The Silk & Jasmine Trail

Morning & Arrival

• Border/Airport Transfer: Meet-and-greet at the airport or Syrian border (Lebanese or Jordanian points) followed by transfer to your hotel.
• Welcome & Orientation: Enjoy a welcome drink and an introduction to your private tour guide.

Afternoon: Old Damascus & Artisans

• Historical Walk: Explore the UNESCO-listed lanes of Old Damascus, wandering through ancient souks filled with the scent of spices and jasmine.
• Mother-of-Pearl Workshop: Private visit to a traditional mosaic workshop to see 3rd and 4th generation master craftsmen craft wood and shell inlays by hand.

Late Afternoon: Christian Quarter & Historic Sites

• Chapel of Ananias: Underground visit to the historic house-church where, according to tradition, Saul of Tarsus (St. Paul) was healed of his blindness.
• Street Called Straight & Eastern Gate: Walk along the ancient Roman decumanus and visit a traditional brocade workshop demonstrating historic Damascene silk weaving.

Evening: Jewish Quarter, Cultural Cafés & Art

• Jewish Quarter Architecture: Tour the courtyard houses highlighting classic Damascene residential architecture.
• Al-Qishla Coffeehouse: Relax with locals over a cup of traditional cardamom-scented coffee.
• An-Nawfara Café & Hakawati: Visit the oldest café in Damascus to listen to a traditional public storyteller (hakawati) perform live folklore tales.
• Contemporary Art Center: Discover Syria’s modern visual arts scene before retiring for the night.

Overnight Stay: Boutique Hotel in Damascus

Morning: Bosra Ancient City

• Nabataean & Roman Capital: Head south to Bosra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located at the historic crossroads of ancient trade and caravan routes between Damascus and the Arabian Peninsula.
• The Grand Roman Theatre: Tour the magnificent 15,000 to 17,000-seat black basalt amphitheatre—one of the best-preserved in the Roman world—later encased within a massive Ayyubid citadel that protected its structure for centuries.
• Ancient City Walk: Walk through the Nabataean Gate, inspect the Roman baths, explore the winter souk, and follow the ancient paved streets still bearing deep ruts from Roman chariot wheels.

Afternoon: Traditional Lunch & Early Christian Architecture

• Traditional Bosra Lunch: Enjoy a traditional southern Syrian lunch at a local restaurant in Bosra.
• Church of Saint George (Ezra’a): Travel to Ezra’a to visit the 6th-century Basilica of Saint George, an early masterpiece of octagonal church design and one of the oldest continuously operating Christian churches in the world.

Evening: Damascus Return & Social Impact Dining

• Social Enterprise Dinner: Return toward Damascus for dinner at a local social enterprise restaurant that supports vulnerable members of the community, combining authentic Syrian cuisine with direct social impact.
• Overnight Stay: Boutique Hotel in Damascus.

Morning: Museum & Old City Landmarks

• Local Transit & Hejaz Station: Experience everyday Damascene life with a short ride on local public transit to the early-20th-century Hejaz Railway Station, an iconic symbol of Ottoman-era railway architecture.
• National Museum of Damascus: Explore the city's premier cultural repository housing artifacts spanning thousands of years of Levantine history.
• The Grand Umayyad Mosque: Step into one of the oldest and largest mosques in the world. Built in the 8th century over a former Roman temple and Christian basilica, it is renowned for its golden Byzantine-style mosaics and houses the sacred shrine of Saint John the Baptist (Prophet Yahya).

Afternoon: Ottoman Palaces & Historic Khans

• Azm Palace: Tour this splendid 18th-century residence of the Ottoman governor of Damascus, featuring shaded courtyard gardens and traditional Damascene tilework.
• Khan As'ad Pasha: Marvel at the grand 18th-century caravanserai, famous for its alternating black-and-white ablaq stonework and expansive domed ceilings.

Late Afternoon & Evening: Ancient Markets & Classic Treats

• Historic Souk Exploration: Wander through the covered passages of Souk al-Hamidiyah and the historic Souk al-Jumruk (Customs Market), filled with spice vendors, textiles, and traditional crafts.
• Bakdash Ice Cream: Conclude the afternoon at Syria's oldest ice cream parlor, sampling their famous hand-pounded, mastic-scented booza rolled in fresh pistachios.
• Overnight Stay: Boutique Hotel in Damascus.

