4-Day Syria Trip » Damascus + Krak des Chevaliers + Palmyra

You’ll be picked up in Beirut at 7:00 am for the overland drive to the Syrian border, arriving by 9:00 am for immigration procedures. After entering Syria, continue to Damascus and check in at your hotel around 11:00 am. The afternoon is reserved for exploring the capital’s historical core.

Begin at the National Museum of Damascus, showcasing artifacts from Syria’s key ancient cities. Visit Takiyya Suleimaniah, a 16th-century Ottoman complex that combines a mosque and market. Next, explore the Khan Assad Basha Caravanserai, built in 1751 for merchant caravans. Continue to Al Azem Palace, an 18th-century governor’s residence with a traditional courtyard layout. The day ends with a visit to the Umayyad Mosque and nearby Al-Hamidiyeh Souq.

This afternoon provides a clear historical frame for understanding Damascus as a city layered with Roman, Islamic, and Ottoman legacies.

Travel Distance & Time: Approx. 120 km – 3 hours (including border procedures)

Historical Context:

• Umayyad Mosque: Built on a Roman temple site by Caliph Al-Walid I in 715 CE.
• National Museum: Opened in 1919, includes Ugaritic cuneiform tablets and Palmyrene statues.

Curiosities & Local Facts:

• Khan Assad Basha’s massive dome chambers were designed for acoustics and ventilation.
• The Takiyya complex originally hosted Sufi dervishes and offered services for travelers.

5 Key Highlights:

• Entry into Syria and hotel check-in
• Visit to Damascus National Museum
• Ottoman Khan and Takiyya complex
• Walk through Al Azem Palace and Umayyad Mosque
• Stroll through Al-Hamidiyeh Souq

Important for you:
Ottoman-era Damascus, Islamic heritage architecture, museum artifacts from Syria’s ancient cities

Depart Damascus and drive northeast to Maaloula, one of the few places where Aramaic is still spoken. Visit the Church of Saints Sergios and Bacchos, carved into the rock, then hike through the narrow Eastern Gorge linked to the story of Saint Thecla’s escape. Conclude with a visit to Saint Thecla Convent.

Continue to Homs and visit Um Al-Zenar Church, believed to house a relic of the Virgin Mary’s belt. In the afternoon, proceed to Krak des Chevaliers, the most intact Crusader fortress in the Levant. Explore its towers, chapel, inner halls, and view over the surrounding valley. Arrive in the Christian village of Al-Mishtaya for overnight.

This day connects early Christian history with Crusader military strategy and pilgrimage routes.

Travel Distance & Time: Approx. 340 km – 6 hours drive

Historical Context:

• Krak des Chevaliers: Controlled by the Hospitallers from 1142 to 1271 before falling to the Mamluks.
• Maaloula: Churches date back to the 4th century and remain active pilgrimage sites.

Curiosities & Local Facts:

• The gorge in Maaloula is believed to have opened miraculously to save Saint Thecla.
• Krak includes both Crusader and later Islamic architectural features.

5 Key Highlights:

• Aramaic-speaking village of Maaloula
• Cave churches and gorge trail
• Visit to Homs’s Um Al-Zenar Church
• Full walk-through of Krak des Chevaliers
• Overnight in Al-Mishtaya hill village

Important for you:
Christian pilgrimage landmarks, Crusader fortress engineering, active religious sites

Leave Al-Mishtaya early and cross the central Syrian desert to reach Palmyra, arriving by midday. Begin your guided tour with the Roman theater and the grand colonnaded street, then continue to the agora, Tetrapylon, and the remains of the Temple of Bel. Visit scattered tower tombs and the Valley of the Tombs for insight into Palmyra’s funerary architecture.

Though some structures were damaged, the city’s layout and major Roman features remain visible. After lunch, drive back to Damascus, arriving by evening for your final overnight.

This visit reveals Palmyra’s scale and significance in connecting the Roman world with eastern trade routes.

Travel Distance & Time: Approx. 330 km – 6 hours drive

Historical Context:

• Palmyra: Rose as a caravan city in the 1st–3rd centuries CE; led by Queen Zenobia during its revolt against Rome.
• Temple of Bel: Completed in 32 CE, formerly one of the most important temples in the Middle East.

Curiosities & Local Facts:

• Inscriptions in Palmyra appear in both Greek and Palmyrene (a dialect of Aramaic).
• The colonnaded avenue was over 1 km long and connected key public spaces.

5 Key Highlights:

• Roman theater and colonnaded street in Palmyra
• Temple of Bel remains and altar platform
• Valley of the Tombs and desert tower graves
• Insight into ancient Silk Road trade routes
• Evening return to Damascus

Important for you:
Palmyra Roman influence, desert trade city design, Queen Zenobia’s legacy

After breakfast, check out and depart Damascus at 8:00 am. Reach the Syrian–Lebanese border by 9:00 am for exit procedures, then continue by road to Beirut, arriving around 12:00 pm.

This final segment concludes your fast-paced exploration of Syria’s religious and historical centers.

Travel Distance & Time: Approx. 120 km – 3 hours (including border procedures)

5 Key Highlights:

• Morning departure from Damascus
• Border crossing back into Lebanon
• Scenic mountain highway route
• Arrival in Beirut
• End of itinerary services

Important for you:
Efficient cross-border return, end-of-tour logistics, Beirut arrival planning