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- Alqosh — Tomb of the Prophet Nahum and hilltop old town: The small stone lanes, terraced views over the plains and the shrine said to be Jonah/Nahum’s tomb make Alqosh feel like a living time capsule of Syriac Christian life; great for wandering, rooftop views and chatting with locals over strong tea.
- Rabban Hormizd Monastery (near Alqosh): One of the oldest Syriac monasteries in the area, clinging to the slopes above the village — its weathered stone, ancient inscriptions and mosaicked tombs give you a sense of centuries of devotional life that’s hard to find elsewhere.
- Bakhdida / Qaraqosh old quarter and market: The largest Christian town on the plains; its rebuilt churches, buzzing local market and street food stalls offer an unvarnished view of community life and post-conflict revival
- Alqosh — Tomb of the Prophet Nahum and hilltop old town: The small stone lanes, terraced views over the plains and the shrine said to be Jonah/Nahum’s tomb make Alqosh feel like a living time capsule of Syriac Christian life; great for wandering, rooftop views and chatting with locals over strong tea.
- Rabban Hormizd Monastery (near Alqosh): One of the oldest Syriac monasteries in the area, clinging to the slopes above the village — its weathered stone, ancient inscriptions and mosaicked tombs give you a sense of centuries of devotional life that’s hard to find elsewhere.
- Bakhdida / Qaraqosh old quarter and market: The largest Christian town on the plains; its rebuilt churches, buzzing local market and street food stalls offer an unvarnished view of community life and post-conflict revival — excellent for people-watching and sampling local breads and kebabs.
- Mar Behnam Monastery (near Bakhdida): A dramatic medieval complex set amid olive groves — carved stonework, faded frescoes and the ruined cloisters make a powerful visit, especially if you arrive with a local guide who can explain the layered Christian and pre-Christian traditions tied to the site.
- Mar Mattai (St. Matthew) Monastery on Mount Alfaf: Perched on a steep ridge, the monastery rewards the climb with unbeatable views across the plains and a hush of monks’ chants and incense; its isolated mountain setting and ancient library rooms feel uniquely Middle Eastern-monkish.
- Bashiqa Hills and pine forests: A real local escape — pine-scented picnics, olive terraces and easy trails above the plains. Locals come here for weekend barbecues and cold springs; it’s a good counterpoint to ruined churches and tells.
- Teleskuf / Telesquin (hidden gem): A smaller town that most visitors miss; narrow lanes, a lively Saturday market and several small, well-kept churches. It’s a place to see everyday village life, meet families rebuilding after hard years and sample homemade sweets from local vendors.
- Bartella’s church trail and riverside lanes (hidden gem): Bartella sits beside a pleasant seasonal river and has a tight cluster of churches and old stone houses. Walk the riverside path, stop at a family café and you’ll hear oral histories and local songs that don’t make it into guidebooks.
- Tel Keppe / Tel Kaif: An uphill, compact town with carved stone architecture and courtyard churches that reflect a distinct local style. It’s quieter than the better-known towns, so you can linger in old workshops and see stonemasons and carpenters at work.
- Small farming villages and orchard routes (hidden gem): Drive the backroads between towns to see pomegranate, fig and olive groves, irrigation channels and roadside stalls selling fruit. Spending an afternoon in a farmhouse or helping with a harvest is one of the most authentic, non-touristy ways to understand the plains’ centuries-old agricultural rhythms.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.