Syria - Guide

From its earliest times as a Phoenician trading port, Syria has played an central part in the shaping of The Middle East. Originally encompassing Modern Syria, Jordan, Israel and Lebanon, Syria's vital strategic position has played an important role in the many Empires from Egyptian and Roman through to Persian and Ottoman. Today Syria is a strongly Muslim country and although it is not as widely visited as many other countries its people are as friendly as any you will find anywhere in the world. Syria has a wealth of tourist sites including remarkably well preserved Roman ruins that are relatively easy to visit in addition to Mediterranean beaches, maze-like souks and unspoilt desert landscapes. Due to it’s excellent flight connections in both Damascus and Aleppo, Syria is an ideal tourist destination in it’s own right but being only a few hours drive from Amman, it also works well as an extension to one of our Jordan itineraries or for an even longer tour Egypt, Jordan and Syria also works well together.

When to go

Generally, the best times to visit Syria are in the Spring or Autumn when temperatures are at a pleasant 25°c, during the Summer temperatures can reach in excess of 40°c which can make sightseeing during the afternoon very tiring. When planning your itinerary you should also take into account daylight hours, during the winter months the sun rises around 07:00 and sets around 16:30 in high summer the sun should rise around 05:00 and sets around 20:00.

The sites in Syria aren’t as busy as the neighbouring countries of Egypt and Jordan however, they will be most crowded over the Christmas/New Year and Easter holidays, in February, and in October. The quietest, or least busy, months are the summer months of May, June and July.

For one month each year, the Muslim festival of Ramadan takes place, though you shouldn’t be put off travelling during Ramadan as this can be a very interesting time to travel in the Arab World. Generally you will find that there is festival feeling within the country with decorations lining the streets. Fasting takes places during daylight hours (for those of the Muslim Faith) and the evening meal (Iftar) is generally a very special occasion. During Ramadan some tourist sites may close earlier than at other times of the year and we will take this into account when arranging your itinerary.

Highlights

• Crac des Chevaliers - Well preserved Crusader Castle
• Palmyra - Historically important Roman remains
• Damascus - Omayyad Mosque, Saladin's Mausoleum, al-Hamadiyyeh Souq
• Ma’loula – Aramaic speaking village, Monasteries of Sergius & St Taqla
• Aleppo– Aleppo bazaar, Citadel, St Simeons Monastery
• Hama – ancient wooden water wheels