Get In Touch
Request more info or book a tour.
Fill in the form and we'll get back to you in no time!
In December 2024, the government of al-Assad fell after more than 50 years of brutal repression that left the country fragmented and impoverished, drowning under sanctions and a post-war crisis.
A new era for Syria began, bringing hope for greater freedom and change. This is a unique opportunity to witness a truly historic moment of transition in Syria.
From exploring the narrow alleys of the old city of Damascus and Aleppo to discovering ancient Medieval castles, remote monasteries, and Roman sites, Syria is the most jaw-dropping country in the Middle East.
However, our trip will also focus heavily on Syria’s most human side. This means that we will interact and get to know kind-hearted Syrians, while witnessing their struggle and desire to return to normality.
On this Full Syria expedition, we decided to extend our standard 8-day itinerary by adding the Syrian Mediterranean coast, including Latakia, Tartous, and the island of Arwad.
Please note that this video was filmed and posted in 2023, when Syria was still under Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
September 19th to 29th, 2027
€2390
11 days
Tour leader to be confirmed
Note that we always keep the itinerary flexible, and it may be subject to change, depending on the political situation.
1 – Sept 19th: Arrival in Damascus (from Beirut)
2 – Sept 20th: Damascus
3 – Sept 21st: Maaloula & Mar Musa
4 – Sept 22nd: Aleppo
5 – Sept 23rd: Latakia
6 – Sept 24th: Kessab
7 – Sept 25th: Tartus & Arwad and Safita
8 – Sept 26th: Krak de Chevaliers & Homs
9 – Sept 27th: Palmyra
10 – Sept 28th: Day trip to Bosra
11 – Sept 29th: New Damascus and departure
The tour will start at 8am in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, from where we will drive towards the Syrian border and Damascus.
The whole journey takes around 5 hours, with border crossing included.
Once in Damascus, we will check in at our hotel, followed by a traditional lunch and a stroll around the old city.
Nightlife in Damascus is particularly vibrant, especially in the Christian district during the weekend, an area filled with bars and restaurants, where we can all go for dinner and a few drinks.
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 spend the entire day exploring the city’s most well-kept secrets, as well as landmarks such as the Umayyad Mosque (where Yahya is buried, John the Baptist for Christians) and Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque, one of the most important shrines for Shia people.
As always, we will be visiting the city at our own pace, with plenty of time for photography and local interactions.
Overnight in Damascus.
On day 3, we will drive towards Aleppo, first 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.
Once occupied by Al-Nusra, Maaloula was largely destroyed due to the recent war, but its most important churches and monasteries have been rebuilt, and we will visit two of them, where we might get the chance to meet nuns who were kidnapped and held as hostages for three months.
After Maaloula, we will also stop in Mar Musa, a mindblowing, skyscraper-shaped, 6th-century monastery raised in the middle of rocky mountains.
We should arrive in Aleppo in the evening. Free time for dinner and drinks.
Overnight in Aleppo.
Once the most populated city in Syria, and one of the most prominent cities in the Middle East, 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.
During our visit, 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 by the war, and is today filled with absolutely delicious restaurants serving Lebanese wine.
Overnight in Aleppo.
On day 5 of the tour, we will have an early start, where we will be driving towards the Mediterranean coast of Syria.
Our first stop is going to be the Castle of Saladin, Sahyun Castle in Arabic.
Personally, I find this castle to be even more impressive than Krak de Chevalier, especially because of its location, surrounded by the beautiful nature that characterizes this part of the Mediterranean coast, and green all year long.
The history of this stronghold is long: the Phoenicians had already fortified the place, Alexander the Great seized it, as well as the Byzantines a few centuries later.
It is the Crusaders who, in the 12th century, gave the castle its current shape. At the time, it was called “Château de Saône” (named after a crusader). Its current name was only awarded in 1957, commemorating Saladin’s seizure of the place in 1188.
In Latakia, we’ll be strolling the promenade and then look for some delicious local seafood.
Overnight in Latakia.
Kessab is located right on the Turkish border, in the most beautiful area in the whole country, surrounded by gorgeous nature located very close to the coastline, the reason why until before the war, many Syrians, especially from Aleppo province, used to come here on their holidays.
Upon arrival, we will do a small hike, while checking out some of its gorgeous view points.
Then, we will get very close to the Turkish border, where we will have a chance to see the separation wall between both countries, which goes all the way into the sea.
Lunch in Kessab with a view of the mentioned border and after lunch, we’ll go to Tartus.
Evening and overnight in Tartus.
Arwad is the only inhabited island in all of Syria, located a few kilometers from Syria mainland, today a fishing town with a predominantly Sunni Muslim population, but originally a Phoenician town whose foundations date back to the 2nd millennium BC.
We’ll jump on a boat and visit the island and since the weather will probably be warm, we’ll also stop in the middle of the Mediterranean for a swim.
Lunch in in either Tartus or Safita, which is 30 kilometers away only. Safita is a Greek Orthodox town home to a Crusader fortress and also hiking opportunities.
Overnight in Safita.
