Private Jeita Grotto, Harissa Cable Car, Byblos & Dog River Tour

5.0 (22 reviews) 8 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

22 reviews

5.0

Private Jeita Grotto, Harissa Cable Car, Byblos & Dog River Tour — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Private Jeita Grotto, Harissa Cable Car, Byblos & Dog River Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Lebanon's most iconic stretch of coastline north of Beirut packs more history, natural wonder, and spiritual significance into a single day than almost anywhere else on earth. This private tour connects four of its greatest stops — beginning at the Dog River canyon where ancient conquerors carved their victories into limestone cliffs, descending into the spectacular underground world of Jeita Grotto, rising by cable car to the mountaintop shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon at Harissa, and ending in Byblos — one of the oldest cities ever to exist.

With a knowledgeable English-speaking driver exclusively for your group, no fixed pace, and the flexibility to linger where you choose, this is the finest way to experience Lebanon's most celebrated northern landmarks in a single private day.

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At a glance

Duration: 8 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–9
Guide: Arabic, English
Operated by: Beirut Airport Transfer

Ages: Adults (0–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Knowledgeable English-speaking driver
Included: Nahr el Kalb — ancient victory inscriptions from 1274 BC
Included: Brief Explanation about each Site
Included: Hotel pickup and drop-off in Beirut
Included: Private air-conditioned vehicle

Not included

Not included: Lunch in Byblos (optional — at own expense)
Not included: Gratuities (optional)

Itinerary

Beirut

Passing by

9:00 AM — Departure from Beirut

Your knowledgeable English-speaking driver collects you from your Beirut hotel and heads north along the Mediterranean coastal highway — the first stop is just 20 minutes away at the Dog River canyon.
Stop 2

15 min

Where the coastal road narrows between the cliffs and the sea at the Dog River canyon, the limestone walls have served as the world's oldest continuously updated archive of military history for over three thousand years. Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II carved his victory inscription here in 1274 BC after the Battle of Kadesh — the earliest entry in what became a remarkable 3,000-year tradition. Assyrian King Esarhaddon followed in 671 BC. Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius added his own record. French General Gouraud marked the creation of Greater Lebanon in 1920. And the Lebanese Republic itself continued the tradition — recording independence, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the departure of Syrian troops in inscriptions that bring the archive right up to the 21st century. No single stretch of rock in the world records the passage of so many civilisations across so many centuries. Your driver brings each inscription and its story to life.
Jeita Grotto

1 h 30 min Admission not included

From ancient inscriptions on the cliff face above ground, descend into one of the most spectacular cave systems beneath the ground — a UNESCO tentative World Heritage Site and top-five finalist in the New 7 Wonders of Nature competition. Two interconnected limestone caves stretching over 9 kilometres beneath the Lebanese mountains — the upper cave explored on foot through a soaring cathedral of stalactites and stalagmites up to 8 metres tall, and the lower cave navigated by silent electric boat along an underground river through chambers of extraordinary natural beauty that took millions of years to form.
Stop 4

20 min Admission not included

Board the famous Harissa Téléférique at the Jounieh seafront and ride 650 metres above sea level to the mountain sanctuary — the aerial views over Jounieh Bay, the sparkling Mediterranean coastline, and the Lebanese mountain ranges on the ascent are among the most spectacular in Lebanon. The cable car ride itself is one of the most photographed experiences in the country.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon

30 min

At the mountaintop, stand before the iconic bronze statue of Our Lady of Lebanon — 8.5 metres tall at 650 metres above sea level, arms outstretched toward the Mediterranean below. Surrounded by the Maronite Basilica and neighbouring churches, this is one of the most recognised and most visited religious monuments in the entire Middle East — a place of pilgrimage for Christians and a landmark of extraordinary symbolic power for all Lebanese.
Byblos Castle

one hour Admission not included

Arrive in Byblos — continuously inhabited for over 7,000 years, one of the oldest cities on earth, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 12th-century Crusader castle was built from recycled Phoenician and Roman stones and contains within its walls Neolithic settlements, Bronze Age temples, Phoenician royal tombs, and Roman colonnaded streets — all visible in a single site. Byblos gave the world its alphabet and its name gave us the word Bible. Your driver brings 7,000 years of history to life with the depth and detail that only a knowledgeable local can provide.
Old Souk

one hour

Wander the stone-paved old souk — artisan workshops, antique dealers, and Phoenician-inspired jewellery — before strolling to the ancient fishing harbour, one of the oldest ports in the world still in daily use. The colourful boats, medieval walls, and Mediterranean views make this the most photogenic corner of Byblos and the natural setting for lunch.
Byblos

one hour

Lunch in Byblos — optional

Enjoy a relaxed lunch at one of Byblos's waterfront restaurants — fresh Lebanese mezze, grilled fish, and seafood overlooking the ancient fishing port with the medieval city walls as your backdrop. One of the most memorable lunch settings in Lebanon.
Beirut

Passing by

Return to Beirut — approx. 5:00–6:00 PM

Scenic coastal drive back to Beirut with drop-off at your hotel — completing a day that moved from ancient cliff inscriptions to underground caves, from a mountaintop shrine to one of the oldest cities on earth.