Syria Roundtrip

Damascus is welcoming you again! Syria has seen some turbulent last years with a war raging the country. But now it is slowly going back to peaceful life with parts of the country slowly opening for tourists again. Be one of the first to visit Damascus after the war and enjoy the historic, architectural and cultural sights in this amazing country. The tour can be combined with a visit to Lebanon, where you will be able to see some of the most important places worth visiting like Jeita Grotto (among the finalists in UNESCOs 7 Natural Wonders Competition), Beirut and Byblos - yes, the city that gave the name to the Bible. 

Highlights:
♦ Damascus - capital of Syria and one of the oldest cities in the Middle East
♦ Temple of Jupiter - built to be the largest temple in the Roman empire
♦ Byblos - the oldest continuously inhabited city
♦ Palmyra - an oasis in the Syrian desert which contains the monumental ruins of a great city that was one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world

View Route Map

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Itinerary:

Day 1. Beirut
Arrival at Beirut International Airport, meet and assist, transfer to your hotel for overnight.

Day 2. Beirut - Damascus.
After breakfast at the hotel we start our towards Damascus, where we will explore the main higlights of the city. Damascus’ old city contain a myriad of other points of interest: The National Museum of Damascus, which houses the finest collection of archaeological artifacts from around the country. Among its treasures are a fragment of the oldest known alphabet in the world, unearthed at Ugarit, and an 1800-year-old synagogue transported piece by piece from Dura Europos on the Euphrates River; the Umayyad Mosque, which is named for Islam’s first ruling dynasty, and is one of the great monuments to the ingenuity of early Islam; the Azem Palace, the luxurious home of the Ottoman governor; Souq Al Hamidiyeh; the bustling covered bazaar that fills the senses with colours and life; the Mausoleum of Saladin, the great leader who liberated Jerusalem from the Crusaders; the legendary Street Called Straight mentioned in the Bible, which spans the old city’s length from East to West; the Chapel of St. Ananias and St. Paul’s Window, from which St. Paul was lowered to escape the Romans; and Bab Touma, the Christian quarter with its charming alleyways and handicraft shops Overnight in a hotel in Damascus. B/-/-

Day 3. Damascus - Ezra’a - Bosra - Damascus
Breakfast. Drive south to Ezra'a town, located on the west edge of the volcanic wilderness area of the Hauran in Syria. Ezra'a has one of Syria's oldest functioning churches, the Greek Orthodox church of Saint George (Mar Girgis) which was build in 515 AD. The church it is still standing and is a living historical monument, a witness to the famous ecclesiastical architectural style of that period. Then continue to Bosra (UNESCO Site), which was once the capital of the Roman province of Arabia, and an important stopover on the ancient caravan route to Mecca. Bosra boasts a magnificent 2nd century Roman theatre, early Christian ruins and several mosques within its great walls. Back to Damascus for overnight. B/-/-

Day 4. Damascus - Maaloula - Sednaya - Homs City Tour - Aleppo
Drive to visit Maaloula, which attracts visitors both for its charm, and for its importance in the history of Syrian Christianity. Homes in Maaloula are gaily painted in violet and blue pastels, and perched abreast an imposing gorge between two mountains. Maaloula is also home to a population that still speaks a dialect of Aramaic, the language of Jesus Christ, and to two historic Christian monasteries: one Greek Orthodox dedicated to St. Thekla, the other Greek Catholic dedicated to Saint Sergius. We will also visit Sednaya, in Arabic Our Lady, which is renowned for its picturesque views and Christian heritage. After Jerusalem, Sednaya has been the most famous center for Christian pilgrimage in the east since the 6th A.D. B/-/-

Day 5. Aleppo City Tour
Aleppo has a history of being a favourite tourist destination, thanks to its old town, souqs and the Aleppo Citadel - a large medieval fortress dating back to the 3rd millennium BC. Unfotunately, it was one of the cities which suffered massive destructions during the recent war, the fighting affected both the city infrastructure and its population. B/-/-

