Major city · Syria
Kadesh
Skip Kadesh unless you are a dedicated ancient-history traveller: the tell has no excavated structures to walk through, and the site is a low mound in a field. Half a day from Homs is enough if you go.
Kadesh is the site of the 1274 BC Battle of Kadesh, the largest chariot battle in recorded history. Today the remains are a low tell (Tell Nebi Mend) with no visible ruins above ground. There is no museum, no signage and no visitor infrastructure. The trip is for people who want to stand on the ground where history happened, not for sightseeing.
advisory country
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- SYP
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (extreme heat), Dec–Feb (muddy access)
- Airports
- DAM · LTK
- Nights
- 0
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 5Security advice in this region can change within a dayCheck your own government travel advice for Syria before …
- Middle East ↗Security advice in this region can change within a day; re-read your government's page before departure and again before any border or regional flight.
- Middle East ↗Public drunkenness, public displays of affection and offensive gestures or online posts can lead to arrest in the Gulf states and Iran; dress modestly outside beaches and hotels.
- Syria ↗Check your own government travel advice for Syria before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- Syria ↗No independent tourist entry route is documented here.
- Syria ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to Syria before you rely on it.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Kadesh112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Kadesh, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Foreign cards and ATMs generally do not work in Syria: see Insurance & payments above.Syria-wide
- SafetyKadesh is in a rural area near the Lebanese border.
- Emergency numbers112 police · 110 ambulance · 113 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckDAM Damascus International Airport (About 2.5 h drive; check current security on the route via Homs.).
- Getting aroundYou need a private car or a hired taxi from Homs (about 30 min).
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi Homs–Kadesh return, with waitcheckSYP 50,000–120,000
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or local SIM (data, 1 week)checkSYP 30,000–60,000
- Budget bedBudget guesthouse in Homs, a night, per roomSYP 40,000
- Mid-range bedBudget guesthouse in Homs, a night, per roomSYP 70,000
- High-end bedBudget guesthouse in Homs, a night, per roomSYP 120,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget SYP 50,000 · Mid SYP 100,000 · High SYP 200,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- DAM Damascus International Airport (About 2.5 h drive; check current security on the route via Homs.) · LTK Bassel Al-Assad International Airport (Latakia) (About 2 h drive via M1 and M5; check.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Feb
Avoid
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Mar
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Apr
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
May
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Jun
not flagged
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jul
Avoid
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Aug
Avoid
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Sep
not flagged
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Oct
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Nov
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Dec
Avoid
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)), coolest Jan (3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C) low), wettest Jan (10 rain days), driest Jul (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Kadesh: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
10 rd
Feb
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
9 rd
Mar
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
8 rd
Apr
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
6 rd
May
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
4 rd
Jun
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
1 rd
Jul
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
0 rd
Aug
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
0 rd
Sep
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
1 rd
Oct
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
4 rd
Nov
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
6 rd
Dec
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
9 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
You need a private car or a hired taxi from Homs (about 30 min). There is no public transport to the tell. The site is a flat field; walk around the mound in 15–20 min.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: 30 min
Car or taxi via M5, about 30 min
Combine with a visit to the old city and Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque.
Apamea
goDoor to door: 1.5 h
Car via Hama and M5, about 1.5 h
Roman colonnaded street; a full day if you also do Kadesh.
Door to door: 1 h
Car via M5, about 1 h
Famous noria waterwheels; combine with Kadesh in one day.
Maharda
cautionDoor to door: 1 h
Car via Hama, about 1 h
Small town with a Crusader castle; limited services.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Homs
Closest city with hotels and guesthouses; about 30 min drive from Kadesh.
Al-Qusayr
Small town near the site; limited accommodation, check availability.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- SYP 50,000–80,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- SYP 80,000–150,000 excl. bed
- High
- SYP 150,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range hotel in Homs1 × 1 night × SYP 150,000 | SYP 150,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × SYP 100,000 | SYP 200,000 |
| Taxi Homs–Kadesh return, waiting time1 × SYP 80,000 · check | SYP 80,000 |
| Buffer 20%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | SYP 86,000 |
| Trip total≈ SYP 258,000 per person per day, bed included | SYP 516,000 |
2026 estimate in Syrian pounds; prices are volatile. Check current rates.
Prices of common things
| Taxi Homs–Kadesh return, with waitcheck | SYP 50,000–120,000 |
| Meal in Homs (simple restaurant) | SYP 15,000–30,000 |
| Bottled water (1.5 L) | SYP 1,000–2,000 |
| eSIM or local SIM (data, 1 week)check | SYP 30,000–60,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No facilities at the site: bring water, sun protection and a snack.
- The tell is on private agricultural land in places; ask locally before walking across planted fields.
- Landmines and unexploded ordnance may be present in rural Syria: stay on visible paths and do not stray from the mound.
- Check the latest security situation for the Homs–al-Qusayr area before travelling.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 112
- Ambulance
- 110
- Fire
- 113
Pocket card
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KadeshKadesh
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
إلى تل قادش، من فضلكTo the tell of Kadesh, please
Emergency
- Police112
- Ambulance110
- Fire113
Embassy
Most embassies are in Damascus. Check your government's travel advice for the nearest consular access.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Homs → Kadesh, taxi: about SYP 50,000–80,000 one way, 30 min (check)
- Homs → Damascus, shared taxi: about SYP 40,000–70,000, 2 h (check)
Say or show
- مرحبا — Hello (marhaba)
- شكراً — Thank you (shukran)
- كم؟ — How much? (kam?)
- أين التل؟ — Where is the tell? (ayn al-tall?)
- هل هو آمن؟ — Is it safe? (hal huwa amin?)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Kadesh. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (extreme heat), Dec–Feb (muddy access)
- 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place page with verified access conditions and landmine clearance status.
- Eat page for al-Qusayr or Homs with last orders and security check.
- Transport page for Homs–al-Qusayr with taxi rates and driver contacts.
Sources
Ask about Kadesh
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