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Have you ever been
to Maten Al-Sahel?
If your answer is
yes, please post your comments in the
English
Forum
If you have not been to Al-Maten
yet here are some useful instructions ?
What are the best times to visit our village and what are the possible
activities
You can
visit Al-Maten at anytime of the year, however, every time has its
different characteristics, for example
in spring : March, April and May you can enjoy the cool and nice
weather to do your favorite sports like cycling and walking through the
mountains and valleys with the amazing scenery of green fields and
countryside, as well as in this time of the year you can celebrate the
Easter and attend the big mass of the Good Friday
In
summer : swimming, parties and Al-Maten festival are the most
important event you can enjoy especially in August also you can
celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 15th
August
In winter : (November and
December) you can enjoy the traditional olive season and you can
celebrate the Christmas and the New Year
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You can
use Maten Al-Sahel as a base to organize trips to various historical
places in Syria which are near to Al-Maten like
Ras Shamra (Ugarit):
dating to the 14th century BC, it is now believed that Ugaritic is the
most ancient alphabet in the world. Clay tablets, in several languages
were found there ,100 Km to the north
Salah ud-Din castle:
First built by the Byzantines, then occupied by the Crusaders who were
powerless to stop Salah ud-Din taking it . 110 Km north
National museum in Lattakia
90 Km north
Tartous:
An old city where the first human occupation of this site dates back
more than 6000 years. Among the most important archeological and
historical monuments: Amrit (XVI Century B.C), the Museum, and Arwad
Island
Marqab Castle:
Striking even from a distance for its huge size and somber, brooding
appearance. Built from black basalt rock, it is one of the most
impressive Crusader castles after Crac des Chevaliers. It has 14 towers
in addition to the keep (donjon).It was one of the last Crusaders
strongholds, liberated by the Mamelukes Sultan Qalauon 1285A.D 30km
north
SALADIN CASTLE (SAHYOUN):
This castle was recognized as a masterpiece of military architecture,
and defended by the Knights Hospitaller, was considered impregnable.
During the 14th century it was still in good order, a powerful citadel
controlling one of the passages between the sea and the Orontes valley
and an advance defense port for Antioch. Near the entrance there is a
stairway on the outside of the tower which leads up to a rampart walk
and to the upper level of the castle. The layout of the whole citadel
can be grasped from there. This citadel - the Byzantine Sahyoun, the
Frankish Castle of Saone and the Arab qaalat now dedicated to Saladin -
played its part in Syria's history under three different and competing
authorities, over three successive centuries . 110 south
It is
easily to organize these trips as there are many luxury mini-buses which
specialized in tourism services around the hour and to all destinations
One of important advantages of Al-Maten that you
can receive Turkish and Cyprus mobile networks which makes it easy to
receive and make calls as you are in Europe
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How can you reach Al-Maten?
From Damascus International Airport to Almaten:
you can rent one of the private cars in the village which specialized in
airport services, you can send us an email with your name and your
flight and we will book a car for you and tell you the time
Send your information to
info@almaten.com
Or you can
come from the airport to the bus station in Damascus then by luxury Al-Kadmous
Company to Tartous (one journey every hour, it takes 3 hours) then from
Tartous to Al-Maten
If you
have visited Al-Maten before you will feel the difference this time as
Syria is developing dramatically in all fields and services, by the way
the number of tourists who came to Syria in 2004 was 4.5million and this
number will reach 12milion in 2012
The basic unit of currency is the Syrian pound / U.S. $1= 54 pounds;
2005 average
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Prices and fees of some
services in Syria :
-Taxi's fee from Damascus Airport to the Bus
Station: $15
-Bus Ticket from Damascus to Tartous (300km, 3hours) by Al-Kadmous
Company: $3
-A car from Tartous to Almaten is: $3
-A private mini-bus directly from Damascus Airport to Al-Maten (with
town's private cars): $60
-A private mini-bus for a daily trip from $65
For more information
about Syria and Maten Al Sahel email us at :
info@almaten.com
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