Maaloula and Saidnaya sit in the hills outside Damascus. On the 5-day programme they are day stops, not overnight towns.
Maaloula
Maaloula is known for Western Neo-Aramaic, still spoken by some residents, and for its cliffside churches and convents. The visit is a walk, a look inside if it is open, and time to hear why the village matters to the people who live there.
Saidnaya
Saidnaya is the convent on the ridge. It is a pilgrimage place for many Syrian Christians, and the view over the plain is part of the stop. Dress modestly in both places. These are working religious sites, not film sets.
We do not linger for a full day in either village. If a feast day or a closure changes access, we adjust the order and tell you that morning.