Syria – Alternative Tour

Itinerary

Thursday 23 February – Beirut (Lebanon) – Damascus

• 8:30 AM – Meet the group and departure to Damascus from Beirut.
• Lebanon / Syria border crossing.
• Drive to Damascus, the capital of Syria.
• Meet the other group members who arrive from the Syria Spring Tour.
• Afternoon tour of Damascus.
• Visit Bimaristan an-Nuri and Khan As’ad Pasha, an old caravanserai.
• Overnight in Damascus.

Friday 24 February – Damascus – Tartous  

• Morning departure towards Tartous, located at the Mediterranean Sea.
• Arrival in the city of Tartous, with a small city tour.
• Highlight: Boat ride to Arwad Island. A unique visit, as it has seen barely any tourists since the re-opening of Syria.
• Overnight stay in Tartous.

Saturday 25 February – Tartous – Latakia

• We leave Tartous and head towards Latakia, not far from the Turkish border.
• Stop at Wadi Al Mulook, also known as the Valley of the Kings. A beautiful landscape to roam around for a bit.
• Visit to the Tomb of Hafez Al-Assad at Qardaha, up in the mountains around Latakia.
• We drive south to Jableh and see its historical amphitheatre.
• We return to Latakia. After arrival we explore a bit more of Latakia.
• Overnight stay in Latakia.

Sunday 26 February – Latakia – Slenfeh

• We make a day trip to Sallahadin Castle (also known as Sahyun Castle or Castle of Saladin), a medieval castle not too far from the Turkish border.
• We drive up in in the mountains towards Slenfeh (Slinfah), a popular holiday destination for Syrians, as it’s cool in the summer. In the winter it’s popular for its outdoor activities in the snow.
• We return to Latakia. After arrival we explore a bit more of Latakia.
• Overnight stay in Latakia.

Monday 27 February – Latakia – Mashqita – Kasab

• Today we head for the Turkish border. Our first stop will be Mashqita, a beautiful village in the mountains. Locals come here to relax and enjoy the amazing landscape.
• Then we visit Kasab (Kesab), a village which is less then a few kilometers from the border with Turkey. See how life is here and with a bit of luck you can even see a Turkish flag!
• We return to Latakia for our overnight stay.

Tuesday 28 February – Latakia – Mar Musa  

• After breakfast we head towards Marqab (Margat) Castle. A Crusader fortress and one of the major strongholds of the Knights Hospitaller.
• We return towards the South and stop at Mar Musa, not too far from Damascus.
• In Mar Musa we’ll visit the Monastery of Saint Moses the Abyssinian, an impressive church located on the Anti-Libanon slopes.
• Overnight stay in Mar Musa.

Wednesday 1 March – Mar Musa – Damascus

• We return to Damascus and visit some of the less known sights of the city:
• Visit the October War Museum to learn more about the conflict with Israel.
• See the Maqam Al Arbaeen and Sayyida Zainab Shrine.
• Overnight stay in Damascus.

Thursday 2 March – Damascus

• We drive towards the Lebanese border, but instead of crossing directly into Lebanon we take a turn and visit the villages of Bloudan and Zabadani.
• We’ll explore both mountain villages and see what life is like over here.
• Drive to the border with Lebanon
• Border crossing Syria / Lebanon.
• Drive to Beirut.
• End of tour.