Syria Through Festivals: A Celebration of Culture

Itinerary

Day 1 – Damascus

• Arrive to Damascus, the capital of Syria.
• Highlight: Visit the Great Mosque, also known as the Umayyad Mosque.
• See the famous Al Hamidieh Grand Bazaar (also known as the Al-Hamidiyah Souk). The perfect place to get acquainted with daily life in Damascus.
• Visit Al-Azem Palace and Khan As’ad Pasha, the largest caravanserai in Damascus.
• Walk through the old centre of Damascus.
• Overnight stay in Damascus.

Day 2 – Damascus – Bosra – Damascus

• Drive to Bosra, a major archaeological site that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Highlight: Visit the Roman Amphitheatre in Bosra. A 45m long and 8,5m deep theatre that is remarkably well preserved.
• Walk through the old centre of Bosra and marvel at the beautiful sites like the cathedral and the basilica.
• Drive back to Damascus.
• Overnight stay in Damascus.

Day 3 – Damascus – Maaloula

• Head to Al-Nabk city to visit Mar Moussa, a monastery nestled in the Kalamoun mountains, built in the 6th century with a library containing many ancient manuscripts.
• Drive to Maaloula. A beautiful village perched against the mountains. Here the language of Christ, Aramaic, is still spoken.
• Highlight: Enjoy The Cross Festival, commemorating the discovery of the True Cross by Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, in the 4th century. Experience a range of religious ceremonies, cultural performances, and traditional rituals that honour the True Cross.
• Overnight stay in Maaloula

Day 4 – Maaloula – Al-Mishtaya

• Visit the famous Monastery of Saint Thecla and the famous mountain path that holds her name.
• Visit the Monastery of Saints Sergius and Bacchus.
• Highlight: Visit Krak des Chevaliers. This famous castle is the symbol of the Crusades and was the base for the Hospitallers. It is one of the most well-preserved medieval castles in the World!
• Head to Al-Mishtaya.
• Overnight stay in Al-Mishtaya.

Day 5 – Al-Mishtaya – Palmyra – Homs

• Head to Palmyra, the pearl of the desert.
• Highlight: Explore Palmyra’s famous temple Bell, the street of colonnade, the tombs valley, and Al Hayr Al Sharqi Palace.
• Head to Homs and experience its night life.
• Overnight stay in Homs.

Day 6 – Homs – Idlib – Aleppo

• Drive to Idlib, a city rich in cultural and archaeological heritage.
• Highlight: Head to Serjella, an ancient village that truly paints a true picture of cities in the Roman and Byzantine periods.
• Visit Al-Bara, another ancient Syrian village that was once called Capro Pera by the Romans. Al-Bara contains many ruins dating back to different eras.
• Drive to Aleppo. It was the largest city in the country and since the civil war it is the second largest city in the country.
• Overnight stay in Aleppo.

Day 7 – Aleppo – Damascus

• Enjoy a city tour of Aleppo, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
• Highlight: Visit to the well-known Aleppo Citadel. A medieval fortress in the middle of the city.
• Walk through the old covered souk.
• See the old churches in the city and check out the Aleppo National Museum.
• Return to Damascus to experience the nightlife and diversity of the city.
• Overnight stay in Damascus.

Day 8 – Damascus

• Highlight: Free time in Damascus prior to departure.
• End of the tour.