Syria – 8 days tour

Itinerary

Day 1 – Beirut (Lebanon) – Damascus

• You will be picked up at a central point in Beirut for the journey to Damascus.
• Lebanon / Syria border crossing.
• Drive to Damascus, the capital of Syria.
• Overnight stay in Damascus.

Day 2 – Damascus

• Visit the National Museum, the best introduction for a trip through Syria.
• Süleymaniye Mosque, one of the most impressive mosques in Damascus.
• Highlight: We walk towards the old town, to the famous Al Hamidieh Grand Bazaar (also known as the Al-Hamidiyah Souk). The perfect place to get acquainted with daily life in Damascus.
• At the end of the bazaar is the Mausoleum of Saladine. Saladine was the founder of the medieval Ayyubid dynasty.
• The Great Mosque, also known as the Omajaden Mosque.
• Highlight: We visit the Azm Palace, an 18th century palace located in the old centre of the city.
• Via Straight Street (yes, it’s a street name) we walk to the House Chapel of Ananias. He was one of the first Christians.
• Overnight stay in Damascus.

Day 3 – Damascus – Ezra – Bosra

• Drive to Bosra.
• On the way we’ll have a short stop at Ezra, here stands the oldest church in Syria: the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George (Mar Giris).
• 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.

Day 4 – Damascus – Sednaya – Maaloula – Homs

• Drive to Sednaya.
• Visit to Sednaya Monastery. During the civil war this monastery was used as a prison for Assad’s opponents.
• We drive on to Maaloula. A beautiful village against the mountains. Here the language of Christ is still spoken (Aramaic).
• We take a look at the famous monasteries Mar Sarkis and Mar Taqla.
• Drive to Krak des Chevaliers.
• Highlight: Visit Krak des Chevaliers. This famous castle is the symbol of the Crusades and was the base for the Hospitallers.
• Drive to Homs.
• Overnight stay in Homs.

Day 5 – Homs – Palmyra – Hama

• Drive to Palmyra. Although IS has destroyed a lot here, some buildings are still intact.
• Highlight: We see the remains of the Temple of Bel, the Triumphal Arch, the colonnades, the theatre, the agora and the tombs.
• Drive to Hama.
• Overnight stay in Hama.

Day 6 – Hama – Aleppo

• Visit to the famous water wheels of the Orontos River.
• Drive to Aleppo. It was once the largest city in the country and since the civil war it is now the second largest city in Syria.
• Short walk through the centre of Aleppo.
• Overnight stay in Aleppo.

Day 7 – Aleppo – Damascus

• Highlight: City tour of Aleppo, one of the oldest, still inhabited, cities in the world.
• Highlight: Visit to the famous Citadel of Aleppo. A medieval fortress in the middle of the city.
• Walk through the old covered souk. At the moment it is still being renovated.
• Visit to the Al Jdeideh district, one of the most famous neighbourhoods of the city.
• Drive to Damascus.
• Overnight stay in Damascus.

Day 8 – Damascus – Beirut (Lebanon)

• Drive to the border with Lebanon.
• Border crossing Syria / Lebanon.
• Drive to Beirut.
• End of tour.