Syria Autumn Tour

Monday 31st August – Beirut, Lebanon – Damascus, Syria

Morning

• Arrival at your convenience into Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon which is well connected with flights from Europe, and the Middle East.
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel (will be disclosed before the tour commencement date) at 9:00am to discuss the tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• Our drive to the Syrian border will take about 1.5 hours.
• With guidance from your YPT guide, you’ll cross the border. The whole border crossing usually takes 1 hour to 2 hours, with the border guards being very friendly.
• Once clearing Syrian customs and immigration, we’ll continue our drive to Damascus, which will take roughly an hour and a half. On arrival, we will check into our boutique hotel – quite simply one of the best hotels in the Old Town of Damascus. This itself is a highlight.

Afternoon

• Next stop is money exchange and lunch. Quite simply you have not been to Damascus unless you have tried their shawarma, or falafel for those of the vegetarian persuasion.
• The duration of our walking tour of the old part of Damascus will depend on our arrival time, but we’ll make sure to explore the Old Town’s bazaar and shopping areas – a great spot for sampling local ice cream or some of the best street food in the Arab world.
• Later we’ll head to Naranj, one of the best restaurants in Damascus for dinner. We could write pages about Syrian food but you wouldn’t believe us, so let’s just say it will be one of the best dinners you ever had. That’s guaranteed.
• After dinner, we can check out a café some locals refer to as the ‘Tinder café’ where lots of young people come to meet, drink tea or beer, smoke shisha and play board games such as backgammon!
  Overnight in Damascus.

Tuesday 1st September – Damascus

Morning

• Enjoy a traditional Syrian breakfast at the hotel
• We’ll explore the old town, with our first stop being the Ananias Church, Damascus’ oldest underground structure, which is said to be the remains of the home of Ananias of Damascus, where Ananias baptized Saul (who became Paul the Apostle).
• Explore Umayyad Mosque – we’ll enter from the right side of the complex where we will adorn traditional abayas for the women and men will be given a fabric wrap to cover their legs. We will visit the mausoleum of one of the greatest conquerors of Syria – Ayyubid Sultan Saladin. The mausoleum was built in 1196.
• Then, we will visit the main mosque complex which is the fourth holy mosque in Islam. Legend has it that John The Baptist’s head is buried in the mosque – something believed by both Christians and Muslims.

Afternoon

• We’ll continue with our city tour of Damascus showing you our favourite hidden gems, as well as the must-see places of historical interest, such as the former Jewish neighbourhood – now almost deserted – and historical Khans, and a caravanserai.
• Dinner at a family restaurant, for once again one of the best meals you’ll experience in Syria – with shisha available for those interested.
• We head out to explore the nightlife of Damascus. We won’t spoil the surprise by giving away its quirks, but rest assured it is well worth it.
• Overnight in Damascus

Wednesday 2nd September – Damascus – Jouba – Maaloula – Mar Musa – Homs

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel
• We’ll drive to the outskirts of the city and you’ll get your first glimpses of the destruction caused by the recent conflict.
• Our first stop will be the harrowing Jouba district. This area was the hardest hit suburb in Damascus and served as the frontline between the former Assad government and the opposition factions. You will see almost incomprehensible levels of destruction, secret tunnels and craters left from bombs. This is also said to be the place of one of the Assad chemical weapons attacks during the war. While this is confronting, it is our first look at the destruction everyday Syrians faced under Assad.
• Continue our drive North to Homs where we’ll pass destroyed buildings, abandoned villages, and industrial sites. We’ll stop for refreshments and photo opportunities in the beautiful countryside.
• Our next stop will be at Maaloula, a small Christian town that was almost completely decimated by ISIS in 2014. This town is one of the last in the world where people speak the Aramaic language – the same language Jesus spoke, and it is possible to hear the Lord’s prayer being spoken using it.
• Visit the Greek Catholic church which was destroyed but has already largely been rebuilt and is now again doing services.
• This is also a great place to stop for a coffee, snack, or even to buy wine, arak or vodka produced by the Christians of the area (and yes, they offer free samples).
• This will be your first opportunity to properly explore the destruction that is now so commonplace in Syria, at the Safir Hotel. Until 2014, it was a 4 star hotel with plenty of international guests, but is now a shell filled with rubble. There are still “do not disturb” signs, menus, folders of guest information, time sheets, crockery and all sorts of other hotel items amongst the debris.

