Just a few glimpses of Delhi, photography wasn’t allowed in many places, so I had to rely on memory more than my lens. But the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple truly stole the show. Its scale, serenity, and spirit moved me more than the Taj Mahal ever did. And honestly, the greatest treasure of India? The people on the streets. Their warmth, energy, and everyday grace made this journey unforgettable.
Such a cool place in the Middle East. Famous for Petra, the Dead Sea, and the desert vibes of Wadi Rum. Amazing mix of history and landscapes!
Bedouins are nomadic Arab tribes who traditionally lived in the deserts of the Middle East, known for their hospitality, resilience, and deep connection to the land.
The Bedouins know the Wadi Rum desert, which covers about 720 km², like the back of their hand. They told me they recognize the paths across the desert, and at night they navigate by the stars.
Their food is simple but full of flavor. One of the most famous dishes is zarb, meat and vegetables cooked in an underground oven. Too bad I didn’t take a photo, but they showed us how it’s done. Evenings with them by the campfire were amazing, they were so honest when we asked questions.
Websites like Booking.com, Hostelworld, Agoda, Expedia, and most major booking platforms do not support reservations in Syria due to international sanctions and payment limitations.
It’s not a glitch, they legally and technically cannot offer services there.
This means travellers book accommodation directly, using local Syrian platforms. Using a VPN won’t change anything, I tried. Even with different locations and IPs, global booking platforms still block Syria entirely. The restriction is on their side, not on the user’s side, so no workaround helps.
The most reliable option is to use local booking sites that operate normally inside Syria.
I personally used this website. The reservation was confirmed quickly, and everything was respected at the hotel.
At check‑in you usually only need your passport. Hotels don’t ask for anything complicated, they just register your stay in their system. It takes 1 – 2 minutes.
I paid 40 USD, but when I arrived, I noticed the price at reception was 35 USD. Most likely the extra 5 USD is a booking fee, which is completely normal.
Even so, I highly recommend having a reservation, it makes the border process smoother and looks more official.
Don’t worry, Damascus is full of hotels, especially in the central area. If you don’t have anything reserved, just head to this part of the city and you’ll be completely fine. Google Earth link of the spot.
Here. There are many hotels next to each other, honestly, if you turn around once, you’ll probably spot five or six immediately. You can easily tell from the signs whether a place is more budget‑friendly or more upscale.
Prices can start from around 20 USD per night, so it’s very possible to find something affordable on the spot.
The area also has currency exchange office, ATMs, cafés, shops, taxis, and everything you might need. It’s a very central and convenient location, so even without a booking you won’t be stuck.
There are also many hotels around the Umayyad Mosque (the Great Mosque of Damascus), hidden in those narrow, atmospheric streets. It’s a great area to walk around, you’ll spot plenty of places just by wandering a bit. The hotels are close to each other, easy to compare, and you can quickly see from the signs whether they’re budget or more upscale.
If you arrive late in the evening, just keep in mind that many streets in Damascus are not well‑lit at night. It can feel very dark, but it doesn’t mean the area is unsafe, it’s simply how the city works. Hotels in the central area are still open, and staff are usually available, but it’s better to know in advance that the streets themselves may look very quiet after dark.
Staying near the Umayyad Mosque or in the Old City area is ideal. everything is walkable, safe, and full of cafés, shops, and taxis.
If you arrive without a reservation, Maps.me (free app) is super helpful. All the hotels in Damascus are marked there with their names, so you can easily check what’s around you.
You can also try googling the hotel names and contacting them via WhatsApp, I tried a few this way, but the replies I got were around 100 USD per night, which was way too expensive for me. That’s why I ended up using the website I mentioned earlier, and it worked perfectly.
I stayed at Shahryar Hotel Damascus, (right here on mapps me) (approx here on google map) in the heart of the old city. It’s truly beautiful, almost like a small palace, with that magical Damascus atmosphere everywhere around.
The man at the reception was incredibly kind and helpful (I didn’t ask for his name, unfortunately), but he made my stay even better with how warm and welcoming he was.
Sending warm greetings to the whole team there. 🙂
✔️ Departure: Buses leave from the station here starting around 7:00 AM to 7:30 AM.
✔️ Companies & Prices: There are several operators and prices vary, usually up to $20, depending on the company. I personally paid 15 JOD (21 USD) for a round trip Amman–Damascus–Amman.
✔️ Arrival: In Amman, buses typically arrive at the International Bus Station mostly. My bus stopped at here, and it was very convenient.
✔️ Duration: The journey takes about 8 hours, mainly because of long border procedures, around 6 hours of passport checks, searches, and scans.
I arrived very early, before 7:00 AM, and that turned out to be a great decision. At the station, I was directed to the first office on the right here exacly. I handed over my ticket and passport, and from what I understood, they told me the Jett bus wasn’t running that day. Instead, they pointed me to another bus. They took my ticket and passport, showed me the bus, and surprisingly it left at 7:15 AM. Just before departure, we got our passports back. I didn’t have to pay anything extra, my Jett ticket was accepted, though I still have no idea how that worked. Honestly, I was a bit stressed because I don’t like leaving my passport anywhere, but everyone had to do it for border control data collection. And off we went.
For the info on the bus from Amman to Damascus, click here.
The bus from Damascus to Amman departs from the bus station here. When I arrived, I was directed to the first office on the right after entering. I handed over my ticket and passport
I had a Jett ticket for 8:00 AM, but arriving early (before 7:00 AM) was the best decision. Online sources say that buses from different companies usually leave between 7:00–7:30 AM. So I strongly recommend being there before 7:00, even if your ticket says 8:00. In my case, the alternative bus left at 7:15 AM.
I didn’t have to pay anything extra, my original Jett ticket was accepted, even though I ended up on a different bus. I purchased my return ticket at the Jett office in Abdali, Amman for 15 JOD (21 USD) for a round trip Amman–Damascus–Amman. More about this in my post here.
Prices can go up to 20 USD, depending on the company.
The bus made a few stops between Damascus and the border to pick up additional passengers.
At the border, our passports were checked around 8 times, the bus was searched twice, and all bags were scanned like at an airport. The whole process takes time. We had two stops of around 30 minutes each: one to stamp out, and another to get a visa in the office. Just follow the crowd or ask the border officers, they will guide you.
On the Jordanian side, go first to the cashier to pay for your visa or to activate your Jordan Pass. They will give you a receipt, and with that you can join the queue for your entry stamp.
Important: There is no exit tax when leaving Syria.
I had a Jordan Pass, so my visa was included. If you plan to visit Petra, it’s much cheaper to get the Jordan Pass, as it includes both the visa and major attractions.
Otherwise:
1) Single Entry – Visa 40 JOD Valid for 1 month. Available on arrival at most borders and airports
2) Double Entry – Visa 60 JOD Valid for up to 3 months. Not available on arrival, must be obtained at a Jordanian embassy
3) Multiple Entry – Visa 120 JOD Valid for up to 6 months. Also only available at an embassy
Solo female traveller 
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