Itineraries
Important Note
The following itineraries are based on pre-conflict conditions, and do not take into account the current situation in Syria with regards to safety concerns and transportation challenges. Travel to Syria under present circumstances is not recommended, but those who are determined to visit the country are advised, for security reasons, to stay in territory that is under government control. As of January 2015, the cities of Lattakia (اللاذقية) and Tartus (طرطوس) have shown relative stability and security, and represent the safest area of the country to visit. It should be noted that limited areas of countryside in the northeast of the Lattakia (اللاذقية) province have seen intense fighting, however. The central city of Homs (حمص) has some areas of resistance to government authority, and has been the scene of several car bombing attacks against civilian neighborhoods. The city of Hama (حماة) has been remarkably stable since initial protests in 2011, but the countryside to the north of the city remains extremely dangerous. The city of Damascus (دمشق) is largely secure, but mortar attacks against civilian neighborhoods from surrounding suburbs outside of government control have been an ongoing issue. Many of these mortar attacks have struck inside the old city of Damascus (دمشق). The southern province of al-Suweida (السويداء) has been generally stable and secure. The provinces of Daraa (درعا), Idleb (إدلب), Aleppo (حلب), al-Raqqa (الرقة), Deir al-Zur (دير الزور) and al-Hasakeh (الحسكة) should be considered entirely off-limits due to ongoing violence and exceptionally high risk of kidnapping.
One Week
With only one week in the country, it would be best to limit oneself to the major cities of Damascus (دمشق) and Aleppo (حلب), with a brief visits to the ancient ruins of Palmyra (تدمر) and the Crusader castle of Qalaat al-Hosn (قلعة الحصن) in between. Additional sites could be added between Palmyra (تدمر) and Aleppo (حلب) if private transportation could be arranged.
Day 1: Damascus (دمشق) – Umayyad Mosque (الجامع الاموي), Qasr al-Azem (قصر العظم), Khan Assad Basha (خان اسعد باشا).
Day 2: Damascus (دمشق) – National Museum (المتحف الوطني), al-Tekiyeh al-Suleimaniyeh Mosque (جامع التكية السليمانية).
Day 3: Damascus (دمشق) – Evening travel to Palmyra (تدمر).
Day 4: Palmyra (تدمر).
Day 5: Visit Qalaat al-Hosn (قلعة الحصن) en route from Palmyra (تدمر) to Aleppo (حلب).
Day 6: Aleppo (حلب).
Day 7: Aleppo (حلب).
Two Weeks
With two weeks in the country, several additional sites in the central provinces could be added to the itinerary, with Hama (حماة) being the most appropriate base. Additional excursions from Damascus (دمشق) and Aleppo (حلب) could also be added, with slightly more time being spent in each city.
Day 1: Damascus (دمشق) – Umayyad Mosque (الجامع الاموي), Qasr al-Azem (قصر العظم), Khan Assad Basha (خان اسعد باشا).
Day 2: Damascus (دمشق) – National Museum (المتحف الوطني), al-Tekiyeh al-Suleimaniyeh Mosque (جامع التكية السليمانية).
Day 3: Damascus (دمشق).
Day 4: Damascus (دمشق) – Day trip to Maalula (معلولا) and Seidnaya (صيدنايا). Include Deir Mar Musa (دير مار موسى) if private transportation can be arranged.
Day 5: Damascus (دمشق) – Day trip to Bosra (بصری).
Day 6: Damascus (دمشق) – Evening travel to Palmyra (تدمر).
Day 7: Palmyra (تدمر).
Day 8: Visit Qalaat al-Hosn (قلعة الحصن) en route from Palmyra (تدمر) to Hama (حماة).
Day 9: Hama (حماة) – Day trip to Qalaat Sheizar (قلعة شيزر) and Apamea (آفاميا).
Day 10: Hama (حماة) – Day trip to the Dead Cities of Jebel al-Zawiyeh (جبل الزاوية): Shinshirah (شنشراح), Serjilla (سرجلا), and al-Bara (البارة). Include additional Dead Cities in the region if transportation can be arranged. Evening travel to Aleppo (حلب).
Day 11: Aleppo (حلب).
Day 12: Aleppo (حلب).
Day 13: Aleppo (حلب).
Day 14: Aleppo (حلب) – Day trip to Qalaat Samaan (قلعة سمعان) and Deir Samaan (دير سمعان). Include additional Dead Cities in the Jebel Samaan (جبل سمعان) region if transportation can be arranged.
Three Weeks
With three weeks in the country, one of two loops can be added to the two week itinerary: the coastal regions of Tartus (طرطوس) and Lattakia (اللاذقية) or the eastern regions of al-Raqqa (الرقة) and Deir al-Zur (دير الزور). The coastal region is preferable for those interested in the castles of the Crusader period and the nature of the Mediterranean. The eastern route is preferable for those with an interest in earlier archaeological sites and the nature of the Euphrates river valley. The coastal regions are considerably more socially liberal and diverse, while the eastern regions represent some of the most conservative and traditional areas of the country.
Coastal Route
Day 1: Damascus (دمشق) – Umayyad Mosque (الجامع الاموي), Qasr al-Azem (قصر العظم), Khan Assad Basha (خان اسعد باشا).
Day 2: Damascus (دمشق) – National Museum (المتحف الوطني), al-Tekiyeh al-Suleimaniyeh Mosque (جامع التكية السليمانية).
