7-Day Syria Castles and Ancient Cities Tour with Palmyra and Aleppo

Meet and be assisted by our representative at Damascus Airport, then transfer to the hotel and enjoy a brief rest before embarking on a captivating walking tour of the historic old town.

To begin, we'll explore the old town with a visit to Bab Sharqi and then the Ananias Church, Damascus's oldest underground structure. Walk through Straight Street, or Via Recta in Latin, the Roman street that runs from east to west through the old city, visiting the Mariamite Cathedral and then heading to Al-Azem Palace, a beautifully preserved example of a traditional Damascene house turned Ottoman-era museum. Next is the Umayyad Mosque, the greatest mosque. Then walk through Souk Al-Hamidiye, the most beautiful souk in Damascus, where shops display all sorts of goods, especially clothes, fabrics, pastries, and handicrafts, before reaching the Damascus National Museum. After a long day, we'll have dinner in one of the restaurants in Old Damascus, tasting traditional Damascene cuisine. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, we'll head south through the lush, fertile plains to the ancient city of Bosra al-Sham, which is certainly home to the best-preserved Roman amphitheater in the world.

Subsequently, we'll explore the city's rich Roman heritage, including its baths and captivating historical tales. Then we'll head back to Damascus for dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by an early departure to Palmyra.

First, we will visit the ancient city, Syria's most iconic tourist destination. Notably, once a key city on the Silk Road, Palmyra briefly ruled its own empire in the 3rd century, stretching from Turkey to Egypt. However, despite being well preserved, much of the city was sadly destroyed during the ISIS occupation in 2015.

During our tour, we will explore what remains, including the Arch of Triumph, the Sulphur Spring, the Great Columns, the Theater, the Agora, the Castle, and the Tombs.

Furthermore, we'll enjoy a delicious lunch in a traditional Bedouin tent restaurant run by a local family. This is indeed a perfect opportunity to savor authentic cuisine while experiencing the warm hospitality of the region.

Afterward, we will drive to Homs for an overnight stay.

After breakfast, we'll explore Saint Mary Church of the Holy Belt in Syria, one of the most significant landmarks of the city. Continue to visit Krak des Chevaliers, which was described by Lawrence of Arabia as "the most wholly admirable castle in the world." In addition, this medieval Crusader fortress is one of the most significant and well-preserved castles from that era, offering a fascinating glimpse into Syrian history. Travelling north, we pass through Hama, famous for its ancient wooden water wheels known as "norias," which once played a key role in the city's irrigation system. We stop for dinner and then head on again to finally reach Aleppo, a flourishing metropolis since the 3rd millennium BC, to check in at the hotel for an overnight stay.

After breakfast, our first stop in the morning will be, of course, the famous Aleppo Castle, which stands in the middle of the city and dominates it from a height of fifty meters.

Then, we'll stroll through the market stretching from the front of the castle to the old city to visit the khans (Al Shouneh, Al Jumrok, Al Toton...), the old souk, Madrasa Halawiye, and Bimarstan Aragon.

Then, we visit the Grand Mosque in Aleppo. We'll also visit Al-Jubaili Soap Factory, the oldest in Aleppo, where you'll have the opportunity to witness the traditional process of crafting the world-famous laurel Aleppo soap, renowned for its quality and history.

Dinner will be in a local restaurant to enjoy the traditional cuisine of Aleppo.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, we will drive south to visit Maaloula, one of the most scenic villages in Syria and the only place in the world where Aramaic, the language spoken by Christ, is still actively used as a living language. We visit Mar Takla, Al Faj, and St. Sergeios and Bakhus Monastery, then we will drive to Sednaya to visit the monastery. Lastly, a farewell dinner and overnight stay in Damascus will indeed provide a perfect ending to our trip.

After breakfast, drive to Damascus Airport to return home with unforgettable memories.