Pack light. The 5-day programme is two cities and a few day stops, not a trekking trip. A small suitcase or a cabin bag is enough if you are not carrying gifts home.
Money and clothes
Bring cash. Cards do not work everywhere, and we do not publish an exchange rate that will be wrong by the time you read this. We tell you which currency is practical before you leave.
Clothes should cover shoulders and knees for mosques and churches. A scarf is useful for women at religious sites. Shoes you can walk in for a few hours matter more than a second pair of dress shoes.
Weather
Check the weather for Damascus and Aleppo in your travel week. Summers are hot and dry. Winters can be cold at night, especially in the hills around Maaloula. A layer you can take off in the van is enough for most seasons.