Wadi al-Uyun, Waterfalls near Masyaf

Wadi al-Uyun is a town in Masyaf District, in Syria’s Coastal Mountains, spread along both slopes of an east-west valley of the same name. The name means ‘valley of the springs’ and comes from the many small springs in it. Syrians come here for the waterfalls, the green moss that covers the rocks and the ground, and the mulberry orchards. The town lies between 450 and 900 m above sea level.

Where it is and getting there

The town is 65 km from Hama, 90 km from Homs and 45 km from Tartus. Masyaf and Rusafa lie to the northeast, Qadmus to the north, Mashta al-Helu to the south and Duraykish to the southwest. For anyone visiting Masyaf Castle, it fits into the second half of the same day.

What to see

The main draw is the waterfalls and the moss-covered rocks. Unlike similar places in Syria, visitors can step into the waterfall and climb its rocks. Mulberry orchards and woodland cover the slopes. The valley has caves.

History here is small-scale. In the Bayt Shalhum quarter there is a rock-cut tomb attributed to the Phoenician period. The valley once had several water mills; the only one still standing is on the valley floor, beside the Bayt al-Hindi bridge.

How long it takes

Half a day. That is realistic for time around the waterfall, a walk down to the mill and a hike on the slopes; add Masyaf and the day is full.

The town’s past

Shrines such as that of Shaykh Hatim al-Tubani link the settlement to the 13th century. Under the French Mandate the town was one of the centres of the revolt led by Shaykh Salih al-Ali. Its population was about 1000 in the early 1960s and had reached 3371 by the 2004 census.

Do not miss

The plane tree in Ayn al-Karm. This village, attached to Wadi al-Uyun, has a plane tree more than 400 years old; its trunk is about 8 m tall and about 21 m round.