Syria and Lebanon know how to show a tourist a good time, framing every experience with their gold-medal hospitality. Take a wild taxi ride through the Syrian desert, hike through Lebanon's luscious Qadisha Valley, stay in a lavishly restored 15th-century merchants' house in Damascus and see why Beirut's still the Middle East's party capital.

* Full-colour maps
* Up-to-the-minute reviews of brand-new boutique hotels and restaurants
* All-new Culture chapters highlighting the latest travel lit and local writing
* Special colour chapter featuring travel tips from locals
* Unlock Lebanon's eco-secrets: home-stays, camping options and mountain ranches