Day 6. Aleppo - Apamea - Hama- Crac des Chevaliers
Today we are headin to Crac des Chevaliers (UNESCO Site) - built by the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem from 1142 to 1271. With further construction by the Mamluks in the late 13th century, Crac des Chevaliers ranks among the best-preserved examples of the Crusader castles.On the way, we will also stop for a visit to explore the ancient ruins of Apamea and the city of Hama. B/-/

Day 7. Palmyra - Damascus - Beirut (around 10 pm). Overnight in Beirut
Today we have quite a long day, we will visit Palmyra - an oasis in the Syrian desert which contains the monumental ruins of a great city that was one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world. For a time, the so-called Islamic State or ISIS controlled the region around Palmyra, and some of the ruins at the site were destroyed.We will then continue to Beirut via Damascus and arrive in our hotel in Beirut in the late evening. B/-/-

Day 8. Departure
Transfer to airport for departure. B/-/-

Lebanon Extension
Day 8. Beirut - Jeita Grotto - Byblos - Beirut
Drive along Beirut City seashore to the picturesque Pigeons rock; continue to Hamra commercial area and then visit the National museum or the Grand Serail. Last stop will be at the “Martyrs Square” to discover the beautiful old Beirut City Center with its newly discovered large archaeological excavations and recently renovated buildings with beautiful architecture, churches and mosques. Continue north on the slopes of Mount Lebanon to Jeita Grotto - an enormous cavern festooned with every shape and size of stalactite and stalagmite. The tour ends in Byblos (Jbeil), Located 37 km north of Beirut, Jbeil is thought by many to be the oldest city in the world - continuously inhabited for more than 7000 years. Remains of Neolithic, Middle Bronze Age, Amorite, Egyptian, Hyksos, Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab and Crusader origin are present. Byblos’ most important legacy is the famous sarcophagus of Ahiram, King of Byblos in the 13th century B.C. which carries a Phoenician inscription thought to be the first written alphabet. Byblos gave its name to the Bible. Back to Beirut for overnight.

Day 9. Beirut - Sidon - Tyre - Echmoun Temple - Beirut
Drive South of Beirut along the coast to Sidon (Saida). The visits start with the “Castle of the Sea” a crusader’s castle of the 13th century then proceed to Khan El-Franj, a typical Caravan Serail. Stop for a typical Lebanese lunch. After Lunch, continue further down the southern coast to Tyre (Sour) to visit the Necropolis excavations, the Monumental Arch and the spectacular hippodrome, the second largest and best preserved of the Roman era. Two kilometers ahead, visit of the imperial city excavation which offers a majestic avenue toward the sea giving access to the residential area with its remarkable designed public monuments.

Day 10. Departure
Transfer to Beirut Airport for departure.

Visa: Visa to Lebanon can be obtained at the airport upon arrival, currently it is free. Visa to Syria: please, send a scanned copy of your passport to us when booking the tour. We will apply in advance for visa approval to Syria, which might take up to 30 days for US passport holders and up to 10 days for EU passport holders. The approval is not the visa itself, the visa will be obtained and paid upon arrival at the border crossing (60-80 EUR depending on your nationality). There should be no Israeli stamps or visas in your passport!

Practical information: We recommend that you bring USD in cash for this tour. In Lebanon you can use also EUR and credit cards, but in Syria it is better to have USD in cash, which can be exchanged on spot.

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Price Includes:
7 overnights in standard hotels with breakfast
visa invitation to Syria
all transport in AC coach
English speaking local guide
English speaking Penguin tour leader (at min. 8 p)
entrance fees

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Not Included:
Flight tickets
airport transfers
visa to Syria - to be paid at the border
drinks and meals not mentioned
tips
insurance
Syrian land border exit tax to Lebanon: currently 5 USD per person
personal expenses

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Additional Services:
Entry visa to Syria depending on nationality: 80 – 100 USD. Visa is free for a group over 10 p.
Lebanon extension price pp. 3 days/2nights: 4-5 p: 330 EUR (Single room supplement: 75 EUR) 6-8 p: 300 EUR (Single room supplement: 75 EUR)

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Gallery

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