lebanon. Come and join us for an unforgettable trip in this fantastic part of the world! Our Middle East overland trips from Istanbul to Damascus or vice versa can be joined in either city. below route is for those on the Nomadic Oasis Overland South joining in Istanbul the daily itinerary below can be followed in reverse for those on the Nomadic Oasis Overland North from Damascus or viewed online at the tour page.

There is an amazing amount to see and do in Istanbul and as we depart Istanbul on the first morning of the trip we recommend arriving a couple of days early to experience this great, safe and friendly city and pay a visit to at least the Aya Sofya Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar to name but a few sites.

Day 1 - 5 From Istanbul we begin our journey with a half day drive through olive groves and rural settlements to Gallipoli and the Straits of the Dardanelles. In World War I, on this blustery and exposed peninsula, ANZAC and British Forces struggled unsuccessfully for nine horrendous months to dislodge Turkish troops from the hills above the beaches. It is a moving experience to visit war graves and battle grounds where so much suffering and unnecessary loss of life took place. Australians and New Zealanders make a pilgrimage each year on ANZAC day to pay their respects to their fellow countrymen who died here. We attend the dawn service on ANZAC Day as well as the memorial services at Chanuk Bair and Lone Pine. From here we cross the Straits, leave Europe and enter the continent of Asia. We visit Troy on our way to Ephesus and spend the next 2 nights camping on the coast. Built by the Greeks a thousand years before Christ and then rebuilt by the Romans, this immense ancient city boasts an amphitheatre that can seat 24000 and a harbour with no water - still in good condition after all these years. We then travel via either Pamukkale where you can swim in warm, mineral-rich water, or take the more visually scenic route towards Marmaris and camp in the mountains.

Day 6 - 12 For most of the year the tours head to Olu Deniz and Olympus further down the Mediterranean coast. We stay in campsites and tree houses and spend the next couple of days relaxing on the beach. You can also take boat trips around the Med coast, tandem paraglide or hire small motor bikes and visit some of the small out of the way villages nearby. We then travel inland and upwards and stop on the way at Saklikent Gorge where there is the opportunity to go river tubing. From here we travel for a day to the visually powerful, windswept land forms of Cappadocia. Over the centuries houses, churches, fortresses and even underground cities have been carved into this eerily eroded, volcanic rock. The Goreme Valley provides us with an astonishing setting in which to spend a few days investigating the region. We will take you to one of the underground cities where you can explore alone or with a guide this ancient and mysterious area!

Day 13 - 18 Driving through stunning mountain scenery in the crisp clear days of summer, and ice and snow in winter, we wend our way to Syria. Syrians are among the most hospitable people you will ever meet. The country has a rich and varied history with the Egyptian, Roman, Babylonian and Persian Empires having all passed through here along with Jesus and his disciples! Our first stop in this fascinating country is the market town of Aleppo where you have free time to explore the souks, local cafes and tea houses, or visit a local haamam where you can get a relaxing steam clean! Nearby we visit Crac de Chevaliers - an 800 year old Crusader Castle - perched high on top of a mountain. Then time permitting, we travel out to the oasis town of Palmyra we really get into the desert proper. Sleeping out in this vast wilderness, untainted by artificial light is an experience not to be missed. The night sky dazzles with stars, satellites and shooting stars. On the road to Damascus, we head to one of the friendliest and safest of capital cities. We spend two nights in this, the oldest inhabited city in the world. From here there is the option of taking a one day guided tour into Lebanon & Beirut.