7-Day Highlights of Lebanon Tour from Beirut with Pickup

Ziua 1 · Transfer Airport/ Hotel

1. 1

   Oprirea 1

   Trecere fără oprire

   Welcome to Lebanon!

   Our representative will meet you at the Arrivals at the airport, holding a sign with your name on it. He will assist you, help you, and carry the luggage.

2. 2

   Beirut

   Trecere fără oprire

   Our representative will take you directly to the hotel for check in.

   Overnight at the hotel in Beirut.

Overnight at a 4 stars hotel located in Beirut.

Ziua 2 · Small Group Tour to Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos

1. 1

   Beirut

   15 min

   After breakfast, our representative will meet you at the hotel and pick you up for a full day experience to Jeita Grotto, Our Lady of Lebanon "Harissa" and the beautiful Phoenician coastal city of Byblos.

2. 2

   Jeita Grotto

   1 h 30 min Intrarea inclusă

   Located in the mountain of kisrwan, Jeita Grotto is a geological site rich with stalagmites and stalactites that was created by nature by hundreds of years. It’s separated into two parts: the upper grotto that is reachable by cable car and lower grotto which is reachable by a small boat trip to discover a distance of 400 m from the cave’s total of 7800 m.

3. 3

   The Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon

   15 min

   A huge bronze whitened shrine of virgin Marry is located in Harissa village. Erected in 1908, both Muslim and Christian visit this place. A spiral stair is located to reach the shrine to enjoy a panoramic view of Jounieh bay.

4. 4

   Our Lady of Lebanon

   15 min

   Down the shrine of Virgin Mary is located the Notre Dame Du Liban church for people who like to do their spiritual activities and pilgrimage.

5. 5

   Oprirea 5

   15 min Intrarea inclusă

   A cable car can be taken up the mountain form Jounieh to reach the shrine.

6. 6

   Byblos Citadel

   30 min Intrarea inclusă

   Some evidence that describe the defensive role of the citadel, are the iron balls stick in its walls that usually are thrown by a catapult during a war.

7. 7

   Byblos Castle

   15 min Intrarea inclusă

   In Byblos a crusader castle dated back to the 12th century. A small museum is located there with a timeline that explain the civilization that Byblos passed through.

8. 8

   Roman Theater

   15 min Intrarea inclusă

   A circular theater dated back to the roman era is found in Byblos and the mosaic found in its ground is transferred to Beirut National Museum and exhibited there.

9. 9

   Sultan Abdul Majid Mosque

   Trecere fără oprire

   It carries the name of the 19th century Ottoman Sultan Abdul Majid. The small mosque has a large blue cupola and an octagonal minaret.

10. 10

    Old Souk

    30 min

    Enjoy some free time in the traditional souks of Byblos full of restaurants and shops where you can pick your souvenir and gifts.

11. 11

    Saint John-Marc Cathedral

    15 min

    Enjoy the unique outdoor room of baptism in Lebanon located in Saint John-Marc Cathedral and the beautiful architecture of the church.

12. 12

    Byblos Port

    15 min

    Byblos is home to a beautiful ancient harbor used by Phoenician to cruise the oceans and trade everywhere.

13. 13

    Beirut

    Trecere fără oprire

    After visiting all the mentioned attractions, we will take you back to your hotel in Beirut.

    Overnight at your hotel in Beirut.

Breakfast at the hotel in the morning before departure. · Lunch at a local restaurant during the tour.

Overnight at a 4 stars hotel located in Beirut.

Ziua 3 · Small Group Tour to Baalbek, Anjar & Ksara Winery

1. 1

   Oprirea 1

   15 min

   After breakfast, our representative will meet you at the hotel and pick you up for a full day experience to the Beqaa valley where you will visit Baalbek Roman temples, the Umayyad ruins of Anjar and taste authentic Lebanese wine at Chateau Ksara.

2. 2

   Oprirea 2

   2 ore

   Baalbek was an ancient Phoenician city located in the Beqaa Valley. Inhabited as early as 9000 B.C, Baalbek grew into an important pilgrimage site in the ancient world for the worship of the sky-god Baal and his consort Astarte, the Queen of Heaven in Phoenician religion.

3. 3

   Baalbek Temple

   30 min Intrarea inclusă

   Explore three roman temples that are almost the well-preserved Roman temples in the world, dedicated to “Bacchus” the god of wine and leisure beside the temple of” Jupiter” the king of gods and “Venus” the goddess of love.

