In Tartus you are not tied to the sea. Turn your back on the coast and the humidity, and within half an hour you are in the mountains — green valleys, cold springs, cedar forests and one of the highest zip lines in the world. These are the best places to visit in the Tartus countryside, all of them easy day trips from the city.
Mashta al-Helu: a village in the arms of the mountain
Mashta al-Helu is the most famous mountain destination in the governorate: a green pocket stretching between the hills, with striking scenery and a great many springs. It takes only minutes to move from the routine of the city into open countryside.
Its highlight is the Al-Dawayat cave, the largest cave on the Syrian coast, and a place that feels borrowed from a fantasy film. Light filtering through its seven openings gives the interior an unusual, almost devotional atmosphere. It is the kind of visit you do not come out of quite the same.
Services are not a problem despite the mountain setting: the area has plenty of tourist facilities and hotels combining decent accommodation with the character of the region — traditional food, local drinks and genuinely warm hospitality.
Al-Qadmus: a mountain adventure to remember
If it is adventure you are after, head for Al-Qadmus. It lies about 60 km from the city of Tartus, along a road that runs through superb mountain chains with green spilling over everything, until you reach the village of Al-Sumaihiqa and its zip line.
Heavy cables are strung between two facing mountains, crossing above a small watercourse with a waterfall that runs full in winter, which makes the setting spectacular. The Al-Atlal mountain resort operates the activity, and there are several ways across: sliding along the cables, riding a suspended bicycle, or simply walking a rope bridge — all of it a hundred metres above the valley floor, which makes it one of the highest routes of its kind anywhere. It takes a certain amount of nerve.
If heights and adrenaline are not your thing, there is no need to worry: the same mountains offer wooden cabins and dedicated camping sites, an unusually quiet way to take time out from the noise of ordinary life with nothing in front of you but open country.
The Nabi Matta forest: a walk through a storybook wood
Dreikish pulls you in whether you planned it or not, and you should not pass through Tartus as a visitor without turning off to see its most famous forest, on Mount Nabi Matta.
The forest sits more than 1,000 metres above sea level and is made up of cedar, cypress and chestnut crowning the summit and running down into the neighbouring valleys, rising high enough to feel like a European mountain wood. Hidden in its shade are natural springs whose water is remarkably sweet and clear.
In a world that never stops moving, quiet corners that have kept their connection with nature intact become priceless — and this forest is the rarest of them in Tartus. It is also an excellent place to camp.
When to go
Weather is the deciding factor in the mountains. Spring and summer are the best times for all three destinations — unless you want snow and the drama of a mountain winter, in which case follow the news on the polar depressions that regularly reach the Syrian highlands.
Frequently asked questions about the Tartus countryside
What are the best places to visit in the Tartus countryside?
Mashta al-Helu and its Al-Dawayat cave, Al-Qadmus and the Al-Sumaihiqa zip line, and the Nabi Matta forest above Dreikish.
How far is Al-Qadmus from Tartus?
About 60 km, along a mountain road through green scenery, ending at the village of Al-Sumaihiqa.
What is the Al-Dawayat cave?
It is the largest cave on the Syrian coast, in Mashta al-Helu, with seven openings that let in shafts of light and give the interior a striking atmosphere.
Is there a zip line in Syria?
Yes. The Al-Atlal resort at Al-Sumaihiqa near Al-Qadmus runs a zip line 100 metres above the valley, with cable slides, a suspended bicycle and a rope bridge.
When is the best time to visit the Tartus mountains?
Spring and summer for the greenery and the springs; winter if you want snow, though it depends on the passing polar depressions.
Can you camp in the Tartus countryside?
Yes. There are wooden cabins and dedicated camping sites around Al-Qadmus, and the Nabi Matta forest is a popular spot for camping.
Plan your trip
Pair the mountains with the coast: see the best tourist attractions in Tartus city, book a room from the best hotels in Tartus, and eat at the best restaurants in Tartus.
