BIBLICAL ECHOES AND KALEIDOSCOPIC CULTURES
March 14 ⇾ March 23
DECEMBER 19 ⇾ December 28
In addition to our scheduled Syria Tours, we also offer travel services for private groups and lone wolves alike. Tailored trips and bespoke adventures are, in fact, our bread and butter. Get in touch for more info on our customised journeys to Syria!
DAY 1 to DAY 2 – Damascus
Meet-and-greet in Damascus and introduction to Syria and the different nuances to be aware of while travelling around the country.
Damascus can be reached either overland from Lebanon or by direct flight via the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and handful of other countries; we will assist you in the booking process: get in touch for more info on both options.
We'll spend two days touring Damascus and its many cultural, historical and architectural wonders, the latter also including a surprisingly vast amount of Soviet-inspired architecture, monuments and memorials (such as the astounding October War Panorama Museum and the neo-rationalist headquarters of the Syrian National Bank).
During our time in the city, we'll also have the unique chance to meet with the locals, the gentle and proud Damascene people, who will share with us their delicious food and their unique views about the complex and often misrepresented proxy conflict that strangled the Syrian Arab Republic.
Overnights in Damascus.
DAY 3 – Palmyra
Early morning start and transfer to legendary Palmyra, an oasis in the Syrian desert home to the monumental remnants of what was once one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world.
Full day devoted to Palmyra and its imposing ruins, including the Arch of Triumph, the Great Colonnade, the Theatre, the Agora and the Tower Tombs.
Afternoon desert drive to the historical city of Homs, known in pre-Islamic Syria as Emesa.
Overnight in Homs.
DAY 4 – Almishtaya
Morning tour around the old city of Homs and visit to the charming little town of Almishtaya in the Valley of Christians.
In the afternoon we’ll then pay a mandatory visit to the mighty Krak des Chevaliers, one of the best preserved medieval castles in the Middle East.
Overnight in Almishtaya.
DAY 5 – Tartus
In the morning we'll drive to Tartus, a booming seaside resort town, where we will enjoy a short stroll around downtown before we hit the lively city beach for some fresh seafood.
In the afternoon we’ll then take a quick boat trip to the little-known picturesque islet of Arwad, the country’s only inhabited island, and a true highlight of your trip.
Overnight in Tartus.
DAY 6 – IDLIB
We’ll leave Tartus after breakfast and follow the coastal road northwards to the port city of Latakia, historically knowns as Laodicea ad Mare and capital of the so-called Alawite State, a proposed autonomous – or even fully independent – entity to safeguard the interests and culture of the Alawites, an ethnoreligious group that played a significant role in Syrian politics during the erstwhile Ba'ath Party rule.
After lunch, we’ll depart from Latakia towards Idlib, the epicentre of the protests and fighting in the early phase of the Syrian Civl War (2011-2024) and stronghold of conservative Islam in an otherwise relatively secular country.
Overnight in Idlib.
DAY 7 to DAY 8 – Aleppo
From Idlib we’ll transfer east to Aleppo, the no-introduction-needed biblical metropolis of glorious past, troubled present and never fading hopes.
We'll then devote two full days to the city’s legendary sights: Aleppo’s citadel, the covered grand bazaar, Bab Al Faraj square, the Umayed mosque, just to name a few.
As in Damascus, we’ll also carve out enough time to meet with local Aleppine folks, who will unveil for us the untold stories and hidden facets of their mythical hometown.
Overnights in Aleppo.
DAY 9 – HAMA
In the morning we will head south towards the large city of Hama, renowned for its seventeen norias (giant wooden wheels) used for watering the gardens and claimed to date back to 1100 BC.
After having toured Hama and its engineering miracles, we’ll stop in the ancient Aramaic village of Maaloula, built into the rugged mountainside, at an altitude of more than 1500 metres, and known as one of the only three remaining spots in the world where Jesus Christ of Nazareth’s own language (Western Aramaic) is still spoken.
In the late afternoon, we’ll then land back in Damascus for a conclusive grand Syrian dinner in a traditional restaurant of the old town.
Overnight in Damascus.
DAY 10 – FAREWELL TO SYRIA
2450 €
INCLUSIONS
Double/twin-room accommodation (breakfast included), private transport in Syria (car/minivan), all entrance fees, English-speaking guiding service, 24/7 on-site and remote assistance.
EXCLUSIONS
Single supplement, transfer from/to Beirut (300 € per vehicle), international flights, main meals (lunches and dinners), extra drinks, visa fees (if required), tips, travel insurance.
Tours to Syria | Travel to Syria | Visit Syria | Damascus Tours