Glimpses of Aleppo
A journey from Damascus to the magnificent northern city of Aleppo.
Explore living traditions, dramatic architecture, bustling markets and unforgettable Syrian food with a knowledgeable local guide who brings the stories behind the monuments to life.
Plan your tourExplore the journey
Meet Aleppo through its people
Aleppo rewards curiosity. Its mighty Citadel dominates the skyline, but the real character of the city emerges in its market lanes, centuries-old trading buildings, food traditions and the resilience of the people who call it home. The Ancient City of Aleppo has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986, and its living craft traditions are just as remarkable.
This compact private tour combines an introduction to Damascus, the mountain heritage of Maaloula and an immersive full day in Aleppo. Your guide sets a comfortable rhythm, with time for conversation, photographs and those spontaneous moments that turn a sightseeing trip into a personal experience.
A city of monuments, food and human stories
Aleppo is not just its famous citadel. Explore the trading streets, beautiful architecture, art, food and encounters that make a stay here unforgettable.
Aleppo’s legendary laurel soap
Aleppo’s famous ghar soap is one of the city’s most distinctive traditions. Made from olive and laurel oils, the soap is cooked, poured out to cool, cut into blocks, stamped and left to dry. In 2024, UNESCO inscribed the Craftsmanship of Aleppo Ghar Soap on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Where a soap workshop is operating and welcomes visitors, we can try to arrange a closer look at this family craft and meet the people who keep it alive.
This UNESCO recognition celebrates the craftsmanship, while the Ancient City of Aleppo is separately recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 1986.
Four days across Syria
The route is adjusted to your arrival, departure arrangements and current opening hours. A full day is reserved for Aleppo rather than attempting Aleppo, Hama and Krak des Chevaliers in a single day.
Damascus — a first taste of Syria
Meet your private Syrian guide and settle into the capital before beginning an introduction to its extraordinary Old City. Depending on your arrival and transfer time, walk through Al Hamidiyah Souk, where traditional merchants, sweet shops and small family businesses bring centuries-old streets to life. Discover the grand Umayyad Mosque and the nearby remains of the Roman Temple of Jupiter, tracing the different periods that have shaped the city’s architecture. Continue into quieter lanes to see historic doors, traditional workshops or a courtyard building when accessible. Your guide will introduce Damascus as a living place rather than merely a series of monuments, sharing stories of its diverse communities and suggesting favourite local food stops. There is no need to rush: guests arriving late can enjoy a shorter evening walk and dinner, while early arrivals can spend more time exploring. Overnight in Damascus.
Damascus
Maaloula and the road north to Aleppo
Leave Damascus and travel towards the Qalamoun Mountains, where Maaloula’s houses appear tucked into dramatic rock formations. Explore the village’s religious heritage and learn about the Western Neo-Aramaic traditions associated with this unique community. A visit to the Saint Thecla complex or another accessible religious site can be arranged around opening hours and local circumstances. Continue north, with a possible short stop in Homs for lunch or a glimpse of its historic churches and city life. As the landscape changes, your guide explains how the cities along this route have long connected Syria’s south and north through trade, migration and faith. Arrive in Aleppo, settle into your chosen hotel and enjoy your first impressions of the city. An evening walk or traditional Aleppine dinner is possible if arrival time permits, leaving the major monuments for a fuller encounter tomorrow.
Aleppo
Aleppo’s citadel, souks, crafts and cuisine
Give Aleppo the attention it deserves, starting with the monumental Citadel and its commanding position above the ancient city. Explore accessible sections with your guide, learn about successive rulers and restorations, and enjoy panoramic views across the rooftops. Move through the streets and surviving sections of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old City and its souks, where traders and craftspeople are rebuilding livelihoods alongside a remarkable urban heritage. A highlight, when a workshop is operating and welcoming visitors, is an encounter with the famous Aleppo laurel soap-making tradition: discover how olive and laurel oils become the hand-cut, stamped and patiently dried bars that earned UNESCO intangible cultural heritage recognition in 2024. Visit the area of the Great Umayyad Mosque, subject to current visiting arrangements, and discover the city’s old caravanserais and architectural details. Aleppo is also a city of exceptional food: stop for sweets, learn about local specialities and enjoy a traditional meal featuring dishes such as cherry kebab or muhammara. If you are interested in contemporary cultural life, your guide can help request an encounter with a local icon restorer or artisan, subject to their availability. The day balances history with the people who give Aleppo its character.
Aleppo
South through Hama and onward departure
Leave Aleppo after breakfast and travel south, with time for a stop in Hama to see the celebrated wooden norias beside the Orontes River. Your guide explains the ingenuity of the historic water-lifting system and the role the river has played in the city’s identity. Stop for a meal or refreshment if your onward journey allows. Continue towards Damascus or your arranged departure point, with the schedule shaped around transfer distances, traffic and border or airport procedures. If your departure is early, we will prioritise reaching it comfortably rather than adding unrealistic sightseeing. Travellers wishing to spend longer in the region can extend the journey, add a night in Hama or Damascus, or request a more in-depth Aleppo experience. This final day is designed as a pleasant conclusion to four rewarding days, not as a promise of several major detours.
Departure or extra night
Places you can visit
The following places and experiences can shape your private trip. Some are optional extensions or depend on access; not every place can be visited during four days.
The monumental hilltop fortress and its extraordinary views.
Historic market streets, merchants and restored sections.
Aleppo’s iconic sacred monument, subject to opening arrangements.
Courtyards and commercial heritage from Aleppo’s trading past.
A familiar landmark in the historic urban centre.
Cherry kebab, muhammara, sweets and local food traditions.
Discover traditional ghar soap crafted with olive and laurel oils; a UNESCO-recognised living tradition since 2024. Workshop visits subject to arrangements.
Possible meetings with working craftspeople, by arrangement.
Churches and stories of Aleppo’s diverse communities.
A striking mountain village with living religious heritage.
A historic Maaloula pilgrimage site, if accessible.
Optional stop for lunch and an introduction to local heritage.
Famous waterwheels beside the Orontes River.
A taste of the historic market life of Damascus.
Sacred architecture and centuries of history in the capital.
Optional extension, not part of the standard four-day route.
Hotel options in Aleppo and Damascus
The suggested route uses one night in Damascus and two in Aleppo. We can adapt hotel style and room arrangements to your budget and preferences.
Dar Halabia
An atmospheric choice for guests who want an Aleppine sense of place during the city portion of the tour.
Riga Palace
A practical alternative in Aleppo for travellers seeking a different hotel style and room arrangements.
Beit Al Mamluka
A traditional Damascene hotel option for the capital’s overnight stay, combining local architecture with a memorable courtyard setting.
Designed around your journey
We can arrange arrival via Damascus Airport or discuss an entry transfer from Lebanon or Jordan. The final day involves overland travel from Aleppo, so onward flights or border transfers must be timed carefully. A fourth night or a direct departure from Aleppo may suit some travellers better and can be discussed before booking.
Can we spend more time in Aleppo?
Yes. Adding an extra day is highly recommended if you want a leisurely experience, time at galleries, artist studios or the St Simeon archaeological site.
Can we visit the famous St Simeon Monastery?
Potentially, subject to access and current arrangements. It is best added with an extra day or by reshaping other stops, as the standard four-day itinerary already involves considerable travel.
Are hotels and meals included?
The final quotation will confirm accommodation, breakfast, lunches, dinners, entrance fees, private transport, guiding and any additional transfers.
Start planning your Aleppo journey
Share your dates, party size, entry point and particular interests. We will suggest a suitable route and a transparent quotation.
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