Lebanon Express

You arrive at Beirut International Airport. After being met by our representative, you are transferred to your hotel.

After leaving Beirut and heading north towards Byblos, we'll stop for an adventurous visit to the Jeita Grotto, where we can see one of the largest collections of stalactites and stalagmites in the world. We then head to Harissa, where we go to the top of the Basilica by cable car and enjoy great views over the bay below. Finally we visit the Baatara Gorge which consists of an enormous cavern, three levels high, into which a waterfall drops 255 metres during the spring months when the mountain snows are melting, and after periods of heavy rainfall. Formed from Jurassic limestone, the cave is also called the cave of the Three Bridges, as the waterfall cascades over three natural bridges. You can choose to do a small hike, or to explore the nearby Douma Village.Later today we drive to the scenic Qadisha Valley and spend the night at the Qozhaya Monastery, or a nearby guesthouse.

If we have been able to spend the night in the Monastery, you will have the opportunity to join the monks for morning prayers. After breakfast we'll take a short hike in the beautiful Qadisha Valley, or Holy Valley. It has steep slopes, springs, and waterfalls, and features many churches and monasteries. It is also a World Heritage Site. We'll then proceed to The Cedars Ski Resort, set at an altitude of 2000m. Found nearby is the Cedars of God, one of the last remnants of the cedar forests that used to cover these mountains.We also visit the village of Becharre, which was the birthplace of Khalil Gibran, the legendary poet and artist. His museum contains many of his manuscripts, paintings, and personal effects.Later today we arrive in Byblos, an ancient Phoenician city that is thought to have been inhabited for up to 7000 years. Locally, the city is known as Jbeil and is another UNESCO World Heritage site. Byblos is filled with significant historical and archaeological sites, and also features a lovely Phoenician harbour.

This morning you'll have some free time to explore the markets and coastline of Byblos further before we head back in land to continue our journey.Our destination today will be the village of of Zahle, however we'll be making a stop along the way at the Ksara Winery which is possibly the oldest winery in Lebanon. The caves and tunnels have a total length of approximately 2 miles and have been unsed for generations as wine cellars. You'll have a guided tour of the caves and winery before sampling (and buying if you wish) some of the produce in a wine tasting session.

Today we head to Baalbek, undoubtedly one of the highlights of any visit to Lebanon. Called “Heliopolis” or “City of the Sun” by the Romans and Greeks, it features the most well-preserved temple complex in the Middle East. It is still largely intact after earthquakes, wars, and ravages. The Greeks and Romans dedicated the temple to the god of the sun, Jupiter. They dedicated two more to Jupiter’s partners, Venus and Mercury, to complete the triad of god.We then visit the only significant Umayyad site in Lebanon, Anjar. This was founded in the 8th century by Caliph Walid. Its mosques, palaces, and baths provide evidence that it was an imperial residence; it also features 600 shops, indicating that it was also an important commercial centre.We end the day with a drive back to Beirut where we'll spend our final evening in Lebanon.

Your transfer will take you to the airport for your return flight home.