Syria Marmarita Festival Budget Tour

Name: Syria Marmarita Festival Budget Tour
Start: 2025-08-11
End: 2025-08-15
Location: Beirut

Start

Aug 11, 2025
Beirut

End

Aug 15, 2025
Beirut

Duration

5 days

Price

US$895.00

Are tours to Syria currently running?

Yes, but there are some changes, due to the current situation in the region.

Read about it here.

TOUR OVERVIEW

View the full itinerary

We also have a longer tour of Syria, for those who want to explore more of this magnificent country while you're there.

If you like the look of this tour but the dates don't work for you, or you'd like to do part of the tour, please get in touch and let us know. All our tours are able to be split into smaller sections, we're always scheduling new tours and your dates might work for one of them, or we can always organise an independent tour.

INCLUSIONS:

✓	Visa approval
✓	Accommodation in twin share at roughly 3 star hotels/guesthouses, breakfast included
✓	Transport, beginning and ending in Beirut
✓	Entrance fees to all sites mentioned in the itinerary, except hammam
✓	SAIGA guide and local guides

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $200

EXCLUSIONS:

⨯	Visa fee (paid at the border on arrival)
⨯	Departure tax (approx. $5, paid at the border)
⨯	Hammam (approx. $10 per person)
⨯	Meals other than breakfast
⨯	Transport to and from Beirut
⨯	Accommodation and any other services in Lebanon
⨯	Personal expenses such as souvenirs or any optional activities
⨯	Any COVID related requirements

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Take part in the wacky and unique Marmarita Festival

Explore the vibrant old city of Damascus

Take in the spectacular anceint site of Palmyra

Itinerary

Day 1Mon Aug 11

Beirut, Damascus

Meet in Beirut at 8:00. Meeting point to be advised closer to the time.
Begin the drive to the Syrian border, which will take about two hours. We’ll stop on the way for a quick breakfast and to buy any Lebanese snacks you might want.
Cross the border, with a stop at Duty Free in No Man’s Land, for some of the cheapest alcohol you’ve ever experienced.
The whole border crossing will take around 1.5 hours.
After clearing Syrian Customs and Immigration, we’ll continue our drive to Damascus, another hour.
Arriving in the old town, you’ll immediately be intoxicated by the buzz of the old town as we walk towards our hotel. We’ll be staying in a beautifully renovated old Damascene house, complete with a tranquil courtyard surrounding a bubbling fountain, and the distinctive black and white stonework of this part of Syria.
In the afternoon we’ll explore Damascus’ old town, bazaar, shopping areas and bar/restaurant street. You might like to try some local ice-cream or have a shawarma, and shisha is available just about everywhere.
We’ll also visit Ananias Church, Damascus’ oldest church which happens to be underground, and Omayad Mosque, the main mosque in the centre of the city.
Free time in the evening to enjoy Damascus’ vibrant night-life.

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Day 2Tue Aug 12

Damascus

Leaving the 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, on our way to the October War Museum, dedicated to the war against Israel.
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 DPRK, Kim Il Sung.
Returning to the centre of town we’ll visit the National Museum in the afternoon, followed by the Souk Al-Hamidiye and El-Azem Palace
One of the staples of any Middle Eastern destination, it’s time to experience a hammam. Anyone who doesn’t want to join in can either hang out with a shisha or a cup of tea inside the hammam’s “albrani”, translated into English as the “outside section”, which is the first room of the hammam.
It’s a very cool experience for anyone, but especially for females it’s a great way to see how Syrian women enjoy themselves free of headscarves and social pressures. There will be women of all ages, and they really make a day of it. Children, grandmothers and everyone in between take in snacks and drinks and stay there for hours smoking shishas, listening to music and relaxing.
If you prefer you can return to the hotel to enjoy the serene Damascene house, or have free time around the bazaar.

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Day 3Wed Aug 13

Damascus, Palmyra, Valley of the Christians

Leaving Damascus this morning we'll start exploring the rest of the country, with our first stop being Palmyra, probably Syria’s most famous site.
Once a lush city on the Silk Road, Palmyra was even briefly its own empire in the 3 ^rd 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 razed to the ground.
Until recently it wasn’t possible to visit the ancient site, however it is now possible, providing you have the correct permission.
We will also try and make a stop in the completely destroyed modern town of Palmyra, though this is difficult because of the presence of the Syrian Army and their allies. Even if we’re unable to stop though, we’ll drive though and you’ll be able to see what ISIS accomplished there.
We’ll spend the night in the Valley of the Christians, just below Krak des Chaveliers.

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Day 4Thu Aug 14

Krak des Chaveliers, Marmarita festival, Mishtaya

This morning our first stop will be Krak des Chaveliers, the most famous of all the Crusader castles. It was first built by Kurds in the 11 ^th Century, and has changed hands many times, but most recently was damaged in the Syrian civil war. Recaptured by the Syrian government in 2014 it’s now safe and possible for us to visit the castle and the surrounding village of al-Husn, which is now mostly abandoned.
After our visit to the castle we will head back over the valley to Marmarita where we will join in with the local festivities and celebrate Syria’s version of Carnivale!
Here we will have free time to mix in with the locals, watch the floats and just enjoy the amazing atmosphere of the festival.
And we may even have a chance to experience a rave at Krak de Chevaliers for those of you who want to continue partying into the night!
Overnight in Mishtaya.

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Day 5Fri Aug 15

Valley of the Christians, Beirut

This morning we'll wake up in the Valley of the Christians.
We'll farewell those who are continuing to Aleppo for the longer tour , and begin heading back towards Lebanon.
This time we'll cross at the northern border, near Tripoli.
Arrive in Beirut in the evening.

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