When it comes to travelling, Syria and Lebanon holidays are all about adventure and mystery – but Syria is also a hot destination for those looking for the ultimate chill out experience.
The road to Damascus is famously a mythical, spiritual and religious path. As the oldest continually inhabited city in the world, the capital of Syria first settled in the 2nd millennium BC. It’s not surprising that Damascus is a treasure trove of culture, art and architecture that offers a unique glimpse into history. But as well as restoration of your cultural or spiritual soul, Syria is home to physical salvation too – namely the best baths in the world.
A recent travelogue in The Guardian by Kevin Rushby reveals that Syria is home to the perfect bathing experience – and we’re not talking about a gentle recline in sudsy water – but cleansing steam, vigorous scrubs, hard massages and a long relaxing wind down with a restorative cup of sweet tea. Syria is the latest hotspot for those in search of the true, authentic oriental culture. Unlike other Middle Eastern regions such as Istanbul, Syria has retained its character and traditions despite the charge of modern life. Along the famous Silk Road - where many a traveller has discovered the true meaning of adventure – are towns such as Aleppo, boasting some of the world’s most magnificent baths.
Citadels and bazaars offer more than just the baths – these spectacular pieces of architecture offer a world within a world. Rushby writes of one such place where you can buy fresh pomegranate juice, get measured for a new suit, buy coffee and spices, or have a haircut. Within the bazaar, the baths are homed in a vaulted hall with its towels and sarongs offering visitors the authentic spa experience – tapping into its 800 years of history. Rushby describes a series of domed rooms, benches and niches in the ancient building, although the tiles are modern, clean and white. First, bathers can sit in the steam room to begin. If you’re opting for the full works, a masseur will use scrubbers, sponges and a copper pot to douse you with warm water. You’ll be scrubbed and pummelled and doused with warm water before having your hair soaped, wrapped in towels and led to a booth and given tea or a tobacco pipe.
Rushby writes of the elation after the ultimate spa experience: “I lie in a booth, empty-headed, skinless and blissful. Slowly, very slowly, words and pictures begin to assemble themselves inside my mind into something resembling what is commonly called "thought". I dress and leave, walking at the speed of a zombie on tranquilisers. I drift around the souk...”
A day of cleansing can be followed by lamb kebab and local red wine, accompanied by Syrian folk song. For the ultimate bath and cleansing experience, there’s no matching the restorative powers of Syria.
The road to Damascus is famously a mythical, spiritual and religious path. As the oldest continually inhabited city in the world, the capital of Syria first settled in the 2nd millennium BC. It’s not surprising that Damascus is a treasure trove of culture, art and architecture that offers a unique glimpse into history. But as well as restoration of your cultural or spiritual soul, Syria is home to physical salvation too – namely the best baths in the world.
A recent travelogue in The Guardian by Kevin Rushby reveals that Syria is home to the perfect bathing experience – and we’re not talking about a gentle recline in sudsy water – but cleansing steam, vigorous scrubs, hard massages and a long relaxing wind down with a restorative cup of sweet tea. Syria is the latest hotspot for those in search of the true, authentic oriental culture. Unlike other Middle Eastern regions such as Istanbul, Syria has retained its character and traditions despite the charge of modern life. Along the famous Silk Road - where many a traveller has discovered the true meaning of adventure – are towns such as Aleppo, boasting some of the world’s most magnificent baths.
Citadels and bazaars offer more than just the baths – these spectacular pieces of architecture offer a world within a world. Rushby writes of one such place where you can buy fresh pomegranate juice, get measured for a new suit, buy coffee and spices, or have a haircut. Within the bazaar, the baths are homed in a vaulted hall with its towels and sarongs offering visitors the authentic spa experience – tapping into its 800 years of history. Rushby describes a series of domed rooms, benches and niches in the ancient building, although the tiles are modern, clean and white. First, bathers can sit in the steam room to begin. If you’re opting for the full works, a masseur will use scrubbers, sponges and a copper pot to douse you with warm water. You’ll be scrubbed and pummelled and doused with warm water before having your hair soaped, wrapped in towels and led to a booth and given tea or a tobacco pipe.
Rushby writes of the elation after the ultimate spa experience: “I lie in a booth, empty-headed, skinless and blissful. Slowly, very slowly, words and pictures begin to assemble themselves inside my mind into something resembling what is commonly called "thought". I dress and leave, walking at the speed of a zombie on tranquilisers. I drift around the souk...”
A day of cleansing can be followed by lamb kebab and local red wine, accompanied by Syrian folk song. For the ultimate bath and cleansing experience, there’s no matching the restorative powers of Syria.
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