Syria Travel Specialists
Our Syria specialists are experienced and passionate about the country - between them they have spent many weeks a year researching new experiences and ensuring everything is of the highest standard. They know Syria inside out.
HarrySyria Specialist01993 838 428
The ATM link between Syria and the UK fails rather frequently, so it is advisable to have a supply of dollars, euros or pounds with you to change in case you can not withdraw money.
Syria travel specialist - Harry
SarahSyria Specialist01993 838 409
Visit the restaurants in the Jdeyde district of Aleppo for a taste of the city's cuisine - lamb kebab with a sharp cherry sauce is a well-known local speciality.
Syria travel specialist - Sarah
MeganSyria Specialist01993 838 427
The traffic can be incredible in Damascus and Aleppo; always cross the street with a local if you can.
Syria travel specialist - Megan
Practical Information
Our advice on how to plan your time in Syria depends on your particular interests, and whether or not you are combining it with another country.
We would suggest the keen amateur antiquarian spends a fortnight here, which is long enough to visit the major highlights of Damascus, Palmyra, Crac des Chevaliers and Aleppo along with a host of other sights including a journey along the Euphrates Valley.
A trip just to see the major highlights can be done in about a week, and good transport links with Jordan make it easy to combine both countries: we recommend a two week trip that takes in Syria's most important sights but also visits Petra and Jerash in Jordan.
Language
Arabic is the official and most widely spoken language. Kurdish is widely spoken in the Kurdish regions of Syria. Many educated Syrians also speak English and French.
Tipping
Tipping is an accepted part of life in Syria and will be expected by your driver and guide for your trip. Tipping is discretionary: it is an accepted part of culture and you should tip the smaller services no matter how perfunctory they seem. With the drivers, guides and cruise staff, please do not feel obliged to tip to these guidelines if you felt the service was substandard.
Money and expense
Syria's currency is the Syrian pound. Syrians use cash far more than credit and debit cards, so you should be prepared for this. Credit cards are accepted in Damascus; do not rely on them in other parts of the country.
Food and Health
Syrian food is strongly Arab, with Lebanese influence dominating as well as one or two traditional local dishes. The most common form of meal starts with mezze (mixed starters) followed by hot, meat-based dishes, all accompanied by lots of delicious, fresh-baked flat bread. Those with a sweet tooth are in for a treat in Syria. Desserts normally consist of a variety of pastries, biscuits, and shredded wheat-like concoctions, all soaked in syrup and honey.
Black tea is the drink of choice throughout the country, often flavoured with mint or sage and plenty of sugar. Turkish coffee is also drunk black, out of very small cups and is usually flavoured with cardamom and has a gritty consistency. The local spirit is Arraq, a triple-distilled vine alcohol flavoured with aniseed - Arraq is traditionally drunk over ice and diluted with a lot of water, which creates a chilled, refreshing cloudy drink.
Under The Skin
Read
'From the Holy Mountain', by William Dalrymple. Modern travelogue through the Christian landscape of the Middle East. A great way to get to know a bit more about the region, and an engaging read. 'Cleopatra's Wedding Present', by Robert Tewdwr Moss. The autobiographical story of a gay Englishman's journey through modern Syria. It is as much an insight into Syrian society as it is an introduction to the sights and cities of the country.
Listen
Sabah Fakhri. Traditional Arab musician, similar to Umm Kalthoum, perhaps best known for singing for a world record continuous ten hours, for which he was awarded the Syrian Order of Merit.
Watch
It's hard to find good programmes from or about Syria, but if you can get hold of the BBC series 'Science and Islam', much of this deals with historic Syrian scientists and mathematicians, as well as being partially shot in Syria.
Eat
Mulabbis, typical Syrian sugared almonds.
Drink
Arak, a distilled spirit made from grapes and flavoured with aniseed.
Word
Ma-fi Mushkila (No problem!).
Trademarks
Crammed with history, hugely hospitable with some amazing Arab cities.
Aleppine soap, backgammon boards and wooden furniture inlaid with pearl, jewellery.
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