Rojava tour 2024

Rojava also known as the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) is a DeFacto independent region of Syria bordering Iraq and Turkey that arguably exists as the only autonomous, or functioning left-anarchist community in the world.

This is your opportunity to join YPT on a special Rojava Tour where you’ll have a further understanding of the recent history of this region, as well as an in-depth experience within the culture, locals, and their hopes for the future. This trip is capped at 8 people, all of whom must be known and vetted by us.

Itinerary

Wednesday 23rd October – Erbil

Arrival at own leisure into Erbil, capital of Iraqi Kurdistan

For early arrivals we will have a tour of Erbil courtesy of our local partners. This will focus on contemporary Kurdish issues

Dinner, drinks and orientation

Overnight in Erbil

Thursday 24th October – Rojava

The day of entry to Rojava will be from Erbil. Arriving in the city of Qamishli and Check-in at the hotel.

Chance to shower, change and enjoy the views from the hotel

Go out in the evening for two hours on a walking tour of the city. Such as (Ezra Jewish Market, the oldest in the city).

Friday 25th October – Rojava

We will leave in the morning for the town of Derik (Al-Malikiyah), about 100 kilometers from our hotel in Qamishli.

We will start from the site of the Ain Diwar Bridge. The bridge was built by the Romans during the second century AD. It is located on the Tigris River. Now it is about 500 meters from the river as the local geography has changed. The bridge was one of the main crossings of the famous Silk Road. It was used for astronomical purposes. The area is surrounded by wonderful natural scenery.

Packed lunch

We will move to the north of the city to the Church of Our Lady of Syriac (Church of the Virgin Mary). Which dates back to the fourth century AD. The church is called the “Mother of Wonders” because of the wondrous events it witnessed. We will tour the church and meet with the priests to learn more about the church through them.

We will end this day’s tour and return to the hotel enjoying the view of the rural villages along the Syrian-Turkish border.

Dinner near hotel and overnight

Saturday 26th October – Raqqa City

We will leave the hotel early. (Check out at the hotel). We have a trip (4 to 5 hours) to Raqqa city.

The city of Raqqa is the capital of ISIS (2013-2017). Historically: Raqqa was established BC and was called Kalinikos. When we arrive in Raqqa, we will first go to Check-in at the hotel. For one day only. And take a short rest period (half an hour).

We begin our tour of the city of Raqqa from the streets filled with war rubble and completely destroyed buildings. We walk between the (half-destroyed) buildings and how some residents are still using them despite their danger.

We move to the most prominent destroyed sites, such as mosques and palaces. We will visit the stadium in the city of Raqqa, which represented a prison and execution ground during the time of ISIS.

Lunch time.

We will continue a tour around the Raqqa Wall, which is a historical wall whose construction dates back to the Abbasid period, in the year 772 AD.

Check into hotel in Raqqa

Dinner and overnight

Sunday 27th October – Rojava

We leave the hotel early. We check out of the hotel. We go to Jaabar Castle (about 55 kilometres from the city of Raqqa, where we are).

Ja’bar Castle is a historical castle located on Lake Euphrates (Euphrates River). It is linked to Prince Ja’bar al-Qushayri, who lived during the eleventh century AD.

The castle was under the control of ISIS from 2014 until 2017

The castle was a popular destination for tourists before the war because of its attractive location in the middle of the lake, connected by a narrow passage to the mainland. It includes a tunnel, a mosque, and 35 defence towers.