Lebanon World Heritage Tour: Baalbek, Byblos & Jeita Grotto – 5 Days

Lebanon World Heritage Tour: Baalbek, Byblos & Jeita Grotto – 5 Days

Embark on a 5-day private journey through Lebanon’s most treasured UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From the colossal Roman temples of Baalbek to one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth at Byblos, this intimate tour reveals the layers of civilisation that have shaped the Levant across millennia. Travel with a private English-speaking guide, stay in carefully selected Beirut hotels, and savour Lebanon’s legendary hospitality and Mediterranean cuisine.

Day 1: Arrival in Beirut – Welcome to the Paris of the Middle East

Arrive at Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport, where your private driver meets you for transfer to your 4-star hotel in central Beirut. After settling in, enjoy a welcome dinner at a traditional Lebanese restaurant in the lively Hamra or Gemmayzeh district. Sample classic mezze – creamy hummus, smoky baba ghanouj, stuffed grape leaves, and freshly baked manoushe flatbread – followed by grilled kibbeh and a glass of arak, Lebanon’s anise-flavoured national spirit. Overnight in Beirut.

Day 2: Beirut – Baalbek – Ksara – Beirut

After breakfast, drive east across the Bekaa Valley to Baalbek, home to some of the finest Roman ruins outside Italy. Your guide leads you through the monumental Temple of Jupiter – whose six remaining columns rise 22 metres – the exceptionally well-preserved Temple of Bacchus, and the circular Temple of Venus. Walk the grand colonnade and imagine the scale of Heliopolis at its peak. Continue to Chateau Ksara, Lebanon’s oldest winery, for a guided tour of Roman-era caves and a tasting of their acclaimed reds, whites, and rosés. Return to Beirut for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Byblos – Jeita Grotto – Beirut

Drive north along the Mediterranean coast to Byblos (Jbeil), continuously inhabited for over 5,000 years and a UNESCO site since 1984. Explore the Crusader Castle, the Phoenician royal necropolis, and the ancient port where the alphabet was first exported to the world. Stroll through the charming old souk and enjoy fresh seafood by the harbour. In the afternoon, visit Jeita Grotto, a breathtaking natural wonder of interconnected limestone caves. Take a silent electric boat ride across the underground lake through cathedral-like chambers adorned with stalactites and stalagmites – the upper gallery is explored on foot. Return to Beirut for a free evening to explore the city’s renowned nightlife and cuisine.

Day 4: Anjar – Cedars of God – Qadisha Valley

Travel east to the Bekaa to visit Anjar, a unique 8th-century Umayyad city whose perfectly geometric ruins reveal a remarkable blend of Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic architecture. Continue north into the Mount Lebanon range to the Cedars of God (Arz ar-Rab), a protected grove of ancient cedars – some over 1,000 years old – that supplied timber for Phoenician ships and Solomon’s Temple. Descend into the Qadisha Holy Valley, a UNESCO-listed gorge dotted with rock-cut monasteries clinging to sheer cliffs, where Christian hermits have lived since the 4th century. Return to Beirut for a farewell dinner featuring Lebanese grilled meats, tabbouleh, and warm pita.

Day 5: Departure from Beirut

Enjoy a leisurely final breakfast. Depending on your flight time, explore Beirut’s National Museum or walk the Corniche. Your driver transfers you to the airport for departure, taking home memories of Lebanon’s extraordinary heritage. Ma’a salama!

Included

4 nights 4-star hotel accommodation in Beirut (twin share) • Daily breakfast • Private English-speaking guide throughout • Private air-conditioned vehicle • Airport transfers • Entry fees to Baalbek, Byblos, Jeita Grotto, Anjar, Cedars of God, Chateau Ksara wine tasting • Meals: 4 breakfasts, 1 welcome dinner, 1 winery lunch

Excluded

International flights • Travel insurance • Lebanon visa (available on arrival for most nationalities) • Personal expenses • Tips for guide and driver • Meals not specified