Morning: Saidnaya & Historic Mountain Monasteries

• Convent of Our Lady (Saidnaya): Depart Damascus for the ancient mountain town of Saidnaya to visit its hilltop convent, home to a sacred icon traditionally attributed to Saint Luke the Evangelist.
• Church of Saint Sophia: Tour the monastery complex and its unique ecclesiastical museum, featuring three distinct churches that trace consecutive eras of Syrian Christian architecture.

Late Morning: Aramaic Heritage in Maaloula

• Monastery of Saints Sergius & Bacchus: Journey to the cliffside village of Maaloula—one of the last places on Earth where Western Aramaic, the language of Jesus, is still spoken. Visit this 4th-century monastery built over a former pagan temple.
• Convent of Saint Thecla: Walk through the dramatic natural rock gorge said to have split miraculously to shelter St. Thecla, leading to her cliffside sanctuary.

Afternoon: Homs Cultural Landmarks & Local Markets

• Historic Homs Sites: Drive to Homs to visit the ancient rock-cut Church of Our Lady of the Holy Belt (Umm al-Zunnar) and the impressive Ottoman-era Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque.
• Old Souk & Local Sweets: Stroll through the bustling Homs city markets and sample the region's famous traditional pastries and sweets.

Evening: Vineyard Tasting & Countryside Stay

• Homs Gap Wine Tasting: Travel into the lush countryside of the Homs Gap for an evening wine-tasting session at a local vineyard.
• Overnight Stay: Picturesque village of Al-Mashtaya.

Morning: Krak des Chevaliers

• The Premier Crusader Fortress: Depart for Krak des Chevaliers, widely celebrated as the pinnacle of medieval military architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006.
• Knights Hospitaller Legacy: Explore the concentric fortress built by the Knights Hospitaller, engineered to house a garrison of 2,000 men and considered impregnable until its siege by Mamluk Sultan Baybars in 1271.

Midday: Hama Norias & Riverside Heritage

• Ancient Wooden Norias: Descend to the city of Hama to view its historic wooden water wheels (norias) turning along the banks of the Orontes River.
• Azm Palace & Local Cuisine: Stroll through Hama's historic alleys, visit the city's 18th-century Azm Palace, and sample local regional specialties.

Afternoon: Apamea’s Great Colonnade

• Seleucid Empire History: Continue to Apamea, a major Hellenistic and Roman city founded around 300 BC by Seleucus I Nicator and named after his wife, Apama.
• The Two-Kilometer Cardo Maximus: Walk along the Great Colonnade—one of the longest and best-preserved colonnaded avenues in the ancient Roman world, which once served as a bustling military and trade hub.

Evening: Drive to Aleppo

• Journey to the North: Conclude the afternoon with a scenic drive across the Syrian plains to Aleppo.
• Overnight Stay: Hotel in Aleppo.

Morning: Citadel of Aleppo & Umayyad Mosque

• Ancient Urban Roots: Dedicated to Aleppo—one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities (dating back to the 2nd millennium BC) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.
• The Majestic Citadel: Explore the Citadel of Aleppo, one of the largest and oldest castle complexes in the world, sitting atop a central natural hill overlooking the sprawling city skyline.
• Great Umayyad Mosque of Aleppo: Visit the historic mosque complex, admiring its distinct Ayyubid and Mamluk architectural remnants.

Afternoon: Historic Souks & Traditional Craft Workshops

• The Covered Souks: Thread through Aleppo’s legendary covered markets (souks)—among the longest covered market networks on Earth—featuring intricate carved stone archways and historic caravanserais.
• Artisanal Khans: Stop at traditional workshops to witness centuries-old copper craftsmanship and visit the historic Khan al-Sabun (Soap Khan), famous for Aleppo's natural olive and laurel oil soap.

Evening: Aleppine & Armenian Culinary Experience

• Gastronomic Capital: Experience Aleppo’s world-renowned culinary scene, sampling iconic regional kebabs, sour cherry dishes, and authentic Armenian specialties.
• Overnight Stay: Hotel in Aleppo.

Morning: UNESCO Ancient Villages of Northern Syria

• The "Dead Cities": Head to the Idlib countryside to explore the UNESCO-listed Ancient Villages of Northern Syria—nearly 700 abandoned Byzantine settlements preserved since their gradual abandonment between the 7th and 10th centuries.
• Church of Saint Simeon Stylites: Visit the impressive ruins of this 5th-century monastic complex, built around the pillar where the hermit monk Saint Simeon lived for 47 years.
• Basilica of Qalb Lozeh: Explore this exceptionally well-preserved 5th-century Syrian church, widely recognized by architectural historians as a key forerunner to European Romanesque and Gothic cathedral design (including Notre-Dame de Paris).
• Bara & Serjilla: Walk through these rural Byzantine towns to examine intact stone villas, public bathhouses, ancient olive oil and wine presses, and monumental pyramid-topped tombs.