4. 4

   Baalbek Temple

   15 min Intrarea inclusă

   Baalbek was a center for Mesopotamian, Roman, Christian and Islamic worship as each group introduced their own heritage to this sacred monument

5. 5

   Oprirea 5

   15 min Intrarea inclusă

   Jupiter in Roman methodology was the great god. The Temple of Jupiter was a colossal temple dedicated to the cult of Zeus. It was the main building in a huge “Great Court” (or “Sanctuary”) of a Roman pagan temple complex that still partially stands.

6. 6

   Oprirea 6

   15 min Intrarea inclusă

   The most well-preserved Roman temple in the world is Bacchus temple in Baalbek. It’s dedicated to Bacchus God of wine and leisure in the Roman methodology.

7. 7

   Oprirea 7

   15 min

   An oval temple was dedicated to Venus the goddess of love and beauty. Then it’s transferred into Saint Barbara church later.

8. 8

   Sayyida Khawla Shrine

   Trecere fără oprire

   A shrine with a Persian style was built beside Baalbek ruins for Sayyida khawla daughter of Imam Hussein and great granddaughter of Prophet Muhammad, and considered as an important site for pilgrimage in Islam.

9. 9

   Oprirea 9

   15 min

   In a nearby quarry a huge stone was found named "Hebla stone" which means pregnant in Arabic. It's named according to an old legend that women used to touch the stone to get pregnant.

10. 10

    Anjar

    o oră

    Anjar, is an Umayyad city founded by Caliph Walid I at the beginning of the 8th century.

11. 11

    Umayyad Ruins of Aanjar

    15 min Intrarea inclusă

    The ruins reveal a very regular layout, reminiscent of the palace-cities of ancient times, and are a unique testimony to city planning under the Umayyad.

12. 12

    Chateau Ksara

    30 min Intrarea inclusă

    In the fertile valley of the Beqaa, where located the special high quality yards of vine. Vine picked with passion and love to be taken into the winery of ksara to produce a high quality of wine. A tour in the cave of the winery can help discovering the history of the cave and the conditions help in producing and preserving the wine in addition to tasting some delicious drops of wine.

13. 13

    Beirut

    Trecere fără oprire

    After visiting all the mentioned attractions, we will take you back to your hotel in Beirut.

    Overnight at your hotel in Beirut.

Breakfast at the hotel in the morning before departure. · Lunch at a local restaurant during the tour. Wine tasting at Chateau Ksara winery.

Overnight at a 4 stars hotel located in Beirut.

Ziua 4 · Small Group Tour to Qadisha Valley, Bcharre & Cedars of God

1. 1

   Beirut

   15 min

   After breakfast, our representative will meet you at the hotel and pick you up for a full day experience to the North of Lebanon.

2. 2

   Qadisha Valley

   o oră

   Qadisha is known as the Holly Valley because of the existence of many monasteries in it. It’s dropped in the “World heritage list” and considered as an important site for Christian pilgrimage.

3. 3

   Bcharre

   2 ore

   Bcharri is a beautiful greeny village in North Lebanon. It is the town of the only remaining and preserved original Cedars of God and is the birthplace of the famous poet, painter and sculptor Khalil Gibran who now has a museum in the town to honor him.

4. 4

   Gibran Museum

   30 min Intrarea inclusă

   In Bcharri the Village of the famous Lebanese writer, poet and painter Gibran Khalil Gibran, a museum was built for the memory of him by his sister Mary. Gibran Museum possesses 440 original paintings and drawings of Gibran and his tomb. It also includes his furniture and belongings from his studio when he lived in New York City to his private manuscripts.

5. 5

   The Cedars of God

   30 min

   Explore the aesthetic of the cedars in Bcharri village by a walking tour. This ancient forest once overflowed with this species of cedar, and its timber was favored by Egyptians, Romans, and Persians, to name a few.

6. 6

   Oprirea 6

   o oră

   The Monastery of Saint Anthony is situated at a height of 950 meters above sea level in the celebrated Valley of Kozhaya, “the Living Treasure”. The pine trees and oak trees cover the great hills surrounding it. Fruit trees of every description grow all along the valley which extends into the Valley of Qannubin to form the great Qadisha Valley, thus bearing witness to the history of eremitic life and the quest for holiness in Lebanon.

