SyriaTartus
Coastal Mountain Villages
Explore the traditional villages in the mountains behind Tartus where Alawite and Christian communities maintain their stone-built villages, terraced agriculture, and distinctive coastal mountain culture in a landscape little changed for centuries.
Syrian North Coast Exploration
Drive the Syrian north coast between Tartus and Latakia, the most scenic stretch of Syrian Mediterranean coastline where resort hotels, fishing villages, Crusader castles, and ancient ruins punctuate the coastal road between the two main Syrian port cities.
Tartus Coastal Cuisine
Taste the coastal cuisine of Tartus where the fresh Mediterranean seafood, the Syrian mezze tradition, and the relaxed coastal character of the city combine in a culinary experience that reflects the sea-oriented life of this Syrian port.
Marqab Castle Hospitaller Fortress
Visit Marqab Castle, the massive black basalt Crusader fortress north of Tartus that served as a major stronghold of the Knights Hospitaller, its dramatic hilltop position and dark volcanic stone giving it a brooding presence over the Syrian coast.
Safita Crusader Tower and Mountain Villages
Visit Safita (ancient Chastel Blanc) where the remarkable Crusader keep stands in the center of a modern Syrian town, the white tower of the Knights Templar still dominating the hilltop village in the mountains above Tartus.
Tartus Mediterranean Seafront
Enjoy the Tartus Mediterranean seafront where the coastal promenade, the beaches, and the fishing harbor create a pleasant Syrian coastal atmosphere in one of the most relaxed cities on the Syrian coast.
Arwad Island Ancient Phoenician City
Take the short boat trip to Arwad Island, the remarkable inhabited island just offshore from Tartus where Phoenician walls, Byzantine towers, and Crusader fortifications layer 3,000 years of history in a tiny Mediterranean island community.
Tartus Old City and Crusader Cathedral
Explore Tartus old city where one of the best-preserved Crusader cathedrals in the world survives in the heart of the Syrian coastal town, the fortified Crusader port of Tortosa offering a remarkable window into medieval military architecture.