Tuesday 12^th August – Beirut, Lebanon – Damascus, Syria

Morning

• Arrival at your convenience into Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon. Most international airlines have daily flights between Beirut and other major European cities. For those arriving on the previous night we can arrange pre-tour dinner and drinks, you can simply join our Unseen Lebanon tour and explore more of Lebanon!
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel at 8:00am to discuss the tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• Our drive to the Syrian border will take about two hours. On the way, you’ll get a first insight into the reality of life in Syria as you see Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon.
• With guidance from your YPT guide, you’ll cross the border, with a stop at duty free in the no man’s land for some of the cheapest alcohol and other products you’ve ever experienced. Whether you plan to buy or not, it is interesting just to see what people are taking across the border.
• The whole border crossing usually takes 1 to 2 hours, with the border guards being very friendly.

Afternoon

• Once clearing Syrian customs and immigration, we’ll continue our drive to Damascus, which will take roughly an hour.
• On arrival, we will check into our hotel – quite simply one of the best in the Old Town of Damascus. This itself is a highlight.
• After welcome tea and snacks, we will then arrange SIM cards and currency exchange for those who need it.
• Next stop is 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 Damascus will depend on our arrival time (which depends on how long the border crossing took!), 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 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 offer 3 options, either going to watch a football match, hitting the bars of Old Damascus, or simply returning to our comfortable hotel to relax.
• Overnight in Damascus.

Wednesday 13^th August – Damascus

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel – the first feast of the day!
• 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).
• We’ll then visit Omayad Mosque. This is the main mosque of Damascus and the fourth holy mosque in Islam.
• Visit a shop which will satisfy all your Syrian souvenir desires – flags, t-shirts, magnets, keyrings and of course everything related to President Assad

Afternoon

• We’ll visit the National Museum. One of the main artefacts is the Lion of Palmyra statue. Situated in front of the Palmyra museum, it was destroyed by ISIS in 2015, but then restored by Polish archeologists.
• We’ll continue with our city tour of Damascus, which will include all the main churches, mosques and places of historical interest, such as the former Jewish neighbourhood – now almost deserted – and historial khans, or caravanserais.
• Feeling tired all all that exploration? We can arrange a visit to an historical hammam. After soaking in the hammam, you’ll get a exfoliating scrub and a massage for as little as $4!
• Depending on availability we offer a night at the Opera. The newly reopened Syrian Opera House hosts regular shows from the Syrian Wind Orchestra. This is a truly unique experience and one very few foreigners get to do. Should this not be available, we will try to arrange to see a classic Syrian dance performance.
• We then head to a family restaurant, for once again one of the best dinners you’ll experience in Syria – with shisha available for those interested.
• Following dinner, we head next door to our favourite bar in Damascus. We won’t spoil the surprise by giving away its quirks, but rest assured it is well worth it.
• Overnight in Damascus

Thursday 14^th August – Damascus – Maaloula – Krak des Chevaliers – Marmarita – Homs

Morning

• We’ll drive to the outskirts of the city and you’ll get your first glimpses of the destruction caused by the recent conflict.
• Visit the October War Museum dedicated to the 1973 war against Israel. This is one of the most unique museums in the country and was actually built by North Korea!
• Today will be a long day as the main road between Damascus and Aleppo runs very close to areas controlled by Jahat Al Nursra (Al Qaeda), so we’ll need to take the more scenic route. This journey offers a real insight into how close the Islamist groups got to Damascus. Various stops will be taken for pictures.
• Our first stop will be at Maaloula, a small Christian town that was almost completely decimated by ISIS in 2014.
• Visit the Greek Catholic church which was destroyed but has already largely been rebuilt and is now again doing services.
• 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.
• This is also a great place stop for a coffee, snack, or even to buy wine produced by the Christians of the area (and yes, they offer free samples).

Afternoon

• 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.
• Walk through a canyon to the St. Sergious and Bakhous Monastery where you’ll have the chance to meet nuns who were kidnapped and held hostage for several years.
• We’ll then make a special visit to Krak des Chevaliers – a former castle built for Christians to house them on their way to the crusades. As well as a rich and ancient history it also boasts a darker contemporary one, with our guide having being held hostage and tortured by Al Nusra during its occupation
• Tour Highlight: We head to Marmarita known as the “Valley of Christians” around 6:00pm to partake in the Marmarita Carnival! We highly recommend wearing bright and colourful clothing as we join the dancing crowds on the streets as floats pass by blasting music, street food and alcoholic drinks are available to purchase from street stalls, this is not the party you’d expect in Syria!
• A short drive to Homs to check into our quaint hotel.
• Dinner nearby, after which people can either go back to the hotel, or further explore the nightlife.
• Overnight in Homs

Friday 15^th August – Homs – Hama – Aleppo

Morning

• Our first stop of the day is to the 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.
• Visit the grave of Frans van der Lugt – a Dutch Jesuit priest who established a community centre and farm in Homs where he worked with the homeless, disabled, sick and hungry, as well as for harmony between Christians and Muslims. Greatly respected by locals, he was then shot dead in the garden in 2014 by members of the Al-Nusra Front, and it is now a memorial to him and his work.

