Lebanon Express — 6 Days Highlights from Beirut to Baalbek
| Duration | 6 Days / 5 Nights |
|---|---|
| Country | Lebanon |
| Price From | $1,585 USD per person (~$264/day) |
| Tour Style | Express Cultural, Small Group, Adventure |
| Operator | Oasis Overland (Ages 18+, TourRadar) |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Beirut — Arrival & City Lights
Arrive in Beirut and meet your group and guide. Afternoon orientation walk through the city’s contrasting neighborhoods: the rebuilt Downtown with its gleaming architecture, the Ottoman-era souks, and the Corniche waterfront. Welcome dinner at a family-run restaurant in Hamra featuring Lebanese specialties — fattoush, shish taouk, and arak. Briefing on the week’s adventure.
Day 2: Harissa + Bsharri + Qadisha Valley
Early departure for the mountains. Take the cable car at Harissa for breathtaking views of Jounieh Bay and Beirut. Continue to Bsharri in the heart of Mount Lebanon. Visit the Gibran Museum, his final resting place and former monastery. Afternoon hike through the UNESCO-listed Qadisha Valley, a dramatic gorge lined with cave monasteries and hermitages carved into the rock face. Visit the Monastery of Qannoubine, seat of the Maronite Patriarchate from the 15th-19th centuries. Overnight in Bsharri.
Day 3: Cedars of God + Baalbek — Ancient Giants
Morning at the Cedars of God, Lebanon’s most symbolic natural treasure. Walk among these ancient trees — the cedars of Lebanon are mentioned 75 times in the Bible and were used to build Solomon’s Temple and Phoenician ships. Continue to Baalbek for the afternoon. The scale of the Roman ruins here is staggering. Spend hours exploring the Temple of Jupiter complex, the exquisitely carved Temple of Bacchus, and the unique circular Temple of Venus. Watch the sunset paint the ancient stone golden. Overnight in Zahle, the capital of the Bekaa.
Day 4: Ksara + Anjar + Byblos
Morning wine tasting at Chateau Ksara, exploring the 2km of Roman-era tunnels now used as wine cellars. Visit Anjar’s Umayyad ruins — its grid-plan city layout, palace remains, and colonnaded streets are unique in Lebanon. Afternoon drive to Byblos. Explore the Crusader Castle, the Phoenician temples, and the atmospheric port. Free time to wander the souk and enjoy the waterfront. Overnight in Byblos.
Day 5: Byblos + Beirut — Full Circle
Morning at leisure in Byblos — visit the fossil museum, relax at a seaside cafe, or take a boat trip along the coast. Afternoon return to Beirut. Visit the National Museum, then explore the modern side of Beirut: Mar Mikhael’s street art, the trendy boutiques of Gemmayzeh, and the rooftop bars overlooking the city. Farewell dinner with the group.
Day 6: Departure
Free morning for last explorations. Optional visit to Jeita Grotto or the Raouche Pigeon Rocks. Transfer to airport. You leave with unforgettable memories of a country that packs 7,000 years of civilization into a space smaller than Connecticut.
What’s Included
• 5 nights accommodation (hotels + mountain guesthouse)
• Daily breakfast
• English-speaking tour leader
• All transfers by private vehicle
• Entrance fees to all sites mentioned
• Wine tasting at Chateau Ksara
• Cable car at Harissa
What’s Excluded
• International flights
• Lunches and dinners (~$10-20/day)
• Travel insurance (mandatory)
• Tips
• Drinks
