Syria Packages/Deals & Travel Agents Near Me

Aleppo

Aleppo is located off the border of Turkey on the northwest part of Syria. This conservative city is a beautiful and historically important city in the Middle East, and has been controlled by various groups of people throughout time. When in Aleppo i...

Categories: Aleppo

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Apamea

Although Apamea, Syria, was founded by the Seleucids at the beginning of the third century BC, most of what remains today is the Roman cardo maximus—the city's main thoroughfare. It's a stunning sight: Rows of columns line both sides of the paved str...

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Arwad Island

Arwad Island, a somewhat dirty and touristy island 2 mi/3 km off the southern coast and 95 mi/150 km northwest of Damascus, merits a visit by those who want a look at what Syria used to be like: Arwad Island is a city of narrow streets with no cars. ...

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Bosra

The prime attraction of the ancient city of Bosra (founded in 4000 BC) is its Roman amphitheater encased in a medieval Arab fortress. In a nearby archaeological zone, you'll find the third-century AD Bab al Qandil (gate), Roman baths, the Umayyad Mos...

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Damascus

Damascus is Syria’s second largest city and capital. It has been settled since the second millennium BC, and is known as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Damascus is a treasure trove of historical sites from the dif...

Categories: Damascus

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Dead Cities

Not far from Aleppo are ruins and historical sites collectively called the Dead Cities—ghost towns that date to the Iron Age, and late-Roman and Byzantine times. Some are more remote than others, and getting to them usually requires hiring a taxi for...

Categories: Dead Cities

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Dura Europos

Discoveries at the Greco-Roman city of Dura Europos, 210 mi/340 km southeast of Aleppo, have provided many clues for understanding Jewish and early-Christian art. Although many of the finds are on display in the National Museum in Damascus, the Louvr...

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Hama

Lying 110 mi/180 km north of Damascus in a rich agricultural region, Hama is one of the most pleasant and laid-back cities in Syria. The main attractions are large wooden waterwheels, called norias, that lift water from the Orontes River and transfer...

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Homs

Although it's Syria's third-largest city and only 100 mi/160 km north of Damascus, few visitors bother to stop in Homs. The main sites include the Great Mosque al-Nuri, the Um al-Zunnar Church and the Church of St. Elian, where some very old frescoes...

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Krac Des Chevaliers

Built by the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, the Crusades-era fortress Krac des Chevaliers is one of the most breathtaking sites in Syria. If you have time to visit just one attraction outside of Damascus, make it this one.The fortress commands the...

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Latakia

Some attractions in the city include a museum, that was an old Ottoman Khan, and houses some interesting examples of pottery, glassware, clay tablets from nearby Ugarit, and contemporary paintings. Surrounding attractions also include a formidab...

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Maaloula

The Greek Catholic village of Maaloula, nestled in the foothills of the Anti-Lebanon Range 30 mi/50 km northeast of Damascus, makes for a worthwhile excursion to see the multicolored cliffside houses. Be sure to see the fourth-century Mar Taqla (St. ...

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Mari

Serious fans of archaeology will be interested in Mari, an isolated town 140 mi/225 km northeast of Palmyra and near Syria's border with Iraq. A Mesopotamian palace and temples from the Bronze Age were discovered there and excavated in 1933. The vari...

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Palmyra

The first view of Palmyra is a stunning one: As you climb a small hill and round a corner, you suddenly see a huge expanse of columns and arches. The City of Palms is one of the most important archaeological attractions in Syria and a must-see.Founde...

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Qalaat Saladin

Although architecturally less impressive than Krac des Chevaliers, the Crusades-era castle of Qalaat Saladin certainly won't disappoint visitors who travel to its remote mountain location 125 mi/200 km southwest of Aleppo. Indeed, its setting is one ...

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Qalaat Samaan

The Byzantine Church of St. Simeon (Qalaat Samaan) was a pilgrimage site built in honor of an incredibly ascetic monk who sat on a pillar for 36 years. The church was constructed around the pillar, but only a small nub remains today. Although the chu...

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Ras Shamra

Dating from about 6000 BC, Ras Shamra (ancient Ugarit) lies about 7 mi/11 km north of Latakia and 85 mi/135 km southwest of Aleppo. In its prime, the Phoenician maritime civilization had indoor plumbing and developed the world's first alphabet—then i...

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Resafe

Although Resafe is mentioned in ancient texts, most of what remains of the walled and gated city 120 mi/200 km southeast of Aleppo is Byzantine. Sites to visit include the somewhat restored Basilica of the Holy Cross, another basilica, a church and a...

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Seydnaya

Seydnaya, an interesting cool spot (its elevation is 4,640 ft/1,415 m) 12 mi/19 km north of Damascus, is worth a day trip to visit the monastery of Seydnaya. Be sure to see the Virgin Mary icon, said to have been painted by the apostle Luke. During t...

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Suweida

Worth a visit to see its Roman ruins, Suweida also features the Suweida Museum (Roman mosaics), the basilica and the Temple to the God Dosares. While you're in the area, stop in Qanawat and Shahba (7 mi/11 km north of town), which has second-century ...

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Tartous

Tartous is an industrial port on the south coast of Syria, but it does have an old quarter containg a Crusader citadel, the remains of the Tortosa of the Templars and the fortress-like Cathedral. It is also the gateway to Damascus, the oldest continu...