Afternoon

• Enjoy a walk through a canyon to the St. Sergious and Bakhous Monastery where you may have the chance to meet nuns who were kidnapped and held hostage for several years.
• Upon departing Maaloula, we will head to Mar Musa Church. Mar Musa is a monastery built in the 6th century, located north of Damascus. It was restored in modern times and is known for its preserved frescoes. The monastery overlooks the surrounding desert and is reached by a steep (but worth it!) climb.
• After our visit to two Christian towns in the Damascus district, we will head to the third largest city in Syria, often regarded as one of the most important for its historical significance and strategic location – Homs.
• Homs was one of the most damaged cities in Syria during the Civil War with blocks of buildings left with just skeletal frames. Even so, the spirit of the people in Homs is very strong, with it being one of the strongest cities for protest in 2011.
• In the late afternoon we will arrive in Homs and check into our hotel.
• For dinner, we will head to a local restaurant and try a Homs specialty – flagrant rice and nuts with chicken.
• Overnight in Homs

Thursday 3rd September – Homs – Krak des Chevaliers – Apamea – Aleppo

Morning

• After breakfast we will visit St. Mary Church of the Holy Belt, the Seat of the Syriac Orthodox Church, where the Virgin Mary’s belt was kept until shortly before the war. Fortunately, the belt was already removed before the church was looted and all the icons and artwork were burnt or stolen. It is now back to its original place.
• Next, we will stop by the recently renovated Khalid ibn-al-Walid mosque, standing in the middle of a devastated neighbourhood. The mosque which was damaged during the civil war was rebuilt with the help of Chechnya.
• We’ll then drive to the Homs countryside where we will visit the famous Krak des Chevailiers castle. The castle is a stunning medieval castle and one of the most important preserved medieval castles in the world. The site was first inhabited in the 11th century by Kurdish troops garrisoned there by the Mirdasids. You’ll be given full access to the castle.

Afternoon

• In the afternoon, we will visit the little-known ancient ruins of Apamea – an ancient city in western Syria, founded around 300 BCE by Seleucus I Nicator. It was once a bustling Hellenistic and Roman centre, famous for its nearly two-kilometre-long colonnaded street lined with grand columns. Today, its ruins sit quietly above the Orontes River, a reminder of how impressive the city once was.
• Aleppo arrived in the late afternoon. On the way, we’ll make a quick photo stop at the famous “Welcome to Aleppo” sign!
• Check into our centrally located hotel to freshen up.
• For dinner, we head to a lovely local restaurant with lovely waiters, serving local Aleppian cuisine. Particular favourites include the Aleppo Kebab and lamb testicles for the truly adventurous.
• Optional return to the hotel and enjoy the rooftop views, indulging in a coffee or shisha
• Dinner and overnight in Aleppo

Friday 4^th September – Aleppo

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel
• 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 rebuilding that Syrians are now partaking in as they slowly return to their homes.
• We will start by heading to not only one of the highlights, but also probably the saddest part of Aleppo, visiting the formerly bustling Souk. This was previously the biggest and most profitable in the Arab world, but now lies in ruins. It is slowly starting to rebuild and as well as destruction we will witness its slow rebirth.
• We’ll stop by a Syrian institution – the Aleppo Soap company, where they have been making the soap using the exact methods for over 800 years, excluding the years it was under ISIS control. Aside from seeing how it is made, we will also get the chance to buy some – they make for great souvenirs.
• Explore the famous Aleppo Citadel, or Aleppo Castle. This is a truly amazing experience and we will take a few hours exploring here. During the Syrian war, Assad’s army troops were blockaded in the citadel for over a year and you will still see bullets strewn around. More recently, some of the iconic photos of the fall of the Assad government came from when militias took control of the Citadel. Historically, those who had control of the Citadel had control of Aleppo.
• If time permits, we’ll stop for a tea and coffee break at a café with a beautiful view of the citadel. This is also a fantastic spot for people watching.

