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Welcome to the biggest party in Syria!

Carnival in Syria, it might not sound very logical, but actually it is! Syrian Marmarita Carnival, held each August in several places in the West of the country, is a vibrant celebration of Syrian culture and tradition, featuring colorful parades, live music and traditional dances. Next to the celebrations we’ll visit Damascus, Aleppo, Crak des Chevaliers and Bosra. On top of it, we’ll have an overnight stay in a local village – a unique, unforgettable tour experience.

Syria Group Tours Schedule

Date TourStatus
15 – 18 / 20 / 22 April 2024April Budget TourBook here
26 May – 3 June 2024May Wedding TourBook here
15 – 18 / 20 / 22 July 2024 July Budget TourBook here
13 – 19 August 2024Syrian Carnival TourBook now
9 – 15 September 2024Cross Festival TourBook here
15 – 18 / 20 / 22 October 2024October Budget TourBook here
15 – 18 / 20 / 22 November 2024November Budget TourBook here
13 – 19 December 2024Syria Highlights TourBook here
15 – 18 / 20 / 22 January 2025January Budget TourBook here
15 – 18 / 20 / 22 February 2025February Budget TourBook here
8 – 14 March 2025Syria Highlights TourBook here
15 – 18 / 20 / 22 April 2025April Budget TourBook here

General info

Start date13 August 2024
End date19 August 2024
Days7 days / 6 nights
Price€ 1,445
Lebanon combo: €2,545
IncludingAccommodation (shared)
Transportation on the ground
Western & local guide
Visa support
Breakfast
Entry fees
ExcludingInternational flights
Single room (€ 270)
Insurance
Visa
Departure tax
Lunch & dinner
Tips for the guide
Personal expenses
This offer is covered by the STO Garant guarantee. You can find the conditions for this guarantee scheme on STO Garant’s website.

Itinerary

Tuesday 13 August – Beirut (Lebanon) – Damascus

  • 8:30 AM – Meet the group and departure to Damascus from Beirut.
  • OR: arrival from our Lebanon Tour.
  • Lebanon / Syria border crossing.
  • Drive to Damascus, the capital of Syria.
  • Via Straight Street we walk to the House Chapel of Ananias. He was one of the first Christians in Syria.
  • Highlight: The Great Mosque, also known as the Omajaden 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.
  • Walk through the old centre of Damascus.
  • Overnight stay in Damascus.

Wendesday 14 August – Damascus – Mishtaya

  • Drive to Krak des Chevaliers.
  • Highlight: Visit to Krak des Chevaliers. This famous castle is the symbol of the Crusades and was the base for the Hospitallers.
  • Drive to Mishtaya, up in the mountains.
  • Highlight: Time for Carnival! We’ll join the Marmarita Carnival in Mistaya. The best place in Syria to experience the festival. In this town locals will dress up in colorful outfits while partying in the street.
  • Have a winetasting with a local family.
  • Overnight stay in homestays in Mishtaya.

Thursday 15 August – Mishtaya – Hama – Apamia – Mohardeh

  • Drive to Hama.
  • Visit to the famous waterwheels in the Orontos River.
  • Walking tour through the old city of Hama.
  • Highlight: We visit the old Roman city of Apamia. If you’ve been to Baalbek in Lebanon you will notice the resemblance between both places.
  • We head to the country side, this time we’ll visit the village of Mohardeh. Only since recently its possible to visit the country side of Syria. We’ll see how the locals get around and we’ll join them for an evening party.
  • Overnight stay in Mohardeh.

Friday 16 August – Mohardeh – Maarat al Nouman – Ebla – Aleppo

  • Highlight: Drive to Maarat al Noman and visit one of the most beautiful Museums of Syria. It’s the one for Stone Mosaics. Only recently its possible to visit the museum, since its proximity to the city of Idlib.
  • After our visit we continue to Ebla, a place where you can find ruins of one of the earliest kingdoms in Syria. 
  • 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.
  • Short walk through the centre of Aleppo.
  • See the famous former Baron Hotel.
  • Overnight stay in Aleppo.

Saturday 17 August – Aleppo – Maloula – Damascus

  • City tour of Aleppo, one of the oldest cities in the world still inhabited.
  • Highlight: Visit to the well-known Aleppo Citadel. A medieval fortress in the middle of the city.
  • Walk through the old covered souk. It is still being renovated.
  • Visit the Al Jdeideh district, one of the most famous neighbourhoods of the city.
  • We drive to Homs to have a short break.
  • We’ll move onwards to Maaloula. A beautiful village against the mountains. Here the language of Christ is still spoken (Aramaic).
  • We continue our drive to Damascus.
  • Overnight stay in Damascus.

Sunday 18 August –Bosra – Damascus

  • Drive to Bosra.
  • Highlight: Arrival in Bosra, after which we go to the Roman Amphitheatre. A 45m long and 8,5m deep theatre that is remarkably well preserved.
  • Walk through the old centre of Bosra, with e.g. the cathedral and the basilica.
  • Drive to Damascus.
  • Overnight stay in Damascus.

Monday 19 August – Damascus – Beirut (Lebanon)

  • Highlight: Drive towards the Golan Height, and more precisely the city of Al Qunaitera. This city was heavily damaged during the war in 1973.
  • We will make a tour to the hill from where we have a view on the Israel city of Majdal Shams.
  • Drive to the border with Lebanon
  • Border crossing Syria / Lebanon.
  • Drive to Beirut.
  • End of tour.