Lebanon Express
Lebanon Express
Lebanon Express
6 Days Starting and ending in Beirut, Lebanon
Visiting: Beirut, Jeita Grotto, Baatara Gorge Waterfall, Kadisha Valley, Byblos, Zahlé, Chateau Ksara, Baalbek, Aanjar
Tour operator:
Tour code:
612
Guide Type:
Partially Guided
Group size:
2 - 18
Age range:
8-95
Special diets catered:
Please advise requests
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
From:
$1365NB: Prices correct on 01-Jun-2024 but subject to change.
Tour Overview
This 6-day tour is the perfect way to experience the unique and fascinating destination that is Lebanon. Found on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean, Lebanon is filled with historical and cultural sites and landmarks. You will visit great ancient Phoenician cities; Byblos, the world’s oldest continually-inhabited city; and Heliopolis, the Middle East’s best-preserved temple. Lebanon also abounds with natural phenomena and landscapes, and you will visit many fascinating natural sites. These include the Baatara Gorge Waterfall, the Jeita Grotto, the Ksara Caves, and the Barouk Cedar Nature Reserve. With sites such as the birthplace of Khalil Gibran, and the Lebanon cedar mentioned in the Old Testament, Lebanon provides the ideal combination nature, culture and history. Accommodation is in 3-4 star boutique style hotels, a deluxe guesthouse in Zahle and one night a monastery in the Qadisha Valley where you may join the monks for morning prayer if you wish.. The itinerary will be adjusted slightly during the winter months to avoid some of the high mountain roads which will be blocked due to snow.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive In Beirut, Transfer To Hotel
Location: Beirut
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: No Meals
Your tour starts with your arrival at Beirut International Airport. Our representative will meet you, and you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Beirut.
Day 2 : Jeita Grotto: Harissa Cable Car And Baatara Gorge
Location: Jeita Grotto, Baatara Gorge Waterfall, Kadisha Valley
Accommodation: Monastery or Guesthouse
Accommodation Name: Qadisha Valley monastery or guesthouse
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
After leaving the capital city of Beirut behind this morning, we begin our journey north, making our first stop to explore the awe-inspiring Jeita Grotto. Here you’ll get a chance to explore part of the system of limestone caves which span a total distance of almost 9km. The caves contain one of the worlds largest collections of stalactites and stalagmites and was one of the finalists in the New 7 Wonders of Nature competition; it’s no wonder the caves are considered a symbol of Lebanon.
Moving on, our next stop is Harissa, which is famous for the mountain top Christian shrine, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. We’ll take the cable car up to visit the church and enjoy the stunning views of the coastline.
Our final stop of the day is the unique Baatara Gorge sinkhole, where in spring and after rainy periods a 255 meter waterfall cascades down into the enormous cavern. We’ll have time for a short hike here and we’ll also explore a nearby Douma Village, where a traditional lunch is included.
The day finishes with a short drive to the beautiful Qadisha Valley where we spend the night in the Monastery of St. Anthony, in a separate building with simple but comfortable en-suite accommodation (a nearby guesthouse will be used if the monastery is closed to visitors or unavailable).
Day 3 : Qadisha Valley, Cedars Ski Resort & Byblos
Location: Kadisha Valley, Byblos
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
For those early risers, you have the opportunity to join the monks for their early morning prayers in the monastery. After breakfast, there will be time to explore some of the Qadisha Valley, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Qadisha Valley is known as the Holy Valley, and the Holy River, the Nahr Qadisha flows through it. There are many caverns to be found on its steep cliffs which were used for shelter during ancient times.
After leaving the valley behind, our first stop will be the village of Becharre, famous for being the birthplace of the iconic poet and novelist, Kahlil Gibran. In the village there is a small museum dedicated to him where you'll be able to see some of his paintings and manuscripts displayed.
Next, we'll visit the Cedars Ski Resort, famous as being one just a few ski resorts in the Middle East. The area often referred to as the Cedars of God is also found nearby, which contains some of the last groves of the cedar forests which once thrived in this region. The Cedrus Libani, Cedars of Lebanon are even mentioned in the Old Testament and have become a national symbol of Lebanon.
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.
Day 4 : Free Morning In Byblos: Ksara Caves
Location: Byblos, Zahlé, Chateau Ksara
Accommodation: Homestay
Accommodation Name: Zahle guesthouse
Meals Included: Breakfast
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.
Day 5 : Exploring Baalbek And Anjar
Location: Baalbek, Aanjar
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
You're in for real a treat today as we'll be visiting the incredible site of Baalbek. Referred to as 'Heliopolis' or 'City of the Sun' by the Romans and Greeks, it is home to a sanctuary dedicated to worshipping the Heliopolitan triad of gods; Jupiter, Venus and Mercury. In ancient times, thousands of pilgrims would flock to the temple in order to venerate the triad. Today, the temple remains remarkably well preserved.
After leaving Baalbak we'll make a stop at the nearby Umayyad city of Anjar, located within the Bekaa Valley. Caliph Walid founded the city in the 8th century and what remains of the city today, gives great insight into the excellent town-planning which must have taken place. You'll see mosques, palaces and baths. There were also up to 600 shops within the city in ancient times, demonstarting how important of a trading post Anjar must once have been.
