Itinerary

1. Day 1: Damascus

   • Pick up time of your choosing from Beirut, Lebanon. Transfer to the Syrian border for exit/entry formalities.
   • Continue onto Damascus by private car.
   • Check into the hotel and rest before starting a walking tour of old Damascus. 
   • We’ll explore the bazaar, shopping areas, and bar/restaurant street in the afternoon.
   • Visit The church of St. Ananias & the window of St.Paul. Free time in the evening to enjoy Damascus’ vibrant nightlife. Overnight in Damascus.

2. Day 2: Damascus

   • After breakfast, we’ll start our full day Damascus city tour. 
   • Visit the National Museum of Syria.
   • Explore the Handicraft market at Souk Al-Hamidiye for some of the best handmade goods in the Middle East; Azem Palace (a perfect example of a traditional Damascene house); Mausoleum of Saladine & Umayyad mosque (a place of worship since the first millennium B.C); The Umayyad Mosque - is famous for its incredibly decorative mosaic walls. 

   Dinner and overnight in Damascus.

3. Day 3: Maaloula - Homs - Aleppo

   • Drive onto Maaloula, a small Christian town almost entirely decimated by ISIS in 2014. It’s one of the most scenic villages in Syria and is the only place in the world where Aramaic, the language spoken by Christ, is still used as a living language. 
   • We’ll visit a destroyed Catholic church that has already been largely rebuilt. 
   • Depart for Aleppo. There will be many checkpoints along the way as the main road between Homs and Aleppo runs very close to areas controlled by the Syrian Free Army. 
   • We avoid most of it by taking the more scenic route to Aleppo. 
   • Arrive in the early evening. 
   • Free time for dinner and the rest of the evening to explore yourself.

   Overnight in Aleppo.

4. Day 4: Aleppo

   • Aleppo was arguably one of the worst affected cities during the Syrian war. Here, you’ll get the chance to see some of the terrible destruction as well as the opportunity to witness the early stages of the massive rebuilding projects that Syrians are now undertaking. 
   • Our first stop in the morning will be the famous Aleppo Castle.
   • We’ll also be able to see the partly destroyed old souks. 
   • Some date back to the 14th century and still sell authentic Bedouin handicrafts. 
   • Drive into the old town – one of the most affected areas by the war. 
   • See the towering citadel and caravanserais.

   Dinner and overnight in Aleppo.

5. Day 5: Hama - Krak Des Chevaliers - Homs

   • After breakfast, drive to Hama, famous for its historic wooden waterwheels. 
   • According to Lawrence of Arabia, drive on to Krak Des Chevaliers – “The most wholly admirable castle in the world.” – According to Lawrence of Arabia. A medieval masterpiece. 
   • After touring the castle, we continue onto Homs.

   Dinner and overnight in Homs.

6. Day 6: Homs - Palmyra - Damascus

   • Early departure to Palmyra. 
   • Full day visit to the destroyed city. 
   • See the Arch of Triumph, the Great Colonnade, the Theatre, the Agora and the Tombs. 
   • Drive back to Damascus. 

   Dinner, free time and overnight in Damascus.

7. Day 7: Damascus - Beirut

   • After breakfast, visit some of the daily life in Damascus - check out Neiraben Park and other public places in the city.
   • Begin the drive back to Beirut by private transfer at your choosing. 
   • Arrive in Beirut.

   End of Syria tour.