7. 7

   Beirut

   Trecere fără oprire

   After visiting all the mentioned attractions, we will take you back to your hotel in Beirut.

   Overnight at your hotel in Beirut.

Breakfast at the hotel in the morning before departure. · Lunch at a local restaurant during the tour.

Overnight at a 4 stars hotel located in Beirut.

Ziua 5 · Small Group Tour to Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche

1. 1

   Beirut

   15 min

   After breakfast, our representative will meet you at the hotel and pick you up for a full day experience to two old Phoenician city states Sidon and Tyre in South Lebanon, in addition to Our Lady of Awaiting in Maghdoushe.

2. 2

   Sidon

   2 ore

   Sidon is an old Phoenician city state located in the coastal line of the South of Lebanon. It’s the third largest city in Lebanon. Known for its port facilities since the Phoenician era, the ancient Sidon was a prosperous, enterprising and dynamic town that was admired and envied by most of the people of the Mediterranean.

3. 3

   Crusaders Sea Castle

   30 min Intrarea inclusă

   Built in 1228 on top of a Phoenician temple, the Sea Castle was constructed by the Crusaders to defend Saida’s harbor as a fortress on a small island connected to the land by a stone bridge.

   As typical of Crusader architecture, the castle features recycled Roman stones and columns.

4. 4

   Khan al-Franj

   15 min

   Khan El Franj in Sidon is a khan is an old kind of accommodation where travelers and traders was able to rest and keep their commodity and animals.

   A short walk south from the Sea Castle, the Khan al-Franj was built by Fakhr el-Dine Maan II in the early 17th century offering merchants a one-stop place for selling and buying cotton and silk. The ground floor was a market place, while on the upper floor the merchants could spend their time resting.

5. 5

   Oprirea 5

   30 min Intrarea inclusă

   In the old city, a 13th century stone building was found. It was once a

   soap factory producing soap, meeting the needs of the

   region’s hammams. Following its restoration in 2000, it opened its doors as a soap museum, taking visitors on a journey through the history and process of soap manufacturing.

6. 6

   Debbane Palace

   15 min Intrarea inclusă

   An open museum that highlight the ottoman period’s impact on Sidon's rich architectural history and way of life.

   The atmospheric space features typical diwans (Oriental style living rooms), a liwan (a long narrow-fronted hall), several rooms and an open-air courtyard, with the characteristic features of the Ottoman period – brown and white stripes of stone and intricate mosaic tiles making up the interior.

7. 7

   Sidon Souks

   30 min

   Pass by the traditional souks of Sidon, rich with old buildings and local shops.

8. 8

   Tyre

   2 ore

   Tyre, known as the "Queen of the Seas" is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. This great Phoenician city ruled the seas and founded prosperous colonies such as Cadiz and Carthage.

   There’s two archeological sites to discover in Tyre, the Bass site where the victory arc, the funeral complex, the roman hippodrome and Al- Jazira archeological site where the roman baths, the residential area and the arena are located.

9. 9

   Tyre Hippodrome

   30 min Intrarea inclusă

   Part of the Al Bass archaeological site, this well-preserved Roman hippodrome was built in the 2nd century AD. It is 90 meters wide, 480 meters long, had a capacity of about 40,000 people, and was built for chariot races.

10. 10

    Oprirea 10

    30 min Intrarea inclusă

    At the entrance of Al Bass site was the necropolis of the city in the Roman era. This sizeable funerary complex has hundreds of ornate stone and marble sarcophagi as well as collective tomb structures, several still filled with bones.

11. 11

    Maghdoucheh

    30 min

    A Shrine of Virgin Marry is located in a village named Maghdoushe, Southern Lebanon, near Sidon. It’s called “Our lady of awaiting” “Mantara” , since virgin Marry used to wait for Jesus in a grotto to be back from his preaching with his students.

12. 12

    Beirut

    Trecere fără oprire

    After visiting all the mentioned attractions, we will take you back to your hotel in Beirut.

    Overnight at your hotel in Beirut.

Breakfast at the hotel · Lunch at a local restaurant during the tour.

Overnight at a 4 stars hotel located in Beirut.

