Syria Tours Christmas in Syria Tour December 24th - 28th, 2022 1090 5 Days Itinerary What's it all about? Join us on one of our Syria Budget Tours – what’s the difference from regular tours? Our short tours have no western tour leader but don’t worry, this trip will be capped with only 6 people and you’ll be in the very capable hands of our local Syrian team! After years of being ravaged by civil war, Syria is slowly starting to return to a level of normality not seen in years. We have designed this itinerary with safety in mind and only include places which are currently deemed safe to visit. There is a huge amount of ancient and modern history waiting to be explored. We’ll start of in the Lebanese capital city of Beirut and travel to Damascus, Maaloula, Aleppo and the magnificent Krak des Chevalliers. We’ll cover a huge amount of ground with our expert local guide explaining all as we go. Depending on the security situation on the ground, the itinerary is subject to change. With an atmosphere full of traditions and celebration, Christmas is a wonderful time to visit Syria – get in touch to book your spot now! Highlights Damascus See old and new. This vibrant city has a lot to offer the curious traveler. Krak des Chevaliers See the towering ancient fort. Homs & Aleppo Visit the two cities arguable worst affected by the war and see the re-building efforts underway. The People! Syrians are some of the warmest and most welcoming people you'll meet. Learn about the country through the many locals we'll encounter. The Food! Syrian cuisine is amongst the world's finest in our humble opinion. Where?Beirut – Damascus – Krak de Chavaliers – Homs – Aleppo – Damascus – Beirut. When?December 24 - 28th, 2022 Visa?We will apply for a security clearance on your behalf which will allow you to collect the visa on arrival at the border. The Itinerary Map Beirut – Damascus – Krak de Chavaliers – Aleppo – Damascus – Beirut. December 24th - Beirut / Damascus Early pick up from Beirut, Lebanon.Transfer to the Syrian border for exit/entry formalities.Continue onto Damascus by private car.Check into your incredible Old Damascene hotel. Take a short rest before starting a walking tour of the old town.In the afternoon we’ll explore the Al-Hamidiyah Souq.Free time in the evening to enjoy Damascus’ vibrant night-life along “Straight Street”.**Free inclusion** – Optional visit to a Hamam for an evening scrub! There’s no better way to end your first day in Damascus than relaxing in one of it’s ancient bath houses.Overnight in a traditional hotel in Old Damascus. December 25th - Christmas in Damascus After breakfast, we’ll start our full day Damascus city tour.Explore the Handicraft market for some of the best handmade goods in the Middle East.Azem Palace (a perfect example of a traditional Damascene house turned museum of the Ottoman times)Umayyad mosque (a place of worship since the first millennium B.C. It was once a church and now one of the most unique and important mosques in the world).Visit The church of St. Ananias, the window of St.Paul. Witness some of the carol performances and Christmas church services.Christmas dinner and and overnight in Damascus. Continue reading December 26th - Krak Des Chevalliers - Homs - Aleppo Depart north for Aleppo.Stop at Krak Des Chevaliers – “The most wholly admirable castle in the world.” – According to Lawrence of Arabia.Continue onto Homs. Witness some of the rebuilding efforts underway and visit Khaled Ibn Al-Walid shrine.Lunch in Homs cityContinue to Aleppo and arrive in the early evening.Explore some of the old town around the citadel by night.Dinner at a famous Armenian family run Syrian restaurant.Overnight in Aleppo. December 27th - Aleppo - Hama - Damascus 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 the massive rebuilding projects that Syrians are now undertaking.Our first stop in the morning will be the famous Aleppo Citadel. We’ll also be able to see the destroyed souk and some of the rebuilding efforts in the old town – one of the areas that was the worst affected by the war.Visit the Caravanserai – a place once used as accommodation for traders.After lunch we drive south to Hama and the famous waterwheels.Continue onto Damascus & check into our hotel.Dinner and overnight in Damascus. December 28th - Damascus - Beirut Half day touring the last sights of Damascus which we did not cover already.Drive back to Beirut and arrive by early evening.End of Syria budget tour. What else? Inclusions Exclusions Hotels Twin share accommodation including breakfast (single supplements are available for an extra charge) Entrance Fees All entrance fees (unless otherwise stated) Guides & Transport Both an expert local guide, driver and western tour leader (on non-budget group tours) Visa Support We will apply for your security clearance that will allow you to collect the visa at the border. Beirut Transfer Pickup and drop off in Beirut by private car. Taxes & Charges VAT & exit charges included. International Flights Flights to and from your starting point. Lunch and Dinner Lunch and dinners are extra charge. Visa Fee The price varies depending on your nationality. Typically it is around $70 USD for European passports. Tips Tips are expected for your local guides and driver. Tour Notes You’ll be in the vastly experienced hands of our English speaking local guide & fixer. There will be no Rocky Road Travel guide on this tour. We visit Syria regularly, so we have maximized the itinerary accordingly. Given the unpredictable nature of travelling in Syria, the itinerary may change slightly, but we will always go above and beyond with added extras such as stops at local cafe-bars, shisha lounges and amusement parks. We are in constant communication with our local partners on the ground who advise the safe routes to take.Before & after the Syria tour we will add you to dedicated email and social media groups so you can share photos easily with your travel mates. Just let us know is you want to opt out of this.To book simply hit the button below and start the conversation today. Read More Book now December 24 - 28th, 2022 Christmas Syria Tour start & finish in Beirut Transport to and from Beirut included Standard hotel 4 nights in Syria The price $1090 USD Description Itinerary Included/Excluded Book Now Further Reading Covid 19 Travel Updates By Country Iraqi Kurdistan is currently open to international travelers. Where Can I Go? Updated 1st June, 2022 This is your one stop shop for all Covid-19 Read More » How To Get A Visa For Syria Applying For A Visa for Syria Since 2018 all travelers to Syria are required to travel with a licensed tour operator in order to obtain Read More » Top 6 Tourist Attractions of Syria Just what are the main tourist attractions of Syria? Syria is a country rich in heritage. As one of the oldest civilisations in the world, Read More » Can I Travel to Syria? Is it even possible to travel to Syria? There are a lot of things to think about when considering a tour to Syria – from Read More »
Covid 19 Travel Updates By Country Iraqi Kurdistan is currently open to international travelers. Where Can I Go? Updated 1st June, 2022 This is your one stop shop for all Covid-19 Read More »
How To Get A Visa For Syria Applying For A Visa for Syria Since 2018 all travelers to Syria are required to travel with a licensed tour operator in order to obtain Read More »
Top 6 Tourist Attractions of Syria Just what are the main tourist attractions of Syria? Syria is a country rich in heritage. As one of the oldest civilisations in the world, Read More »
Can I Travel to Syria? Is it even possible to travel to Syria? There are a lot of things to think about when considering a tour to Syria – from Read More »