Syria Tours

Group & Private Syria Tours

2024/2025

We organise both private and group tours to Syria. Whether you’re looking for a one day trip to Damascus or a 15 day bespoke whole Syria tour – we’ve got you covered.

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Our Syria tours start and finish in either Beirut, Amman or Damascus airport. Our team of guides and drivers will pick you up and escort you from wherever you wish to start and finish.

All scheduled group tours start and finish in Beirut. Transfers from Beirut to and from Damascus are included in the tour price.

We constantly monitor the situation on the ground with our partners in Syria. Tour itineraries are subject to last minute changes depending on the security situation.

Entry will be refused to those with Israeli stamps in their passport.

Check out our full list of group trips below – all our groups are capped at only 12 people.

Prefer a private trip? We can arrange a tour for any number of people on any dates – just get in touch and let us know when you want to travel.

Covid - 19 Update

The Syrian borders are open to international tourism with zero covid requirements. 

 

Where?

Damascus – Maaloula – Krak des Chevalier – Homs – Aleppo – Lattakia – Tartous – Hama – Palmyra – Bosra.

 

Unsure of where to go? Check out our Map & Sample Itinerary below

When?

You can travel to Syria on any dates but the summers can get quite hot and the winters are cold and snowy. All places we visit and include on our itineraries are regarded as safe.

 

All museums are closed on Tuesdays.

Current Weather?

Damascus, SY

25°C
Overcast clouds
Visa?

The Syrian visa on arrival takes approx 2 weeks to process and is open to most nationalities worldwide.

 

Get in touch and we will let you know if you qualify for a tourist visa.

 

We will inform you when your security clearance is approved, then you are free to collect the visa on arrival at the border.

Group Tours

2024
2025
syria Easter tour

Itinerary Easter 2024

It’s a special time to be in Syria – Easter and Ramadan all rolled into one comprehensive tour!

may syria tour

Itinerary may 2024

See all the major sites of Damascus, Homs, Aleppo, Palmyra & more on this tour of Syria with only 5 people max!

syria budget tour

Itinerary Summer 2024

It’s our most comprehensive Syria tour – covering the essentials plus the Mediterranean coast, Bosra and one hell of a festival!

syria budget tour

Itinerary Autumn 2024

Our classic 7 day Syria tour taking in Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Maaloula and Palmyra!

syria budget tour

Itinerary December 2024

No better place to ring in the new year than Damascus Old Town!

syria tour

Itinerary March 2025

See Damascus, Homs, Aleppo, Palmyra & much more on this tour of Syria from Beirut return!

Sample Itinerary

Map

Beirut – Damascus – Krak de Chavaliers – Homs – Aleppo – Damascus – Beirut.

Day 1 - 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”.
  • 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 Old Damascus.

Day 2 - Damascus

  • After breakfast, we’ll start our full day Damascus city tour.
  • Visit the National Museum of Syria.
  • 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.
  • Dinner and and overnight in Damascus.
Continue reading

Day 3 - Malloula, Krak des Chevaliers & Homs

  • Drive onto Maaloula, a small Christian town that was almost completely decimated by ISIS in 2014. It’s one of the most scenic villages in Syria and is the only place in the world where Aramaic; the language spoken by Christ is still used as a living language
  • We’ll visit a Catholic church which was destroyed but has already  been largely rebuilt.
  • Continue driving to Krak Des Chevaliers – “The most wholly admirable castle in the world.” – According to Lawrence of Arabia – and one of the most important preserved medieval crusader castles in the world.
  • After touring the castle, we continue onto Homs. Witness some of the rebuilding efforts underway and visit Khaled Ibn Al-Walid shrine.
  • Dinner and overnight in the Homs countryside.

Day 4 - Homs & Aleppo

  • Homs tour including a visit to the St. Mary’s Church of the Holy Belt – the seat of the Syriac Orthodox Church.
  • Depart for the 2 hour drive north to Aleppo.
  • 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.

Day 5 - Aleppo

  • 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 Castle
  • We’ll also be able to see the destroyed souk and see the fully restored parts.
  • Visit the Aleppo Museum and walk through the adjoining markets.
  • Visit the Baron Hotel – one of Aleppo’s most famous landmarks. It’s the oldest still functioning Hotel in Syria which once welcomed the likes of Charles De Gaulle, Yuri Gagarin, Lawrence of Arabia, Agatha Christie and Theodore Roosevelt. Stay here if you dare but you will have to do without heating, electricity or hot water.
  • Dinner & overnight in Aleppo

Day 6 - Hama & Damascus

  • Departure after breakfast to Hama. We’ll visit the famous waterwheels here which once provided vital water ways to the land.
  • Drive back to Damascus, with some scenic stops along the way.
  • Arrive in Damascus in the late afternoon. Check back into our hotel.
  • Free time to explore for the rest of the day.
  • Overnight in Damascus.

Day 7 - Damascus & Beirut

  • Final sightseeing around the places you might have missed before!
  • Last chance for souvenirs at the craft market.
  • After lunch begin the drive back to Beirut by private transfer.
  • End of 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.

Syria Tours - FAQs

Most frequent questions and answers for our tours to Syria.

Following the war, Syria has recently become safe again for travel. All the places we visit on our Itineraries are safe and we do not venture to places which are not deemed safe for foreigners.

Travel insurance is a must. We have teamed up with IATI Travel Insurance because they provide cover for all our destinations. You’ll also automatically receive a 5% discount with them as a Rocky Road Travel customer.

Syria enjoys a temperate Mediterranean climate. Spring and early Autumn are perfect. It gets pretty cold in the winter and hot in the summer. We can arrange travel for any dates of your choice.

The easiest way is overland from Beirut where most of our tours start. It’s also possible to start from Amman, Jordan.

USD is the main currency for exchange into the Syrian pound. Make sure to bring cash as ATM’s are unreliable.

Our scheduled group tours have a maximum of 12 participants only.

When you sign up for one of our tours we will apply for a Syrian security clearance on your behalf. This will then allow you to travel to Syria and pay for your visa on arrival at the border. To apply for the security clearance we require the following info:

 

-a scan of your passport

-your address

-a proof of current or previous employment

The restaurants we visit cater for vegetarians, vegans and other unique dietary requirements out there. We do recommend bringing in some snacks from home just in case you get the munchies on the road and can’t find anything suitable at the time.

YES! We strongly recommend giving a tip to your local guide and driver at the end of the tour.

For men, regular clothing is fine. Women should cover shoulders and knees in holy places. Hair only needs to be covered in one or two mosques. Abaya’s will be provided when needed.

Group Tours
Private Tours
FAQs
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syria tours

choose your dates

Available 365 days a year.

Choose your starting point

Beirut, Amman or Damascus.

Choose your itinerary

One day to fifteen day options.

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It's that simple!