Snow with Kids in Syria, and Whether Skiing Exists

When the first snow wave arrives, the same question goes round the family group chats: where do we take the kids? And is there any skiing in Syria? Answering the second part takes some frankness. Answering the first is easier, and better, than many people expect.

Is there skiing in Syria? The frank answer

A number of individual initiatives and small projects have appeared in this area: attempts to introduce free skiing on snow through associations and interested groups have been recorded over the years, and winter events in Bloudan have been announced in past seasons. But these are intermittent initiatives that depend on the organisers and the season — not a permanent tourist service you can book.

The practical conclusion: anyone planning a skiing holiday in the sporting sense will need a different destination. Anyone who wants a day in the snow with their family will find that Syria offers exactly that, simply and at almost no cost.

Where do families play in the snow?

The rule is simple: any open slope near a main road in the highlands will do. There is no need for a dedicated site.

• Bloudan: the closest for people in Damascus, and the slopes around the town are easy to reach. Details of the trip from Damascus.
• Slunfeh: the first choice for people on the coast, with the advantage that the forest itself is part of the experience. Guide to Slunfeh in winter.
• The Qalamoun villages: suitable as a stop along the Damascus–Homs axis without devoting a whole trip to it.
• Around Kasab: for families in the far north-west, when the neighbouring heights turn white.

More important than choosing the place is choosing the day: the day after the snow wave ends, when the snow is fresh, the sky is clear and the road is open.

Sledging: the simplest activity and the most fun

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Children need no equipment. A plastic board, a rubber tyre, or even a sturdy sack does the job on a moderately sloping hillside. The three conditions for choosing a slope:

1. A moderate gradient, not a steep one. A steep slope means a speed you cannot control.
2. An open, level run-out. You must check what is at the bottom of the slope before starting: no main road, no trees, no rocks, no further drop.
3. Well away from traffic. A real safety margin, not a few metres.

Safety with children

• Time matters more than anything else: an hour to two hours outdoors is quite enough. Children do not feel the cold while they are playing, and then feel it all at once after their clothes get wet.
• Extremities first: gloves, wool socks and waterproof boots matter more than the thickness of the coat.
• A complete change of clothes left in the car — from socks to trousers.
• Something hot to drink in a flask; it raises body temperature faster than anything else.
• Sunscreen and sunglasses: sunlight reflecting off snow is strong and burns the skin even on a cold day.
• No wandering out of sight: landmarks disappear under the snow and directions become confusing quickly.
• Watch for dehydration: you feel less thirsty in the cold while still losing fluid.

The best time of day

Between ten in the morning and two in the afternoon. Before that the temperature is at its lowest and the road is more dangerous; after it the light starts to drop and road surfaces begin to freeze again. Always plan to come down off the mountain before sunset.

A quick packing list for the family

• Layers for everyone, and a complete spare set for the children
• Gloves, hats that cover the ears, and extra wool socks
• Waterproof boots
• Sledging boards or a simple substitute
• A flask of something hot, water and light food
• Plastic bags for wet clothes
• A blanket and a power bank in the car
• A small first-aid kit

Frequently asked questions