Day 1-3: Damascus Deep Immersion (including Liberation Day)
Days 1-2: standard Damascus itinerary — Old City, Umayyad Mosque, National Museum, Azem Palace, Mount Qasioun. Day 3: Liberation Day in Damascus. Depending on the official program, you may witness parades, cultural performances, and public celebrations. Visit the Ghouta neighborhoods recovering from chemical weapons attacks, meet local artists and activists rebuilding their communities. Additional sites: Bimaristan Nur al-Din (12th-century hospital with a stunning iwan courtyard), the Damascus Opera House, and a private cooking class — learn to make kibbeh, fattoush, and the perfect Syrian-style hummus.
Day 4: Maaloula to Aleppo
Maaloula — the Aramaic-speaking village. Homs. Drive to Aleppo.
Day 5: Aleppo
Citadel, rebuilt souks, Aleppo Museum, soap factory, Armenian quarter dinner.
Day 6: Idlib, Hama & Krak
Idlib region, Hama’s waterwheels, Krak des Chevaliers, Tartous villages, Safita brewery visit.
Day 7: Palmyra
Full day at Palmyra — Great Colonnade, Theatre, Valley of Tombs. Return to Damascus for farewell dinner.
Day 8: Damascus & Return to Beirut
Final morning: handicraft market, last-minute exploration. Transfer to Beirut.
