Tartus
Tartus, Syria. Extra nights closer to Homs. Boat to Arwad.
Tartus, Syria: extra nights closer to Homs, or a day from Homs if Arwad is the only reason. Not the seven-day. Independent travellers take a boat from the harbour. On a public beach, covering swimwear; men a shirt off the water. Hotel pools have been different; confirm at the door. Clothes are on What to wear in Syria. Cash pounds for the boat.
What to see
Getting there
West of Homs, closer than Latakia. Driving lists about 90–95 km; about an hour to an hour and a half plus checkpoints. Damascus is longer: maps sit around 250 km, about three to four hours plus checkpoints. Shared vans and Pullman leave from Harasta or al-Abbasiyeen. A March 2026 Arabic garage survey had 90 thousand pounds to Tartus; later Arabic reporting had 75–85 thousand and lower quotes from other bays. Ask new or old. From Latakia it is about an hour south — that seafront sleep is on the Latakia page. Arabic reporting named a city garage in Tartus; ask the hotel which bay. Last seats are not a timetable. The seven-day line on this site skips this. Getting around Syria has the M5; this page is the other holiday.
A day here
- 1Leave Homs west, or Latakia south. Sleep extra nights, or turn back to Homs if Arwad is the only stop. Not the seven-day.
- 2Walk the corniche. Evening. No ticket. Cash pounds.
- 3Boat to Arwad from the harbour — not Latakia. About 15–30 minutes. Cash pounds. Confirm the fare and the last boat back that morning. Sea and season stop them. Walk the lanes.
- 4Public beach: covering swimwear; men a shirt off the water. Hotel pool different. Confirm at the door. Clothes are on What to wear in Syria.
- 5Do not add Krak, Margat, or Amrit from here. Krak is a day from Homs. Operator 2026 listed Margat and the old cathedral-museum closed. Walk the exterior if you pass.