After breakfast, we will head for Krak de Chevaliers, once described by Lawrence of Arabia as the most wholly admirable castle in the world, absolutely gorgeous and surrounded by lush green hills.
After the visit, we will have an early lunch in a restaurant with stunning castle views, followed by our journey to Homs.
Homs was, by far, the city most affected by the Syrian war, today mostly composed of destroyed buildings and rubble. Honestly, there’s not much left to see in Homs nowadays but we will do a quick visit.
Overnight in Homs.
Once one of the most important Roman cities, 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.
For visiting Palmyra, we do need to arrange a special permit.
After having a picnic lunch inside the ruins, we will head back to Damascus.
Overnight in Damascus.
On our 11th day, we will visit the southern part of Syria on a 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.
After lunch back to Damascus.
Overnight in Damascus.
After breakfast, we will visit the remaining touristic places in Damascus, including the new part of town, the National Museum, Damascene Sword and the Artisan’s market.
Transfer to Beirut and end of the tour.
Transfer to and from Beirut
10 nights of accommodation (twin shared)
All necessary permits
Private transportation across Syria
Breakfast and lunch
English-speaking local guide
International tour leader (see FAQ)
Entrance fees to the places listed in the itinerary
International flights to Beirut
Visa fees
Dinner
Alcoholic drinks or any extra drink
Single supplement. Having your private room for 10 nights costs €545
September 19th to 29th, 2027
€2390
11 days
Tour leader to be confirmed
Yes, we certainly can.
If our scheduled dates don’t work for you, or you’d prefer to travel solo or with a group of friends accompanied only by our guides, we can help you organize this itinerary or tailor a different one.
Yes, we have a specific discount policy for those who have already traveled with us.
For first-time travelers, we offer up to a 10% discount when booking more than one expedition at the same time.
Here’s our honest opinion on why you should travel to Syria with Against the Compass.
Please note that this video was filmed and posted in 2023, when Syria was still under Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
For security reasons, the name of the hotels we stay will only be shared upon booking your spot.
The price of the tour includes accommodation in a twin room.
If you are a solo traveler, you will share the room with another like-minded traveler from the group. Please note: we always try to group people of same gender and age but this can’t be always the case.
If you want a single room, you will have to pay an additional €545.
The trip starts and ends in Beirut (Lebanon), and transfer to and from Damascus is included in the price.
The international airport in Beirut is called Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY), which has plenty of connections with anywhere in the Middle East and Europe.
If coming from Europe, common stopovers include Istanbul (either Pegasus or Turkish), Frankfurt (Lufthansa), or Paris (Air France).
If coming from the American continent or Australia, Doha (Qatar Airways) or Dubai (Emirates) are also worth checking.
With the new government, the visa for Syria is available on arrival, no need to make any pre-arrangements.
All nationalities, including US citizens.
Since June 2025, the cost of the visa (whether entering by land or through Damascus International Airport) is as follows:
The visa is valid for 30 days.
We limit our tours to a maximum of 12-13 people.
To secure your spot on the tour, we require a deposit.
We accept payments in both Euros and US dollars. All details will be shared upon booking your spot.
Information about the risks and dangers of the trip:
The traveler is expressly informed that the activities included in the travel itinerary are adventurous and/or take place in conflict zones, which entail dangers and imply the risk of physical, and psychological injuries, and/or death for the traveler.
Due to the characteristics of the destination and/or activities, the specific risks and dangers of the trip are, by way of example but not limited to, those listed below:
War; terrorism; political instability; arbitrary detentions, gunfire in the activity area; and/or violent crime.
Regarding the potential dangers of the destination, travelers are advised to consult the travel recommendations for the destination country provided by their country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For example, in the case of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), these recommendations can be accessed on the following link: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/syria
FCDO advises against all travel to Syria due to the ongoing conflict and unpredictable security conditions.
Yes. If you want to join any of our expeditions, you must purchase travel insurance.
We recommend IATI Insurance.
Why do we recommend IATI?
Against the Compass has been a partner of IATI for a very long time. We personally know their CEO and marketing team, and we collaborate regularly, so in the unlikely event that something happens, we know exactly what to do.
Moreover, IATI Insurance covers all the countries where the FCDO advises against all travel, something that most insurance companies don’t.
You can also benefit from a 5% discount by purchasing it through the link below.
Get a quote here to claim your discount
Can I use a different company?
Yes, you can, as long as your insurance covers the destination you’re travelling to.
An international tour leader is an Against the Compass representative and a beloved member of our family who accompanies the group throughout the trip. You can learn more about our team here.
The role of the international tour leader is to support the local guide, help coordinate logistics, and ensure that everything runs smoothly throughout the tour. They also act as a bridge between travelers and the local team, assisting with communication, group management, and any issues that may arise during the trip.
Please note that an international tour leader will only join the tour if a minimum number of participants is reached. The exact number required depends on the destination and will be specified in the contract we share with you before confirming the trip.
Please check our General Conditions.
However, specific conditions might apply depending on the destination. Example: when the trip includes airfare.
Full details will be shared upon booking your spot.