Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included

5.0 (3 reviews) 8 hours Free cancellation

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3 reviews

5.0

Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

South Lebanon is home to some of the most rewarding historical and spiritual destinations in the Middle East — and this small-group guided tour from Beirut brings the very best of them together in one comfortable and thoroughly enjoyable day, with a professional guide and lunch fully included.

In Sidon — one of the world's oldest cities — explore a romantic Crusader sea castle, a wonderfully authentic medieval souk, the world's only soap museum, and a beautiful Silk Road caravanserai. In Tyre — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — the Al-Bass Archaeological Complex reveals Roman Tyre at its most impressive: hippodrome, colonnaded street, triumphal arch, and ancient necropolis. The day closes peacefully at Maghdouché — a serene hilltop sanctuary revered by Christians and Muslims alike, where the Virgin Mary is believed to have waited while Jesus preached in nearby Sidon. Your professional guide brings every stop to life warmly and engagingly throughout.

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At a glance

Duration: 8 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 15 people
People per booking: 1–10
Guide: Arabic, English
Operated by: Lebanon Daily Tours

Ages: Adults (1–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Lunch in a local restaurant (if option selected)
Included: Hotel Pick up & Drop off
Included: Small group sizes
Included: In-vehicle air conditioning: Air-conditioned vehicle
Included: Professional, knowledgeable guides

Not included

Not included: Gratuities
Not included: Tickets / Admission to Historical Sites
Not included: Food or drinks unless specified

Itinerary

Beirut

Passing by

8:30 AM — Pickup from your Beirut hotel

Your professional guide meets you at your hotel and heads south along the beautiful Mediterranean coastal highway toward Sidon — a pleasant and scenic drive of about 45 minutes.
Crusaders Sea Castle

30 min Admission not included

Sidon Sea Castle — a beautiful Crusader fortress on the water

Begin at Sidon's most iconic and most photogenic landmark — a 13th-century Crusader fortress built on a small island just off the coast, connected to the shore by a charming narrow stone causeway with the Mediterranean sparkling beautifully on both sides. Walk through its vaulted halls and enjoy the wonderful sea views from the ramparts. Your guide brings the fascinating story of the Crusaders, Mamluks, and Phoenicians who all shaped this remarkable city to life in a warm and engaging way that visitors of all ages enjoy.
Sidon Souks

15 min

The souk of Sidon is the center of all the commercial activities of retail, as well as craft industry.

The souk is a maze of narrow alleyways with small kiosks, shops and cafes, street merchant, butchers, grocers, shoe-makers, tailors and jewelers.
Stop 4

30 min Admission not included

Sidon Soap Museum — fascinating & unique

Visit the world's only museum dedicated to the ancient art of olive oil soap-making — a Sidonian craft practiced continuously for over a thousand years. Housed in a beautifully restored khan in the old city, the museum traces the complete journey from olive grove to finished soap cake in a way that is genuinely charming and enjoyable for visitors of all ages. Your guide explains the history of this remarkable tradition and its importance to Sidon's identity and trade.
Khan al-Franj

15 min

Khan el Franj — the beautiful Silk Road caravanserai

End your time in Sidon at the elegant 17th-century caravanserai built by Emir Fakhreddine II for the European merchants who traded here along the Silk Road. Beautiful arcaded courtyards, vaulted galleries, and carved stone facades make this one of the finest Ottoman buildings in Lebanon — and your guide shares the remarkable story of Fakhreddine and the thriving trade that once passed through these very walls.
Al-Bass Archaeological Site

one hour Admission not included

Al-Bass Archaeological Complex — Roman Tyre

Arrive in Tyre and enter one of the most impressive Roman archaeological sites in the Mediterranean world. The Al-Bass complex opens with a magnificent triumphal arch still standing after two thousand years, leading to a beautifully preserved colonnaded street flanked by ancient sarcophagi. At the far end, the remarkable Tyre Hippodrome — one of the largest ever built in the Roman world, seating up to 20,000 spectators for chariot races on its 480-metre track. Your guide brings the full story of Roman and Phoenician Tyre to life within this extraordinary landscape of ancient stone in a clear and memorable way for everyone in the group.
Tyre

one hour

Lunch in Tyre — included

A wonderfully relaxed lunch at a local Tyre restaurant — fresh Lebanese mezze and beautifully grilled seafood served steps from the Mediterranean with the ancient city as your backdrop. Fully included in your tour price — nothing extra to pay. One of the loveliest lunch settings in Lebanon.
Stop 8

20 min

Basilica of Our Lady of Mantara — a beautiful and peaceful finale

Close the day at one of Lebanon's most serene and most spiritually meaningful destinations — the hilltop village of Maghdouché, where Christian tradition holds that the Virgin Mary waited in a cave while Jesus preached in Sidon. The name Mantara means "the one who waits" in Arabic — and this beautiful cave sanctuary has welcomed pilgrims for centuries, cherished equally by Christians and Muslims. The Basilica of Our Lady of Mantara stands above the ancient cave, and the wonderful panoramic views over the southern Lebanese coast make this a truly lovely and deeply moving final stop. Your guide shares the history and significance of this special place in a warm and respectful way that touches visitors of all backgrounds.
Beirut

Passing by

Return to Beirut — approx. 5:30–6:30 PM

Your guide and driver bring you comfortably back to Beirut with drop-off at your hotel — completing a truly wonderful full day through the ancient, beautiful, and spiritually rich south of Lebanon, with every meal already taken care of.

Meeting point and pickup

The operator picks every participant up from their accommodation or the points below.

Pickup points

Tilia Apart Hotel
Coral Beach Hotel and Resort Beirut
Honey House Hotel
Universal Residence
Astra Hotel
Assaha Ghobeiry Hotel
Divan Hotel Apartments
Palm Ville Suites
Rawche Universal Apartments
Hotel Mediterranee Beyrouth
Taj Suites Modern

and 163 more pickup points

We pick-up travelers from any Hotel, Residence or Airbnb in Beirut.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Options

GUIDED TOUR + LUNCH

Tickets are not included: Please note this option does not include tickets. This cost goes on your own.

Duration: 8 hours

Lunch included: The lunch is included in the price of the tour

Pickup included
GUIDED TOUR WITHOUT LUNCH

Lunch & Tickets not included: Please note this option does not include the Lunch and tickets. This cost goes on your own.

Pickup included