Ziua 6 · Small Group Tour to Beirut, Beiteddine & Deir el Qamar

1. 1

   Beirut

   15 min

   After breakfast, our representative will meet you at the hotel and pick you up for a full day experience to two old Phoenician city states Sidon and Tyre in South Lebanon, in addition to Our Lady of Awaiting in Maghdoushe.

2. 2

   Oprirea 2

   Trecere fără oprire

   Our tour starts in the waterfront of Beirut, Zaitouna Bay, an innovative tourist attraction extending the existing Beirut corniche and the new sea promenade, reminiscent of sea waves, providing outdoor spaces and public areas.

3. 3

   Martyr's Square

   15 min

   Our next stop will be at the Martyrs' square, a famous monument that still stands today, that serves as a permanent reminder of the executions in the Ottoman era.

4. 4

   Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque

   15 min

   Next, we will stop at the city's major landmark, a huge, striking amber-colored blue-domed mosque near Martyrs Square.

5. 5

   Al-Omari Mosque

   Trecere fără oprire

   Then we will pass by one of the most ancient buildings of the city, Al Omari mosque, that was built on the ruins and remains of a Byzantine church.

6. 6

   Place de l'Etoile

   15 min

   We will also pass by the Place de l'Etoile, also known as Nejme square. The jewel of the square is a 1930s clock-tower with its four-faced Rolex clock.

7. 7

   Oprirea 7

   15 min

   Situated at the Place de L'Etoile, we will visit Saint Georges Cathedral. With its splendid iconostasis and other treasures, it is considered as the greatest and most glorious Church in Lebanon.

8. 8

   Roman Baths

   15 min

   We will also stop to visit a garden and a set of uncovered ruins of ancient Roman baths.

9. 9

   Oprirea 9

   5 min

   Enjoy a seaside promenade at Beirut Corniche.

10. 10

    Pigeon Rocks in Raouche

    15 min

    Taking some pictures in front of the pigeon rocks of Beirut is a must. Also called Raouche rocks, it's a popular tourist destination known for its iconic rock formations in picturesque seaside surrounds.

11. 11

    Beirut Souks

    Trecere fără oprire

    We will pass by Beirut souks, the commercial heart of Beirut.

12. 12

    National Museum of Beirut

    o oră Intrarea inclusă

    The national is the home of a wide collection of archaeological artifacts that offers a great overview of Lebanon’s history and civilizations.

13. 13

    Beiteddine

    o oră

    Beiteddine is a village in Mount Lebanon that represent the capital of Chahab Dynasty. This village is famous of its palace that belongs to Emir Bachir Chahab the second.

14. 14

    Oprirea 14

    o oră Intrarea inclusă

    A Palace related to Chahab Dynasty is located in Beiteddine. The palace is divided into 3 main parts Maidan, salamlek and Haramlek. In addition to the barn where some Mosaic are exhibited and taken from the around of the village.

15. 15

    Deir el Qamar

    o oră

    Deir el Qamar is a village in the Mount Lebanon that represents the

    capital of Ma-an dynasty which justify the presence of palaces there.

    Deir Al Qamar is the symbol of diversity where all religions are

    represented, so you find churches, mosques and even a Jewish

    synagogue.

16. 16

    Fakhreddine's Mosque

    15 min

    It is the first mosque in this area, built in 969 by Sultan

    Fakhreddine. The structure of the mosque displays a compact

    rectangular plan.

17. 17

    Oprirea 17

    15 min

    It said to be built in the fifth century, over the ruins of an old Phoenician Temple dedicated to the Goddess Astarte.

18. 18

    Oprirea 18

    Trecere fără oprire

    All religions were living in peace with each other in Deir el Qamar and that’s why a synagogue was found in the area.

19. 19

    Beirut

    Trecere fără oprire

    After visiting all the mentioned attractions, we will take you back to your hotel in Beirut.

    Overnight at your hotel in Beirut.

Breakfast at the hotel. · Lunch at a local restaurant during the tour.

Overnight at a 4 stars hotel located in Beirut.

Ziua 7 · Transfer Hotel/ Airport

1. 1

   Beirut

   Trecere fără oprire

   Free Time until departure.

   Our representative will meet you at your hotel, carry your luggage, to drive you to the airport.

2. 2

   Oprirea 2

   Trecere fără oprire

   Our representative will drive you safely to the airport for departure.

   Have a safe flight !

Breakfast at the hotel.