Syria - How to get there

By Air

There are two main international airports in Syria, in the capital Damascus and in the north of the country – Aleppo. Nearly all scheduled flights fly in and out of Damascus, with a wide range of European and international airlines flying every day. Flights to Aleppo generally route via Damascus, however it is possible to fly direct to Aleppo from other Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt (Cairo) and Jordan (Amman). We start most Syria tours in Damascus, though we also combine Jordan, Lebanon Egypt or a combination of the four in many itineraries, and there are good options to fly into one country and out of another for this type of tour.
Flights between Cairo and Damascus are operated regularly with Egypt Air and Flights between Amman and Damascus are operated daily with Royal Jordanian and Syrian Air.

Flying from the UK

If you are flying from the UK, then the only direct flights to Damascus are from London Heathrow, with either BMI or Syrian Air. The flight takes around 5 hours. Fares range from around £350 if you book well in advance, but do increase significantly during busy periods. Prices are often cheaper if you choose an indirect flight with a European airline such as Air France, Austrian Airways or Czech Airlines. Turkish Airlines are also a good option. In general, the earlier you book the better, as flights tend to get more expensive closer to departure. Flying from regional airports such as Manchester, Newcastle or Glasgow will require a stop-over in London or Europe and normally is a little more expensive than flying from London.

Where to book

We hold an ATOL, and you are welcome to book your flights with us. Please discuss your ideal dates and departure airport with our sales staff, and we will send you a selection of airlines, flight times, and prices. You can then choose whether to book your flights through us, or to make your own arrangements. If you book your own flights, we will still include both your arrival and departure airport transfers.

By Land

Jordan

The drive from Amman in Jordan, to Damascus in Syria, is on good roads and takes around 4 hours, including the border crossing. If you arrive in Jordan from Egypt (via the borders at Taba/Eilat and Eilat/Aqaba) then you will not be able to enter Syria as the authorities will see that you have entered Israel from the entry and exit stamps in Egypt and Jordan (even if you have no Israeli Stamp). If you intend on combining Egypt, Jordan and Syria then we will use a ferry to travel from Nuweiba to Aqaba and miss out Israel completely.

Lebanon

Beirut in Lebanon has good road connections with Damascus in Syria. The journey by road takes approximately 4 hours and your visa can normally be obtained at the border (however this may differ depending on your nationality).

Turkey

For those looking to visit Turkey prior to arriving in Syria, you can easily enter the country through the border crossing close to Ankara which is close to the Syrian city of Aleppo. From here you can easily reach Damascus by road, air or train.