Afternoon

• We’ll stop in Hama city, the place being famous for its water wheels, and sadly remembered as the place where the Hama massacre happened in 1982, creating the military term “Hama rules”. We will have lunch down by the riverside, another great chance for watching everyday Syrian life.
• We continue the drive to Aleppo arriving.
• On arrival we will stop at the best falafel and kebab restaurant in the city.
• Check into our centrally located hotel. After a quick freshen up we head for an evening tour of Aleppo.
• For dinner, we head to the famous Cordoba Restaurant. Particular favourites include the Aleppo Kebab and lamb testicles for the truly adventurous.
• Optional return to the hotel, or you can join us at the only watering hole in Aleppo, Cheers Bar.
• Dinner and overnight in Aleppo

Saturday 16^th August – 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 as they slowly return to their homes.
• Our first stop in the morning will be the famous Aleppo Citadel, or Aleppo Castle. This is s truly amazing experience and we will take a few hours exploring here. During the Syrian Crisis army troops were blockaded in the citadel for over a year and you will still see bullets strewn around.
• When we hit the summit you can take some amazing pictures of Aleppo City, before we exit by VIP secret passage, something only YPT offer!

Afternoon

• We have lunch at the imaginatively titled Citadel Cafe, where we get some tea coupled with Syrian sandwiches known as muhammara kashkawan, as well as people watching.
• In the afternoon we head 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 though slowly starting to rebuild and as well as destruction we will witness its slow rebirth
• Whilst in the Souk, we visit a Syrian institution the Aleppo Soap company where they have been making the soap the same way for 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.
• Our next site marks 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…
• We head for sunset at one of our secret spots overlooking Aleppo, before heading back to the Aleppo Citadel area for dinner.
• Overnight in Aleppo

Sunday 17^th August – Aleppo – Palmyra – Damascus

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and depart Aleppo. Before departure, we’ll stop at the “I Love Aleppo” sign for a photo opportunity, before visiting the Presidential Park. This is one of the few places where you will see a bust of Assad Senior, the father of the current President.
• We’ll begin our 350km drive towards the east of Syria to Palmyra stopping for lunch on the way.

Afternoon

• Explore Palmyra, one of Syria’s most famous sites. 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 buildings were brought to the ground.
• Here, we visit the formerly unreachable ancient sites.
• We now take the long drive back to Damascus, stopping on the way for dinner of lamb ribs, also known as Kastalita
• Check back into hotel in Damascus, with optional drinks for those up for it.
• Overnight in Damascus

Monday 18^th August – Damascus – Busra – Damascus

Morning

• Breakfast in hotel
• Today will involve a lot of driving, but the ends will certainly justify the means as we visit the seldom seen Busra. This is on the way to the Golan Heights, as well as Jordan, with us able to stop for numerous picture opportunities.

Afternoon

• Arrive in Busra where we will first visit the truly amazing Bursa Roman Theater, known as the most impressive and well-kept outside of Rome
• We then take a an explore of the old Roman town. There is still lots to see here, such as the oldest Mosque in Syria, but there has been much looting and there are hawkers trying to sell “treasure”
• Perhaps most interestingly Bosra, or Busra, lies outside of the control of the Assad regime, with the area protected by local militias. While not at war with the government, this is one of the only places you will see the green rebel Syrian flag.
• We have a late lunch, but it is very much worth it, being a classic Arabic tent feast followed by lots of dancing.
• We then take the long drive back to Damascus, before heading for our last night out.
• We then head for a very special last night’s farewell dinner, before either heading back to the hotel, or for those wanting to experience a Syrian night club.
• Overnight in Damascus

Tuesday 19^th August – Damascus – Beirut, Lebanon

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Last chance to do some last-minute exploring of Damascus, including a stop at the iconic “I love Damascus” sign and a drive past and stop at the Presidential Palace.
• We will also stop at some special souvenir shops, where you can buy everything from a national football jersey, to Assad posters.
• Before leaving town, we’ll visit the Kim Il Sung Park for a quick photo opportunity. Syria and DPRK have had a long history of friendship and recently the Syrian Government decided to dedicate a park to the founding leader of North Korea, Kim Il Sung. Quite the YPT experience!
• Farewelling Damascus, we’ll head back towards the Lebanese border. Including the border crossing – that usually takes longer in that direction – and a few stops, we’ll arrive back in Beirut around 5:00pm.
• Tour concludes – Airport drop-offs can be arranged for people leaving that day, with hotel stops available for those staying in the Hamra area of Beirut

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