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Zabadani

Zabadani, a pleasant spot located in the fertile Barada River Valley and 30 mi/45 km north of Damascus, is a favorite day trip for those looking to escape the capital's heat for a picnic by the river. The town overlooks orchards and fruit trees and i...

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Syria's historic sites rival those of its Middle Eastern neighbors; Syria also lays claim to the oldest continuously occupied city, the spunkiest Crusader castle, and the best preserved Roman theatre. The Syrian government may not be among the world's most benevolent, but the Syrian people are renowned for their friendliness and hospitality.

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Syria Travel Agents

Syria

Syria is home to some of the best historical sites in the world. The country is an absolute treasure trove for those interested in ancient history, archaeology, medieval urban planning and architecture, or the culture of the Middle East. And with a government and public eager to welcome both independent and group travelers, Syria is constantly improving its infrastructure and amenities. In major tourist areas, small, clean hotels are opening alongside luxury establishments. Transportation is well organized and comfortable, and good food and service have become fairly commonplace.

The problem is that politics sometimes get in the way. When a bomb explodes in Jerusalem or the political tensions escalate in Iraq, Syria's tourism may suffer—perhaps unfairly, because the events don't really affect the safety of travelers there. In spite of decades of regional tensions, violence toward tourists is practically unheard of in Syria.

Political and security concerns aside, traditional and modern life in Syria have blended: Clubs, bars and cafes have sprouted near historic sites in Damascus and Aleppo. It's very common to see wizened old men in traditional kaffiyehs talking with young men in T-shirts or to spot older women in chadors mingling with young women in short skirts. The odd juxtapositions actually add to the country's allure.

Geography

Syria can be divided into four regions: the coastal strip in the west (on the east coast of the Mediterranean, between Turkey in the north and Lebanon in the south); two narrow mountain ranges (near the coast and along the border with Lebanon); the fertile plains (around Damascus, Homs, Hama and Aleppo); and the hot, dry deserts (to the southeast).

History

The Mesopotamians first occupied the region in 2300 BC. Since then, Syria has been controlled by Assyrians, Babylonians, Semitic Amorites, Persians, Phoenicians, Macedonians, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders and Turks—each has left its fingerprints for the modern world to read. The Assyrians demonstrated the first widespread and practical use of the wheel (on war chariots); the Phoenicians, trading throughout the Mediterranean, bequeathed the alphabet to the Greeks and Romans; and the Crusaders built a chain of castles that can still be admired.

Modern Syria emerged in the early 20th century. After Damascus (and the Ottoman Empire) fell to the British at the end of World War I, Prince Faisal, a wartime ally of the British (and future king of Iraq), formed the independent Arab Kingdom of Syria in 1920. Soon afterward, the French marched in and kept Syria as a protectorate until 1941. In the 1960s, Syria joined Egypt in the United Arab Republic (the two stars in Syria's flag are from that period), but the union soon fell apart and the Syrian Arab Republic was born.

For years, Syria allied itself with the Soviet Union. Since the collapse of the U.S.S.R., Syria's relations with the U.S. and Europe have fluctuated. Syria's government is feeling pressure from a small but growing private sector to develop the economy—and tourism would certainly aid that effort. Although Syria's economy is currently held together by revenue from oil production, the country's oil reserves are expected to run dry within the next few decades.

The formidable President Hafez al-Assad ruled Syria with an iron fist for 30 years until his death in 2000. He tolerated no dissent: In 1982, the Syrian army suppressed an uprising by the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood by killing some 20,000 townspeople in Hama. Now that the presidency has been passed on to his son, Bashar Assad, there has been much speculation about the course the country will take and how it will affect regional politics.

Although the country has undergone some reform and feels more open these days, it still faces serious political and economic challenges. However, in 2008, officials from both Syria and Lebanon signed a historic agreement establishing diplomatic relations between the countries for the first time.

Snapshot

Syria's highlights include Palmyra; the medieval architecture in the Old Cities of Damascus and Aleppo; archaeological sites from the Iron Age, and Roman and Byzantine times; Crusade-era castles, in particular the Krac Des Chevaliers; cultural attractions; and desert scenery.

Syria is a good travel destination for those who are interested in Middle Eastern culture and ancient history (biblical, in particular) and who aren't discouraged by the current political situation. It's not for travelers who are unable to tolerate a fair amount of dust, dirt and litter.

Potpourri

Epics passed down through the generations by hakawatis (storytellers) were once very popular in the souks and coffeehouses throughout the southern Mediterranean. However, the appearance of radios in Syria's street cafes has threatened the ancient tradition of storytelling—only a handful of hakawatis still practice the art, mostly in Damascus.

During Christmas, Syrian Christian carolers perform in the winding alleyways in Damascus' Old City.

Although many Syrians still speak French (and a knowledge of that language may prove useful), English is becoming the most-popular second language.

There are relatively few Bedouins who remain nomadic in Syria.

Eastern Syria is primarily desert, though the Euphrates Dam project has opened up new lands for cultivation. Syria is one of a few Arab nations that has enough arable land to feed its people.

You'll undoubtedly hear the word malesh more than once. It means "it doesn't matter."

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