Afternoon: Citadel of Saladin (Qal'at Salah El-Din)

• Forested Mountain Fortress: Travel toward Al-Haffah in the Latakia countryside to visit the Castle of Saladin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dramatically perched on a high ridge between two deep, forested ravines.
• 1188 Siege Legacy: Marvel at the massive 28-meter-deep moat carved out of solid rock by the Crusaders and learn how Sultan Saladin captured this formidable stronghold in a legendary three-day siege in 1188.

Evening: Coastal Descent to Latakia

• Mediterranean Coast: Descend through the coastal mountain range to the port city of Latakia.
• Overnight Stay: Hotel in Latakia.

Morning: Ugarit & The Birth of the Alphabet

• Ancient Bronze Age Capital: Dedicated to Ugarit (Ras Shamra), a thriving Mediterranean trading metropolis between 1450 and 1200 BC that bridged Egypt, Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and the Aegean.
• The Royal Palace & Archives: Pass through the ancient entry gate to explore the Royal Palace, courtyard complexes, and tablet archives.
• Cradle of Alphabetic Writing: Stand on the exact site where archaeologists discovered the Ugaritic Cuneiform Tablet in the mid-20th century—a 30-letter cuneiform script recognized as the world's oldest known alphabet and the direct precursor to Phoenician, Greek, and modern alphabets.

Midday: Arwad Island

• Boat Crossing to Arwad: Take a traditional boat across the Mediterranean to Syria's only inhabited island.
• Island Fortress & Views: Wander through narrow cobblestone alleys, visit the sea-facing Ottoman and Crusader fortifications, and enjoy sweeping views of the Mediterranean coastline.

Afternoon: Amrit Sanctuary & Return to Al-Mashtaya

• Phoenician Coastal Site of Amrit: Tour Amrit, one of the best-preserved Phoenician sites in the Levant, featuring a rock-cut water temple sanctuary (Ma'abed) and monumental tower tombs (Mughazil).
• Return Journey: Travel back inland through the Homs Gap to the Valley of the Christians.
• Overnight Stay: Picturesque village of Al-Mashtaya.

Morning & Afternoon: Ruins of Ancient Palmyra

• Silk Road Oasis: Dedicated to Palmyra—a legendary UNESCO World Heritage oasis city recorded since the 2nd millennium BC that grew into a premier trade and cultural nexus between Rome, Persia, and the East.
• Zenobia’s Empire: Learn about Palmyra's golden age under Queen Zenobia in the 3rd century AD, whose ambitious campaign against Rome culminated in the city's siege by Emperor Aurelian in 272 AD.
• Archaeological Exploration: Tour the vast archaeological park and its iconic monuments, reflecting on both their historic grandeur and recent efforts to preserve human heritage:
  • Sacred Temples & Avenues: Walk the Grand Colonnaded Avenue, passing the Tetrapylon, the Roman Theatre, the Agora, the Roman Baths, and the outer enclosures of the Temple of Bel and Temple of Baalshamin.
  • Necropolis & Tombs: Examine the unique multi-story Tower Tombs, underground hypocenters, and the ancient House of the Dead.
  • Hilltop Fortress: Take in panoramic views of the palm oasis and ancient city ruins from the medieval Palmyra Citadel (Fakhr-al-Din al-Ma'ani Castle).

Evening: Bedouin Desert Dinner & Damascus Return

• Traditional Desert Feast: Gather for an authentic Bedouin-style dinner inside a traditional desert tent, enjoying traditional cuisine and hospitality under the night sky.
• Return Journey: Travel back across the Syrian desert to Damascus.
• Overnight Stay: Boutique Hotel in Damascus.

Morning: Last Walks & Souvenir Shopping

• Boutique Hotel Breakfast: Enjoy a final traditional Damascene breakfast in the courtyard of your boutique hotel in the Old City.
• Souk Leisure Time: Spend your remaining hours wandering the historic stone alleys of Old Damascus for last-minute shopping. Pick up authentic Syrian treasures, including hand-woven Damascus brocade silks, mother-of-pearl inlaid woodwork, local spices, and traditional artisan crafts.

Afternoon: Border / Airport Transfer & Departure

• Departure Assistance: Check out from the hotel and meet your transfer driver.
• Onward Journey: Transfer directly to Damascus International Airport or to the Syrian border crossing (Lebanese or Jordanian border points) for your onward journey, bringing to a close a memorable exploration through ten millennia of living history.