Holiday in Syria?

Syria is not a country to go and spend a fortnight on the beach, despite a lengthy stretch of Mediterranean coastline and a beautiful climate which welcomes sunshine for most of the year.

A holiday in Syria should be a journey, a feast of surprises and wonder in an underexplored corner of the world.

The names of Syria’s landmarks are evocative, exciting ones – places famed for millennia. Damascus, Aleppo, Palmyra – these are ancient cities which have inspired writers and travellers alike for generations.

Holiday in Syria with africanexplorations.com

Whatever you read about these places, however, there’s no substitute for just diving in and exploring them for yourselves!

For a holiday in Syria one has to get going. Get walking, because in these labyrinthine streets of the old town there is no better way to experience the charm than to poke your head around the corner of an old wooden door and see a magnificently-appointed courtyard – or smell the jasmine as a donkey and cart bring boxes full of perfumes along the narrow cobbled streets to market. No two experiences of Damascus and Aleppo are the same.

Holiday in Syria with africanexplorations.com

Get talking, too, because Syria’s uniqueness extends to its welcoming people. The Syrians are not wearied of tourists, and they’re keen to chat. Part of the reason that these old towns have persisted is because of the affection the locals feel for them – their connection to it, which extends back for generations, can yield wonderful stories and charming narratives best experienced against the backdrop of a café on a busy street, watching the world go by.

And if you’ve ventured into a café, get eating! Syria’s cuisine is divine, similar to that of Lebanon and full of tempting grilled meats and delicious vegetables. Falafels, spices, spreads of dish after dish – you’ll never go hungry.

A holiday in Syria is one full of adventure and excitement. It may not be a well-travelled road, but it’s one as vibrant and thrilling as any road one could hope to take.

Boutique hotels Syria- There is an exciting new development in Syria over recent years of boutique hotels springing up which are a little splash of magic on a stay in the country.

It’s easy to think of a journey to Syria as being an exciting adventure off the beaten track – which will mean staying in some fairly ordinary hotels – but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Take Damascus, for instance – venture inside a building in the old town and your reward is typically a beautiful courtyard with a fountain in its centre, bougainvilleas climbing the walls, a focal point with rooms looking towards it.

Happily, several new places have opened which have done a magnificent job of converting these majestic old buildings into top boutique hotels.

Boutique hotels Syria with africanexplorations.com - Talisman

The reasons to stay in such places are as simple as they are compelling. They feel like Syria, for one thing – with the fabric of days of yore woven carefully into every detail to create a sprinkling of luxury and tradition. There are just handfuls of rooms – typically somewhere between ten and twenty – which means that not only is it a magical experience, but it’s one you don’t feel like you’re forced to share with the world and his wife. And beyond that, there is a practical reason – they are set in the old cities – the very places you should explore the most. It keeps your explorations within walking distance.

Damascus has a number of these places. The Talisman is a beautiful example of a former Ottoman Palace converted into a little paradise away from the masses, but plenty more have followed it.

It is a similar story in Aleppo, where the enchanting Mansouriya has been joined by a handful of Riad-style properties which add something to the Syrian experience.

Boutique hotels Syria with africanexplorations.com - Mansouriya

Elsewhere in the country, it must be said, the accommodation is still a bit rough-and-ready – a product of Syria being a hidden gem, whose many sites are still under-explored. But we love these boutique hotels Syria has to offer, and cannot recommend them enough when you want somewhere a bit special to stay.