Saturday 23^rd December – 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.
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of Beirut Gems Hotel at 8:00am to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• Begin the drive to the Syrian border, which will take about two hours. We’ll stop on the way for a quick breakfast of croissants and various other Lebanese snacks
• Cross the border, with a stop at duty free in no man’s land, for some of the cheapest alcohol and other products you’ve ever experienced. Whether you plan to buy, or not this is extremely 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 the way we will stop for some Syrian tea and coffee to break up the journey.
• On arrival we will check into the Al Mamluka Hotel – quite simply one of the best hotels in the Old Town of Damascus. This itself ins a highlight.
• After welcome tea and snacks we will then arrange SIM cards and currency exchange for those that need it.
• Next stop is lunch and quite simply you have not been to Damascus unless you have tried their shawarma, or felafel for those of the vegetarian persuasion.
• Begin our one hour walking tour of the old part Damascus with our first stop being the Ananias Church – Damascus’ oldest church which happens to be underground, and Omayad Mosque – the main mosque located in the centre of the city.
• 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 Monalisa for dinner, one of the most famous and best restaurants in Damascus – this is a true feast and for those inclined you will be able to try local Arak, as well as Syrian Wine
• 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 at Al Manluka in Damascus.

Sunday 24^th December – Damascus – Maaloula – Aleppo

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel
• Today will be a long day as the main road between Damascus and Aleppo is 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 ISIS 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 lords 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 continue the drive to Aleppo arriving in the late afternoon.
• On arrival we will stop at the best falafel and kebab restaurant in the city.
• Check into the centrally locate Aleppo Palace Hotel, after a quick freshen up we head for an evening tour of Aleppo.
• For dinner we head to the famous Cordoba Restaurant, which is walking distance from the hotel. 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 to spend a festive Christmas eve together.
• Dinner and overnight in Aleppo

Monday 25^th December – Aleppo – Hama – Krak des Chevaliers – Damascus

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 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 great souvenirs.
• We stop in Hama city, with the place being famous for its water wheels. We will also have lunch down by the riverside, another great chance for watching everyday Syrian life.
• We then continue driving until we reach the 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
• Begin the journey back to Damascus
• On arrival head to Naranj Restaurant, again one of the best in Syria for a big Christmas feast – shisha available for those interested
• Following dinner we head next door to our favourite bar in Damascus and one of our favourites in the world. We won’t spoil the surprise by giving away its quirks, but rest assured it is well worth it.
• Overnight at Al Mamluka Hotel

Tuesday 26^th December – 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.
• Farewelling Damascus, we’ll head back towards the Lebanese border. Including the border crossing and a few stops, we’ll arrive back in Beirut in the early evening around 6:00pm.
• 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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