Day 3: Damascus (دمشق).
Day 4: Damascus (دمشق) – Day trip to Maalula (معلولا) and Seidnaya (صيدنايا). Include Deir Mar Musa (دير مار موسى) if private transportation can be arranged.
Day 5: Damascus (دمشق) – Day trip to Bosra (بصری).
Day 6: Damascus (دمشق) – Evening travel to Palmyra (تدمر).
Day 7: Palmyra (تدمر).
Day 8: Travel from Palmyra (تدمر) to Hama (حماة).
Day 9: Hama (حماة) – Day trip to Qalaat Sheizar (قلعة شيزر) and Apamea (آفاميا).
Day 10: Hama (حماة) – Day trip to the Dead Cities of Jebel al-Zawiyeh (جبل الزاوية): Shinshirah (شنشراح), Serjilla (سرجلا), and al-Bara (البارة). Include additional Dead Cities in the region if private transportation can be arranged.
Day 11: Visit Qalaat al-Hosn (قلعة الحصن) en route from Hama (حماة) to Tartus (طرطوس).
Day 12: Tartus (طرطوس) – Day trips to Amrit (عمريت) and Arwad (ارواد).
Day 13: Visit Qalaat al-Marqab (قلعة المرقب) and Jableh (جبلة) en route from Tartus (طرطوس) to Lattakia (اللاذقية).
Day 14: Lattakia (اللاذقية)
Day 15: Lattakia (اللاذقية) – Day trip to Qalaat Salah al-Din (قلعة صلاح الدين).
Day 16: Lattakia (اللاذقية) – Day trip to Ras Shamra/Ugarit (رآس شمرا/آوغاريت) and/or beach of al-Samra (السمرا), Ras al-Basit (رآس البسيط), or Wadi Qandil (وادي القنديل).
Day 17: Train trip from Lattakia (اللاذقية) to Aleppo (حلب).
Day 18: Aleppo (حلب).
Day 19: Aleppo (حلب).
Day 20: Aleppo (حلب).
Day 21: Aleppo (حلب) – Day trip to Qalaat Samaan (قلعة سمعان) and Deir Samaan (دير سمعان). Include additional Dead Cities in the Jebel Samaan (جبل سمعان) region if transportation can be arranged.
Eastern Route
Day 1: Damascus (دمشق) – Umayyad Mosque (الجامع الاموي), Qasr al-Azem (قصر العظم), Khan Assad Basha (خان اسعد باشا).
Day 2: Damascus (دمشق) – National Museum (المتحف الوطني), al-Tekiyeh al-Suleimaniyeh Mosque (جامع التكية السليمانية).
Day 3: Damascus (دمشق).
Day 4: Damascus (دمشق) – Day trip to Maalula (معلولا) and Seidnaya (صيدنايا). Include Deir Mar Musa (دير مار موسى) if private transportation can be arranged.
Day 5: Damascus (دمشق) – Day trip to Bosra (بصری).
Day 6: Damascus (دمشق) – Evening travel to Palmyra (تدمر).
Day 7: Palmyra (تدمر).
Day 8: Travel from to Palmyra (تدمر) to Deir al-Zur (دير الزور). Include a stop at Qasr al-Heir al-Sharqi (قصر الحير الشرقي) if private transportation can be arranged.
Day 9: Deir al-Zur (دير الزور) – Day trip to Dura Europos (دورا آوروبس) and Mari (ماري).
Day 10: Visit Halabiyeh (حلبية) and Zalabiyeh (زلبية) en route from Deir al-Zur (دير الزور) to al-Raqqa (الرقة).
Day 11: al-Raqqa (الرقة) – Day trip to Qalaat Jaabar (قلعة جعبر).
Day 12: al-Raqqa (الرقة) – Day trip to al-Rasafeh (الرصافة).
Day 13: Travel from al-Raqqa (الرقة) to Hama (حماة) via the desert road. If transportation can be arranged, visit Athriya (اثريا), Salamiyeh (سلمية), and Qalaat al-Shamamis (قلعة الشماميس) en route.
Day 14: Hama (حماة) – Day trip to Qalaat al-Hosn (قلعة الحصن) and Masyaf (مصياف).
Day 15: Hama (حماة) – Day trip to Qalaat Sheizar (قلعة شيزر) and Apamea (آفاميا).
Day 16: Hama (حماة) – Day trip to the Dead Cities of Jebel al-Zawiyeh (جبل الزاوية): Shinshirah (شنشراح), Serjilla (سرجلا), and al-Bara (البارة). Include additional Dead Cities in the region if transportation can be arranged. Evening travel to Aleppo (حلب).
Day 17: Aleppo (حلب).
Day 18: Aleppo (حلب).
Day 19: Aleppo (حلب).
Day 20: Aleppo (حلب) – Day trip to Qalaat Samaan (قلعة سمعان) and Deir Samaan (دير سمعان). Include additional Dead Cities in the Jebel Samaan (جبل سمعان) region if transportation can be arranged.
Day 21: Aleppo (حلب) – Day trip to al-Nabi Houri (النبي هوري) or Qalaat Najm (قلعة نجم).
Four Weeks
Any itinerary of four weeks or longer should allow time to visit all of the sites regions above, as well as expand into some of the more obscure or less visited parts of the country, such as Qanawat (قنوات) and Shahba (شهبا) in the al-Suweida (السويداء) province.