It’s now been almost two months since the Assad regime fell it what felt like a lightning-fast campaign by the opposition forces. Syria is now going through some big changes as they finally start to rebuild after so many long years of war.
For the most part, things are looking positive and most importantly the country doesn’t seem to be descending back into conflict. Syria is stabilising which means we will be heading back! Now we are of course holding our breath as the situation is always evolving and changing, however we are working closely with our team on the ground designing new itineraries. Here are 4 places that we will now be able to visit, that we didn’t get to under the Assad regime.
1. Idlib
This is one place we have wanted to go for as long as we have been running tours in the country. Idlib has been the home base of the “rebel” forces during the time of the Assad government and was the last stronghold of some Islamist groups in the country. This was also the launching pad for the opposition forces who quickly moved from Idlib to Aleppo and then to the rest of the country. We can now safely visit Idlib and experience a very different side of Syria that was cut off from the rest of the country for so many years. Here we can experience a different economic system that is closer to Turkey and uses the Turkish Lira as their main currency. We will also be heading to a refugee camp in the area to speak with locals and gain an insight into the struggles they have been through.
2. Saydnaya Prison
This is one of the most infamous prisons in all of Syria and was where the Assad regime used to torture political prisoners. This site was liberated very recently and is now open for all to see to understand the atrocities committed by the Assads. This site will not be a fun place to visit, however we think it is important to visit these places to understand what the Syrian people have been living with for many many years.
3. Mount Qasioun
This mountain that provides the backdrop for Damascus was once a place people could go for views over the city. This was stopped during the civil war as the government declared it a military zone. That is also now a thing of the past, and which means we can now all experience the beauty of the Damascus panorama once more.
4. Ghouta
Ghouta is a neighbourhood of Damascus which was destroyed by the Assad regime. Ghouta is infamously known as the place where the government used chemical weapons against their own people. We are now able to go here and learn more about the incident and begin to grasp the reality of what happened here. Again, this is not exactly a “fun” place, however places like these show important moments from Syria’s recent history and are important to show anyone who comes through Syria.
We expect more places to become available as time goes on and more areas become accessible. Ultimately, Syria returning to a form of normal is going to take time however initial signs and engagement from the international community are looking positive!
If you’d like to join us in Syria or you’d like your own private adventure, contact us at
[email protected]
for more details.
