Syria Tours

Sample itinerary for our Syria vacations tours

Here’s the standard 8-day tour we offer on most of our expeditions.

Day 1 – Beirut and Damascus

• Starting in Beirut at 8am, from where we will drive towards the Syrian border and Damascus.
• Check-in at the hotel in Damascus, followed by a traditional welcoming lunch
• Strolling around the old city, beginning to assimilate that we are truly in Syria
• Night out. The Christian district is particularly vibrant, filled with bars and restaurants.

Day 2 – Full day in Damascus

• With more than 5000 years of history, Damascus might easily be the oldest capital in the world, a city absolutely packed with historical sites, as well as lively souks and bazaars.
• We will visit all highlights, including Umayyad Mosque (where Yahya is buried, John the Baptist for Christians), Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque, the bazaars and more.

Day 3 – Maaloula, Mar Musa, and Aleppo

• Drive towards Aleppo, stopping in Maaloula, one of the most important Christian towns in the Middle East, and one of the very few places in the world where people still speak Aramaic, the language of Jesus.
• Maaloula was occupied by Al-Nusra, and it was largely destroyed due to the recent war, but its most important churches and monasteries have been rebuilt
• Visiting two of its most important churches, where we will get the chance to meet nuns who were kidnapped and held as hostages for three months.
• Then, visit to Mar Musa, a mind-blowing, skyscraper-shaped, 6th-century monastery raised in the middle of rocky mountains.
• Overnight in Aleppo.

Day 4 – Aleppo

• Once the most populated city in Syria, Aleppo was one of the most affected cities by the Syrian war.
• Life, however, is coming back to Aleppo, visible in the ongoing reconstruction and all the people who are slowly returning to their beautiful home city.
• Among other things, we will visit the Citadel of Aleppo – the last Syrian Army stronghold – as well as the historical souk and vibrant Christian district, which remained pretty untouched from the war, and is today filled with absolutely delicious restaurants serving Lebanese wine.
• Overnight in Aleppo.

Day 5 – Hama, Krak de Chevalier, Al Mishtaya

• On the way to Krak, stop in Hama, a pretty photogenic town, famous for its water wheels, all over the city.
• Then, we will head for Krak des Chevaliers, once described by Lawrence of Arabia as the most wholly admirable castle in the world, absolutely gorgeous and surrounded by lush green hills.
• Lunch in a restaurant with stunning castle views
• Evening and overnight in Al Mishtaya, a lovely Christian town with a pretty nice evening atmosphere.

Day 6 – Palmyra and Homs

• Palmyra is rich in both ancient and contemporary history, since the archaeological site was taken by ISIS on two separate occasions during the war.
• ISIS blew up the most important temple, but the site is huge and most of its structures are still standing.
• We will visit the ancient place escorted by a member from the Syrian Army
• After a picnic lunch inside the ruins, we will head back to Damascus and, on the way, we will stop in Homs.
• Overnight in Damascus

Day 7 – Bosra

• Day trip to Bosra, an ancient city home to one of the most admirable Roman amphitheaters in the whole world, as well as other important monuments.
• In Bosra, the local Syrians are culturally different, similar to Bedouins.
• We will have lunch in a traditional Bedouin tent, with locals from Bosra.
• Overnight in Damascus.

• Day 8 – New Damascus and goodbye
• Visiting the new part of Damascus, including the National Museum and the handicraft market
• Strolling around the souks, for shopping, buying souvenirs, etc.
• After lunch, back to Beirut, around 8pm.