Amid a nation once constrained by wartime restrictions, Syrian hikers are now venturing into their own forests, mountains, and lakes, not as outsiders but as explorers rediscovering their homeland. The serene environments starkly contrast with the devastation that once defined the country. This emerging community seeks to reconnect with a land many are experiencing anew, revealing a Syria often unseen by its own people.
Syria’s Hidden Beauty
Khaled Nwilati, a 55-year-old Syrian, is used to answering questions about the breathtaking views he posts on Instagram. “Wallah, it’s in Syria, wallah,” he swears, expressing frustration that many Syrians are unaware of their country’s natural beauty. Nwilati grew up camping with his family in Damascus and later created the outdoor community Me the Syrian to introduce Syrians to hiking, camping, and exploration.
Rediscovering Syria
Me the Syrian, also known as the Syrian Exploration and Documentation Society, documents Syria’s environments, wildlife, and historical heritage, sharing its discoveries with 76,500 followers on Instagram. The group has spent years trying to change the niche camping culture in Syria, where many people are surrounded by nature but do not camp due to lack of knowledge or fear.
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In September 2026, a group of Syrians joined Me the Syrian for a three-day expedition to explore two of the seven islands on Lake Mashqita, located about 19 miles from the Mediterranean city of Latakia. The lake stretches between forested mountains, its water winding around hills covered in pine and oak, and islands of reddish soil emerge from the water.
A small white metal boat approaches the shore, Syrian flags fluttering from its side, carrying 51-year-old Atef Saqer, who has been driving boats on the lake for 22 years, and his nine-year-old nephew, Mohamed. On busy weekends, some 200 to 300 people come to the lake, while on quieter days, around 20 people arrive from nearby towns and cities like Damascus and Aleppo.
War’s Lasting Impact
Between 2011 and 2018, only locals visited the lake, but foreign visitors slowly returned from 2018 onward, until the lake went quiet again for around six months after the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. The country is still grappling with the aftermath of the war, which killed over 500,000 people and displaced millions.
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However, life around the lake is picking up again, with boats moving freely across the water. The group arrives at one of the islands, where around 50 tents are scattered along the shoreline, and young women in red Me the Syrian T-shirts sit beside a tent, keeping things running behind the scenes.
Sandi Khalifa, 21, and Joman Jakob, 18, are among the volunteers who joined Me the Syrian during a tree-planting project after the devastating wildfires in July 2025. They now help with logistics, finances, documentation, and security, and appreciate the sense of security the group provides, especially for women who might not feel safe camping alone in Syria.
Lake Mashqita’s Secrets
As the group sets up camp, Khaled Nwilati tells the story of Lake Mashqita, which was transformed into a reservoir by the Tishreen Dam in 1995. The water levels change, and so do the islands, with some growing, some shrinking, and some becoming accessible on foot. The group explores the islands, and at night, they play games, such as hiding a scarf in the mountains and shining a torch into the darkness, to help people connect with their surroundings.
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Among the newcomers are seasoned adventurers like 47-year-old Samer Akkad, who became the first Syrian to climb Everest in 2019. He loves to camp and climb in his own country and wants to show others what Syria has to offer. Around the fire, young teenagers roast marshmallows, and others make tea or eat pasta, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and the chance to see Syria from a different perspective.
For 16-year-old Taim from Aleppo, it’s his first time camping, and he’s excited to explore the islands and sleep under the stars. He joined Me the Syrian because he wouldn’t have felt safe camping alone. As the group talks about their next expedition, a hike to Samra village, the map of Syria is beginning to unfold itself for a generation that grew up with parts of the country difficult to reach.
The next day, the group sets off in three boats to explore another of Lake Mashqita’s seven islands, Deer Island, a forested, uninhabited island known for its wildlife. The group named it in 2017 after spotting and filming a Syrian deer, a species they say had never previously been recorded in Syria. As they hike through the dense pine forest, the trail steepens, and the sense of adventure and discovery is palpable.