We end the day with a drive back to Beirut where we'll spend the night.
Day 6 : Beirut Free Time. Departure Airport Transfer
Location: Beirut
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is the last day of the tour and your time is free to explore Beirut some more until you are transferred to the airport for your departing flight home.
What's Included
-
Accommodation
3 nights in 3 to 4-star hotels in Beirut & Byblos, 1 night in guesthouse/hotel in Zahle, 1 night in monastery accommodation in Qadisha Valley
-
Additional Services
Entrance fees to sites visited, All sightseeing tours as detailed in the itinerary, Wine tasting in Ksara Caves
-
Airport Transfers at Destination
24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service
-
Meals
Meals as indicated in the itinerary (5 breakfasts, 1 lunch)
-
Transport
All transport and transfers in AC vehicles
-
English speaking guide for all tours
What's Not Included
-
Additional Services
Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses (e.
g.
laundry); Tips; Any other items not mentioned above -
Insurance
compulsory
-
International Travel
-
Meals
Meals not indicated in the itinerary
-
Visa fees (free on arrival for most nationalities)
Mode of Transport
All transport and transfers in AC vehicles
Check out our Q&As
-
Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Yes, airport transfers are included. NOTE: Your airport transfers are only included on the first and last day of the set tour itinerary, plus on any additional days if you book your hotel room with us. If you make your own arrangements for additional accommodation at either the beginning or the end of the tour then you will need to arrange your own airport transfers on these days.
-
What is the maximum group size?
This is a small group tour with a max size of 18 people
-
Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
In Lebanon we provide fully trained, local English-speaking guides for all of the sightseeing tours. At Encounters Travel we aim to only use local guides and reps. We feel this gives you the best experience of the country and the sites you are seeing.
-
What is the tipping policy?
Tipping is common practice in Lebanon, as a sign of appreciation for services provided. You may therefore wish to tip your guide and driver at the end of the tour. You should not feel obliged to tip any particular amount, and should consider your personal budget. We are often asked to provide a guide however, and can suggest that approx. GBP 5 / USD 8 per person per day would be appropriate.
-
Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes, the vehicles used will have air-con
-
Is travel insurance compulsory?
Yes! Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event).
-
What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
You are always able to change your travel date. However, some charges may apply depending on how long before your departure you make the change. Our flexible booking conditions and reduced charges will apply if you are changing date because of a Covid-19 reason or because your government is advising against travel to your destination. Please check our detailed booking conditions for full details.
-
When is my balance payment due?
60 days prior to departure
-
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
On most of our group tours, solo travellers may choose to form a temporary 'tour bubble' and share a room with another traveller of the same sex in the group. If a room share is not available then a single room supplement may be payable, with the costs for these kept as low as possible. We have also removed compulsory single supplements from many of our tours, and are reducing the cost by 50% on s
-
Can I transfer my booking to someone else?
Customers may transfer their booking or any Credit on File to another person who satisfies all the relevant conditions to the tour, provided that we are notified not less than 7 days before departure, and the transferee agrees to these booking conditions and all other terms of the contract between us. The Client and new booker are jointly and severally responsible for any outstanding payments and a transfer administration fee of GBP50 / USD75 / CAD100 / AUD100 / NZD100 / EUR75 / ZAR1000 / INR5000 or GBP100 / USD150 / CAD200 / AUD200 / NZD200 / EUR150 / ZAR2000 / INR10,000 if the transfer is made less than 60 days before departure. Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended or transferred after they have been confirmed (for example flight tickets, Gorilla Permits) and any alteration could incur a cancellation and rebooking charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.
Reviews from travellers on this tour
1 Dates & Availability
2024 Jul
2024 Aug
2024 Sep
2024 Oct
2024 Nov
2024 Dec
2024 Feb
2025 Mar
2025 Apr
2025 May
2025 Jul
2025 Aug
2025 Sep
2025 Oct
2025 Nov
2025 Dec
2025
Saturday - Thursday
Jun 22, 2024 - Jun 27, 2024Saturday - Thursday
Jul 20, 2024 - Jul 25, 2024Saturday - Thursday
Aug 17, 2024 - Aug 22, 2024Saturday - Thursday
Sep 14, 2024 - Sep 19, 2024Saturday - Thursday
Oct 12, 2024 - Oct 17, 2024Saturday - Thursday
Nov 09, 2024 - Nov 14, 2024Saturday - Thursday
Dec 07, 2024 - Dec 12, 2024Saturday - Thursday
Dec 28, 2024 - Jan 02, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Feb 01, 2025 - Feb 06, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Mar 01, 2025 - Mar 06, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Mar 29, 2025 - Apr 03, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Apr 26, 2025 - May 01, 2025Saturday - Thursday
May 24, 2025 - May 29, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Jul 05, 2025 - Jul 10, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Aug 02, 2025 - Aug 07, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Aug 30, 2025 - Sep 04, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Sep 27, 2025 - Oct 02, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Oct 25, 2025 - Oct 30, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Nov 22, 2025 - Nov 27, 2025Sunday - Friday
Dec 28, 2025 - Jan 02, 2026Book with Confidence
-
Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Encounters Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform encounters travel, 60 days before departure.
-
Low Deposit
Encounters Travel requires a minimum deposit of 150 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of encounters travel charges.
Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 35% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.