Enab Baladi –Mohammad Deeb Bazzet

With the cost of traditional summer holidays rising in recent years, private farms have taken a central place in the summer leisure plans of many Syrians across the country.

Trips to the coast or mountain resorts were once the most common choice for vacations. For many families, however, farms have become an alternative that allows them to spend a full day away from the noise of cities.

Renting a farm is no longer limited to family occasions or large gatherings. It has become an option many Syrians turn to during summer, whether for one day or several days, especially as farms equipped with swimming pools and various services have spread across Syrian governorates.

Farms Are Expensive

This shift has clear economic reasons. For many people, farms initially appeared less expensive than renting a chalet on the coast or staying at a tourist resort. The ability to divide the rental cost among several families or groups of friends also made them more compatible with the economic circumstances facing a broad segment of Syrians.

However, this option, which has become increasingly popular in recent years, has also been affected by rising prices.

The cost of renting a farm during summer has become a burden for many families, with prices varying among governorates according to the services provided, location, and size.

While farm rental prices in some governorates start at hundreds of thousands of Syrian pounds, others reach several million pounds per night. Some farm owners set their prices in US dollars, particularly in areas with strong demand during the summer season.

Price differences are not based on location alone. They are also linked to factors including a private swimming pool, the number of rooms, air conditioning, electricity, overnight accommodation, views, green spaces, and additional services offered to visitors.

As this form of summer recreation has expanded, Syrian families’ summer vacation habits have also changed.

Some families now prefer renting a farm for a single day instead of traveling to another governorate.

Other families share the rental cost, while some abandon the idea entirely after comparing the expense with their monthly income.

Farms still provide many Syrians with a place to escape the summer heat and the pressures of daily life. However, they have also become subject to economic calculations similar to those imposed by traditional holidays, transforming what some considered an affordable alternative into an expensive option for a broad segment of Syrian families.

Prices Vary by Region

As demand for summer farm rentals has increased, prices have come to vary significantly among Syrian governorates, depending on location and the services each farm provides.

In Aleppo (northern Syria), Enab Baladi found that rental prices start at about 800,000 Syrian pounds, approximately $61, per night for farms with basic facilities. They can reach 2 million Syrian pounds, approximately $153, or more for farms with a swimming pool, larger spaces, and additional services.

In Damascus and its countryside (southwestern Syria), prices generally range from 700,000 to 800,000 Syrian pounds, approximately $54 to $61, for the least expensive farms.

Rent for some farms reaches between 2.5 million and 3 million Syrian pounds per night, approximately $191 to $229, depending on the location and available facilities.

In some cases, farm owners set prices directly in US dollars, with rates ranging from $100 to $250 per night, particularly for farms offering a higher level of service or located in areas with strong summer demand.

In Hasakah governorate (northeastern Syria), rental prices for most farms range from $100 to $150, making it one of the governorates where this sector relies more heavily on dollar pricing.

Sharing the Costs

Higher farm rental prices have not stopped many Syrians from considering spending a day outside the city, but they have changed how people plan their trips.

Rather than renting a farm individually, some families and groups of friends now divide the rental cost among themselves.

Abdullah Hammo, a resident of Aleppo, told Enab Baladi that he and a group of friends had agreed to rent a farm over the weekend after finding that dividing the costs made it an acceptable option compared with other tourism choices.

He said the group shared the costs of the farm rental, food, and transportation, reducing the financial burden on each person and making the trip relatively affordable.

Farm rentals have become increasingly popular among young people and families during summer, not necessarily because they are the cheapest option, but because they allow people to spend a full day in a private space that can accommodate a large group.

According to Abdullah, rising prices have pushed people to look for alternatives. While a single family might previously have rented a farm alone, it is now common for several families or groups of friends to share the cost in a way that reflects current economic conditions.

 Increase Coincides with Tourism Season

Mohammad Fadel, the owner of a real estate office in Aleppo, said the rise in farm rental prices during summer is linked to the nature of the tourism season and the level of demand.

He said the summer months are the main season for farm owners, many of whom rely on this period to earn the largest share of their annual income.

Farm rental prices are directly governed by supply and demand. Interest increases during summer as temperatures rise and families seek to spend time outside cities.

The season also coincides with the return of some Syrian expatriates, increasing demand and competition for available farms.

According to Mohammad, this demand is reflected in prices, which rise noticeably during the summer months compared with the rest of the year.

He noted that the situation is different during winter, when demand for farm rentals drops considerably, prompting owners to lower their prices or leave some properties vacant for long periods.

He said seasonal price differences are normal in this sector, as they are in other tourism industries whose business depends on demand during specific periods of the year.