A Ten-Day, Nine-Night Journey Through Syria’s Living Legends
Introduction
Syria is not a destination you simply visit — it is a civilization you step inside. This is
a land where the alphabet itself was born, where the language of Christ is still
whispered in mountain villages, where Roman emperors, Crusader knights, and desert
queens all left their fingerprints on the same stone. Across ten unhurried days, this
journey carries travelers from the jasmine-scented lanes of Damascus — one of the
oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth — south to the Nabataean and Roman
wonders of Bosra, north through the Crusader strongholds of the Homs Gap and the
classical grandeur of Apamea, into the Ottoman elegance of Aleppo, west across the
Byzantine “Dead Cities” and the Mediterranean coastline, and finally out to Palmyra,
the fabled Bride of the Desert. Along the way, guests will taste home-cooked Syrian
hospitality, hear the call of the last hakawati storytellers, sip coffee in cafés that have
poured it for over a century, and encounter, in every town, the layered inheritance of
Aramaeans, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Umayyads, Crusaders,
Mamluks, and Ottomans. Designed and delivered on the ground by a Damascus-based
agency with more than 25 years of licensed guiding experience, this itinerary blends
UNESCO icons with intimate, human encounters — the kind that turn a tour into a
memory that lasts a lifetime.
Itinerary
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 & Arrival
- Border/Airport Transfer: Meet-and-greet at the airport or Syrian border (Lebanese/Jordanian points) followed by hotel check-in and welcome drinks.
- Guided Intro: Orientation with your private tour guide.
Afternoon: Old Damascus & Artisans
- Historical Walk: Explore the UNESCO-listed lanes of Old Damascus, wandering through ancient spice and jasmine souks.
- Craft Workshop: Private visit to a mother-of-pearl and mosaic workshop to see third-generation master craftsmen at work.
Late Afternoon: Christian Quarter
- Chapel of Ananias: Underground visit to the historic house-church where Saul of Tarsus (St. Paul) was healed.