ZIYARA RIDEPRIVATE SYRIA JOURNEYS
Church bell towers and stone monastery buildings at Saint Thecla in Maaloula beneath a bright blue sky
From Damascus · From $104 per trip

Private Maaloula Day Trip

Travel into the mountains for monasteries, village streets, dramatic rock passages, and viewpoints. The basic Maaloula trip can be extended to include Saydnaya and Cherubim Monastery.

Duration5–6 hours · extended route 7–8 hours
PickupStarts and ends in Damascus
Group sizePrivate · up to 3 travelers
UNESCO TENTATIVE LISTTentative List since 1999 · Not inscribed

Maaloula appears on Syria's UNESCO Tentative List for its mountainside setting, monasteries and cultural traditions. A Tentative List entry is a proposed candidate for possible future nomination, not an inscribed World Heritage property.

View Tentative List submission at UNESCO →
Clear pricing

Starting prices by group size

Prices are total trip prices in USD, not per-person prices.

1 traveler$104 total
2 travelers$119 total
3 travelers$149 total

These prices apply to the standard Maaloula day trip described above. The Saydnaya and Cherubim Monastery extension adds $25 total. Airport arrangements or other requested route changes may affect the final quote.

Exploring more of Syria? See our private 7-Day Tour →

What you may experience

Highlights

  • St. Thecla Monastery
  • Saints Sergius and Bacchus Monastery
  • The mountain passage and village streets
  • Scenic viewpoints and time for photographs
  • Optional Saydnaya and Cherubim Monastery extension

Included

  • Private air-conditioned vehicle, fuel, and normal vehicle costs
  • Pickup and return in Damascus
  • Muhammed’s accompaniment, local insight, and flexible route planning
  • Planned site entry fees, bottled water, and coffee or tea

Paid separately

  • Meals
  • Personal expenses
  • Optional route changes not confirmed in advance
Practical notes

Before you book

The route and site access are confirmed during planning.

Reasonable clothing rules apply at religious sites; bring a light scarf when useful.

Children and infants are welcome. Families must bring an appropriate child car seat or booster seat and tell Ziyara Ride in advance how many children are traveling and their ages. Children count toward the vehicle’s passenger capacity, even when they are very small and deeply convinced they require no luggage.

Walking & terrain

Monastery areas, village lanes and mountain passages may involve uphill walking, stone steps and uneven paths. Please tell us before booking if you need to avoid stairs or extended walks so we can discuss suitable arrangements.

Photo gallery

A glimpse of the journey

Old stone arches, vine-covered courtyard and tree at the monastery in Maaloula
A peaceful courtyard beneath the rock
Bell towers and crosses at the Saint Thecla monastery in Maaloula, beneath the rock cliff
The monastery beneath the cliffs
Arched stone corridors and stairs inside the Saint Thecla monastery complex
Stone arches and monastery passages
Sunny monastery terrace with plants, seating, stone rail and church buildings in Maaloula
A quieter moment on the terrace
Wide photograph of a limestone canyon near Maaloula with visitors exploring the sloping rock
The canyon: a surprising side excursion
Rock overhang framing a sunny monastery courtyard and cross in Maaloula
Where cliffs meet the monastery
Small Christian shrine framed by a rock arch with religious icons and candles in Maaloula
Inside the sacred spaces
Maaloula village houses and a church tower beneath huge rocky cliffs
Maaloula beneath the cliffs

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Your Syria. Your Way.

Seven days is just a starting point. Adjust the route, change stops, spend longer somewhere special, or extend your journey. Your private trip is shaped around you.

Explore the 7-Day Tour →Customize Your Private Journey →
Photograph credits

Aleppo photograph dated 2008; displayed with a responsive crop.

Real photograph of the Saint Thecla monastery towers, Maaloula
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Start planning

Plan your private Syria journey.

Tell us your dates, number of travelers, and the places that interest you. We’ll help shape the route and confirm the price on WhatsApp.

Plan on WhatsApp →Send an email →

Usually replies within a few hours. Replies may take longer while traveling or accompanying guests. Even local travel hosts have not yet achieved the medically questionable skill of answering messages while driving.