Thursday 2nd May – Beirut, Lebanon – Damascus, Syria

Morning

•  May the 4th be with you with your 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, or you can simply join us directly from our Lebanon Tour for some extra exploration of the capital
• 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 in readiness for our Syria Revolutionary Tour
• 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.

Friday 3rd May – Damascus 

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and depart to centre of town. We’ll drive to the outskirts of the city and you’ll get your first glimpses of the destruction caused by the recent conflict.
• Visit the October War Museum dedicated to the war against Israel. This is one of the most unique museums in the country and was actually built by North Korea!
• We’ll visit Kim Il Sung Park for some great photo opportunities. Syria and DPRK have had a long history of friendship and recently the Syrian Government decided to dedicate a park to the founding leader of North Korea, Kim Il Sung. Quite the YPT experience!
• Visit a shop which will satisfy all your Syrian souvenir desires – flags, t-shirts, magnets, keyrings and of course everything related to President Assad

Afternoon

• Returning to the centre of town we’ll visit the National Museum
• Following this we do a full city tour of Damascus which includes all the main churches, mosques and places of historical interest.
• Depending on availability we offer a night at the Opera! The newly reopened Syrian Opera House hosts regular shows from the Syrian Wind Orchestra, this is a truly unique experience and one very few foreigners get to do. Should this not be available, we will arrange to see a classic Syrian dance performance.
• We then head to Naranj Restaurant, again one of the best in Syria – with 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

Saturday 4th May – Damascus – 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 lord’s 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.
• Dinner and overnight in Aleppo

Sunday 5th May – Aleppo 

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 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.
• Our next site marks another highlight and lowlight with us seeing the Baron Hotel, the oldest in Syria. While not currently operational it is still worth a visit, with previous guests including Lawrence of Arabia and Agatha Christie among many many others. The manager here is very open to telling their story – which includes being attacked while drinking on the balcony. This is truly living history.
• We head for sunset at one of our secret spots overlooking Aleppo, before heading back to the Aleppo Citadel area for dinner.
• Overnight At Aleppo Palace Hotel

Monday 6h May – Aleppo – Hama – Almishtaya

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and depart Aleppo, before departure we stop at the I Love Aleppo sign for a photo opportunity, before visiting the Presidential Park. This is one of the few places where you will see a bust of Assad Senior, the father of the current President.
• Stop on the way at the ruins of one of the many villages of “beehive houses” that are scattered across the Syrian desert. Built in the shape of beehives, the conical houses are made of mud and straw and are designed to keep the inhabitants cool in summer and warm in winter.
• Inside the houses we can expect a warm welcome, some singing and tea with our hosts

Afternoon

• 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
• We continue with the short drive to the Christian village of Almishtaya, a surprise highlight of the trip. After checking into our quaint hotel, the only one in town we head out for the night.
• Dinner at the Le Monde, after which people can either go back to the hotel, or further explore the nightlife.
• A short drive from here is the village of Margarita and the trendy Couples Bar. The trendy kids of the town hang out here and most evenings end up with us dancing!
• Overnight in Almishtaya

Tuesday 7th May – Almishtaya – Homs – Palmyra – Damascus

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel before heading to Homs
• We’ll stop at the St. Mary Church of the Holy Belt, the Seat of the Syriac Orthodox Church, where the Virgin Mary’s belt was kept until shortly before the war. Fortunately, the belt was already removed before the church was looted and all the icons and artwork were burnt or stolen.
• Visit the grave of Frans van der Lugt – a Dutch Jesuit priest who established a community centre and farm in Homs where he worked with the homeless, disabled, sick and hungry, as well as for harmony between Christians and Muslims. Greatly respected by locals, he was then shot dead in the garden in 2014 by members of the Al-Nusra Front, and it is now a memorial to him and his work.

Afternoon

• Visit Palmyra, one of Syria’s most famous sites. Once a lush city on the Silk Road, Palmyra was even briefly its own empire in the 3rd Century, stretching from Turkey to Egypt. Although the old city was ruined, it was famously in spectacular condition and exceptionally well preserved. Sadly, though in 2015 it fell under the control of ISIS, and a lot of the buildings were brought to the ground.
• Here we visit the formerly unreachable ancient sites, while enjoying a picnic lunch.
• We now take the long drive back to Damascus, stopping on the way for dinner of lamb ribs, also known as Kastalita
• Check back into hotel in Damascus, with optional drinks for those up for it.
• Overnight in Damascus

Wednesday 8th May – Damascus – Busra – Damascus

Morning

• Breakfast in hotel
• Today will involve a lot of driving, but the ends will certainly justify the means as we visit the seldom seen Busra. This is on the way to the Golan Heights, as well as Jordan, with us able to stop for numerous picture opportunities.

Afternoon

• Arrive in Busra where we will first visit the truly amazing Bursa Colosseum, known as the most impressive and well-kept outside of Rome
• We then take a an explore of the old Roman town. There is still lots to see here, such as the oldest Mosque in Syria, but there has been much looting and there are hawkers trying to sell “treasure”
• Perhaps most interestingly Bosra, or Busra lies outside of the control of the Assad regime, with the area protected by local militias. While not at war with the government this is one of the only places you will see the green rebel Syrian flag.
• We have a late lunch, but it is very much worth it, being a classic Arabic tent feast followed by lots of dancing.
• We then take the long drive back to Damascus, before heading for our last night out.
• We head for tea, or drinks at the home of Professor Abdul Homsi, the most famous tour guide in Syria. He not only has very interesting views, but was also the guide for President Carter, as well as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, the latter of which even gave him a kiss
• We then head for a very special last night’s farewell dinner, before either heading back to the hotel, or for those wanting to experience a Syrian night club.
• Overnight in Damascus

Thursday 9th May – 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
• Group members for Whole Iraq Combo depart for an adventure starting in Baghdad!

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