Damascus Summer Resorts

Any visit to Syria would not be completed without passing through the western part of Damascus Countryside, which is a natural extension of the eastern anti Lebanon range. This part is one of the most beautiful and important summer resorts and natural sites in Syria, especially the towns perching on the mountain slopes surrounding the course of river Barada, those in the Qalamoun region, most famous of which are Zabadani, Bloudan, Madaya, Wadi Barada, Ein al Fijeh, Ein Al khadra, Saidnaya, Maaloula, Yabroud and others.

These resorts now, feature luxurious hotels, elegant restaurants and night clubs, as well as rent modern villas and apartment. Therefore visitors of Damascus in summer prefer to stay in these resorts to enjoy its cool weather, and fresh air and the modern services offered to them. Most Arab tourists chose to stay in these resorts all their vacations, and from them ,move to other areas in Syria, especially that they are not far from the main cities of the south of the country.

Western tourists prefer to stay in Damascus proper, visit these resorts for a day or two but prefer to spend their vacations touring religious and historical sites like Saidnaya, Maaloula, Qalamoun region, Palmyra or Busra.

Resorts of Wadi Barada: A series of villages and towns that form the green western Ghouta built along the course of River Barada and start from the gorge of al Rabweh to end near al Takieh passing through al Hameh, Jdaideh, Ashrafieh, Bassimeh, Ein al Khadra, Ein al Fijeh , and the villages of Wadi Barada.

Madaya: A summer resort in the basin of River Barada,1350m. above sea level perching on the western slope of Mt al Kursi and looking over the Zabadani plain in the east. It is 46 km from Damascus. Because of its fresh air and water Madaya became a main summer resort to Damascene families. At the top of Mt al Kursi there is a huge, grey chair like rock, surrounded by old large oak trees. Madaya people sanctify the rock for unknown reason, may be because of its gigantic, strange shape. In Madaya there is a spring famous for its light mineral water and sweet taste .

Bouqein: A village of Madaya county, 1340m ASL, 4 km from Zabadani and 40 km from Damascus looking at the Zabadani plain. The village construction extended in all direction until it became connected with Madaya and Jerjanieh. At a high point in the village there is a very famous mineral water spring that bears the same name of the village. Because of its good properties ,water of the spring is bottled and exported to several ME countries.

Jerjanieh: 1300m ASL a farm only 2 km from Zabadani, built on the slopes of the mountains from where one can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of Zabadani plain. The most prominent land mark in it is an old palace built in 1925 in Andalusian style with arcades and arches and a fountain in the courtyard that pushes water 4-5 high. When the owner ,for financial reasons, couldn’t complete the building he turned it into a hotel and a restaurant. Lately the palace was renovated.

Zabadani: An important summer resort on the eastern slopes of the eastern Ante Lebanon mountains 44km from Damascus and 1175m ASL. It has many water springs most important of which is the source of River Barada. Because hundreds of thousands of tourists visit it every year Zabadani enjoyed a remarkable construction boom, in all directions of the city. Now it has many suburbs with luxurious villas and palaces, like Al Rawda, al Fardoss, Halaya, and the largest of which is Bloudan. Zabadani is famous for its plain of divers agricultural products especially apple, cherry, peach and almond. Al Rawda: Amodern farm 2km from Zabadani 1350ASL.It has many beautiful villas with terraces prepared for tourists looking over the Zabadani plain. It is famous for its apple and cherry orchards.

Haifaa Mafalani