Best of Lebanon

The ancient and mysterious Lebanon, despite its small territory, boasts five World Heritage sites, which should be enough to entice you for a best Lebanon private tour. No matter what time you arrive at the Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, our driver will warmly welcome you when you reach the arrival hall. Getting on the exclusive air-conditioned car we prepared for you, you’ll be escorted to the hotel in about 15 minutes, depending on the traffic situation.

Considering that you need a good rest after your long flight, we have no sightseeing plan for the rest of the day. You can stay in the hotel or go around the area by yourself.

Accommodation: Gems Hotel 

Lebanon was part of the Phoenician region in 2000 BC. To understand the country's roots and history, you should not miss the Phoenician ruins. After breakfast, our guide and the driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and take you to explore two of the most iconic ancient Phoenician cities, Sidon and Tyre.

In the morning, you’ll be picked up by private car for an hour’s drive south along Lebanon's western coastline to Sidon, one of the oldest Phoenician cities. Founded around 2000 BC, the city was once an important Phoenician commercial port. It has survived many wars throughout history and is now still full of vitality. Follow our guide to visit the local souk where you can buy cheap and tasty fruit. The guide will also take you to see the Sea Castle of the Crusades and the local fish market.

In the afternoon, we'll continue to drive 40 minutes south to Sidon's sister city, Tyre. We'll visit the Ruins of Tyre: the Egyptian Port, where many Roman pillars stand on the shores of the Mediterranean. Our guide, well versed in Lebanese history, will tell you the stories of ups and downs of this ancient Phoenician trading city in detail. In the evening, we’ll get back to Beirut.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Gems Hotel

Throughout the morning, our guide will take you on a tour of downtown Beirut, visiting the important sights. We will first visit the National Museum, where you can have a comprehensive understanding of the historical background of the Lebanese capital. The Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque and the Saint Georges Maronite Cathedral will be our next stops, which fully display the local religious culture and architectural art. Afterwards, we’ll visit the Beirut Souks and the Pigeon Rocks (Raouche Rocks) where you can capture the modern look of the city and the real life scenes of its locals. Before lunch, the guide will take you for a walk along the Corniche.

In the afternoon we will drive about half an hour to the Jeita Grotto, which is a limestone wonder consisting of two caves. Upon arrival, we’ll take the cable car to the upper cave. Follow the guide to walk through it and appreciate the world's largest stalactites. There is an underground river in the lower cave, and we will considerately offer a boat trip for you. After visiting the Jeita Grotto, we’ll drive to Harissa. Our staff have arranged in advance a cable car ride for you to reach the mountain top to visit the magnificent Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon. Finally, our guide and the driver will escort you to Byblos for the night. If time permits, the guide could take you to the Byblos Castle for a visit.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Aleph Boutique Hotel

After breakfast, the guide will lead you on the way. Today we’ll leave the urban area and go to the mountains of Lebanon to experience the beauty of nature. Our destination is the Qadisha Valley, also known as the Holy Valley. After about an hour and a half by car, we will arrive at a stop on the way, Bcharre (Bsharri) for a visit. Here we'll visit the Gibran Museum, which was built for the Lebanese artist, writer and philosopher Khalil Gibran.

Next, the highlight of the day comes! Our guide will show you a path leading to the Cedars of God and you could take a leisurely stroll through the forest. The Qadisha Valley and the Forest of the Cedars of God are both World Heritage sites of Lebanon. In addition, the cedar is a national symbol and is printed on the Lebanese flag. Therefore, it's worth going deep into the mountains for yourself to see those thousand-year-old plants that are still alive and vigorous today. Later in the afternoon, we will return to Beirut and check into the hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Gems Hotel

After breakfast, our guide and the driver will wait to serve you in the hotel lobby. This morning we will first drive 2 hours to Baalbek Temples for a visit. Being a Lebanese World Heritage site, the temples were built by the Phoenicians to worship Baal, the Sun God, so Baalbek is also known as the Sun City. The temple complex is composed of three parts: the Temple of Jupiter of the 1st century, the Temple of Bacchus of the 2nd century, and the Temple of Venus of the 3rd century, among which the temple to Bacchus, the God of Wine, is more complete and spectacular. The guide will show you around and explain in detail.

In the afternoon, we will drive to the famous Chateau Ksara, where you can explore the winery and taste the best wines in Lebanon. Then continue to Anjar, an ancient city founded in 714 AD and now inhabited mainly by Armenians. Our guide will show you the city's time-honored Umayyad Ruins. Although only a few stone walls and columns can be seen now, you will learn from the guide that Anjar was once prosperous. As early as the 8th century AD, there were more than 600 shops on both sides of the central street, as well as many palaces, baths, mosques and dwellings. In the evening, we will transfer back to the hotel in Beirut for a good rest.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Gems Hotel

At the end of our trip, you can pack your luggage for the return trip. If your flight is in the afternoon or evening, you still have time to explore some of the unvisited attractions of downtown Beirut on your own, including the Place de l'Étoile, Issabn History Museum, and Zaitunay Bay. Don't forget to return to the hotel in time. Our driver will meet you in the lobby at the appointed time and escort you to the Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport for your flight home or to your next destination.

If you would like to take an extension tour to Israel, Jordan, Egypt, or anywhere else, you are welcome to contact our travel consultants. We will do our best to arrange a perfect holiday for you. Enjoy your flight!

Meals Included: Breakfast