Afternoon

• In the afternoon we’ll stop by Aleppo’s best falafel store – and what we believe to be the best in the region. Often there are 15 men cooking in the kitchen and tens of people waiting for their orders.
• We have a list of sites to explore this afternoon which we cannot include onto the itinerary for security reasons. Once we conclude the day we’ll catch the sunset at one of our secret spots overlooking Aleppo sipping tea with shisha options
• Dinner will be at our favourite spot in town for you to try delicious Aleppian cuisine
• Overnight in Aleppo

Saturday 5^th September –  Aleppo – Idlib – Hama

Morning

• Breakfast at our hotel
• In the morning, we will visit our next site which has another highlight and lowlight with us seeing the Baron Hotel, the oldest in Syria. While not currently operational, it is still worth a visit, with previous guests including Lawrence of Arabia and Agatha Christie among many many others. The manager here is quite a character, so we may have to sneak in unnoticed…
• On our way out of Aleppo, we will stop by the ‘I love Aleppo’ sign for a photo opportunity.
• We will then begin our drive to Idlib – a city that remained inaccessible for over a decade. Known as the birthplace of the 2024 revolution against the Assad regime, Idlib played a pivotal role in the spread of the rebellion across Syria. During your visit, you’ll observe a unique economic system distinct from other regions. Visit local refugee camps, providing a deeper understanding of the daily struggles faced by displaced families and the remarkable resilience of the community.

Afternoon

• Lunch in Idlib and we’ll make our way back towards the south
• Our next stop will be Hama, Syria’s 5th largest city.
• Hama is infamous for the massacre. The Hama massacre took place in February 1982 when Syrian government forces crushed an uprising by the Muslim Brotherhood. Thousands of people were killed and large parts of the city were destroyed during the assault. During the Syrian Civil War, the city saw little clashes and often refused opposition forces to enter to protect the city.
• We will begin a city tour, walking through the beautiful cobblestone streets and visiting several places along the way.
• One of the most iconic landmarks from Hama are their waterwheels. Hama’s waterwheels, known as Noria, were built to lift water from the Orontes River for irrigation. They date back to medieval times, with some structures possibly built on earlier Roman designs. Today, they stand mostly as historical monuments, where you will see young boys jumping from and playing in the river
• After a long day of touring and mingling with friendly locals, we will have dinner in town
• Overnight at our boutique hotel in Hama.

Sunday 6^th September – Hama – Palmyra – Damascus

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Drive east towards Iraq to the ancient city of Palmyra – on the way stopping for photos at the iconic road sign of Iraq, Damascus and Palmyra.
• On arrival we’ll begin our exploration of Palmyra – one of the most famous sites in the entire Middle East. Once a lush city on the Silk Road, Palmyra was even briefly its own empire in the 3rd Century, stretching from Turkey to Egypt. Although the old city was ruined, it was famously in spectacular condition and exceptionally well preserved. Sadly though, in 2015 it fell under the control of ISIS and a lot of the structures and buildings were brought to the ground.
• Here, we visit the formerly unreachable ancient sites.

Afternoon

• Before we depart Palmyra, we will enjoy a Bedouin cooked lunch inside tents to avoid the desert heat.
• Begin our return to Damascus, stopping for breaks and refreshments along the way. It is not uncommon to see many locals and military outposts along the path.
• Check back into hotel in Damascus to refresh up
• Head out for our special last night’s farewell dinner, before either heading back to the hotel, or for those wanting to experience the Damascus bar scene.
• Overnight in Damascus

Monday 7^th September – Damascus – Beirut, Lebanon

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Last chance to do some last minute exploring and shopping in Damascus. You can buy everything from a national football jersey, to the independence flags!
• Farewelling Damascus, we’ll head back towards the Lebanese border. Including the border crossing – which usually takes longer in this direction – and a few stops, we’ll hopefully arrive back in Beirut around 4:00pm. We recommend not booking flights earlier than 6:00pm – preferably night flights.
• Tour concludes – the group will be dropped off at the pre-tour meeting hotel location, and onwards to airport for those departing that day.
• For those continuing on with our Ultimate Lebanon Tour stay overnight in Hama!