Day 1: Arrival

Fly to Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, where you will be met by your tour guide and transferred to Saifi Garden Guesthouse.

Day 2: Beirut, Sidon, Beiteddine, Dier el Qamar

After being shown around Beirut’s top attractions by a local tour guide, it is on to Lebanon’s third city of Sidon and the surrounding sites of Beiteddine, and Ottoman town home to the Palace of the Emires, and Deir el Qamar, the historic home of the country’s governors. Staying in the region of Maaser el Chouf, you will spend the night in the local homestay of Auberge Saint Micheal.

Day 3: Chouf Reserve, Ksara, Baalbeck, Deir el Ahmar Village

Once you have explored the village you will visit the country’s largest nature reserve, right in the heart of Mount Lebanon. Then it is off to the vineyards of Ksara for winetasting, the ruins of the Baalbeck temple and then on to your homestay in Deir el Ahmar Village for a homecooked meal.

Day 4: The Cedars, Qannoubine, Bazoun Village

Start the day with an ascent to The Cedars, Lebanon’s highest resort, to take in the magnificent panoramas of the snow-capped peaks. It is then down to Holy Valley, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Qannoubine whose ancient monasteries have been a lofty refuge for monks for thousands of years.
You will spend the night in a traditional Lebanese family home in Bazoun.
(Note: The Cedars Pass from the Beqaa to the Cedars is blocked during winter).

Day 5: Qadisha, Hadath el Jebbe, Tannourine

Spend the day hiking in the tranquil Qadisha valley, which is scattered with caves, waterfalls and ancient monasteries that have been carved directly into the rock. After a trip to Hadath el Jebbe, one of the oldest villages in the highlands, it is then on to a local home in Tannourine for the night.

Day 6: Tannourine, Balaa, Byblos

After a two-hour hike around the forested Tannourine countryside, it is on to Balaa, famous for its huge sinkhole of three overlapping bridges. The night will be spent in a 3* Byblos hotel (dinner not included).

Day 7: Byblos, Harissa

Travelling on to the outskirts of Beirut, you will be shown around the ancient town of Byblos, known as Jubayl in Arabic. Dating back to the Phoenician and Canaanite periods, the picturesque medieval port is awash with 7,000 years of history.
The next stop is Harissa, an important Lebanese pilgrimage site, famous for the 600m-high white statue of the Virgin Mary. ‘Our Lady of Lebanon’, weighing in at 15 tonnes, stands with her arms outstretched to welcome pilgrims.
Your last night will be spent in Beirut’s Saifi Garden Guesthouse, where anyone who still has the energy is invited to soak up the cafe culture with the city’s bright young things (dinner not included).

Day 8: Departure

Check out of the hotel for transfers back to Beirut Airport for flights home.

• Arabic Palace door chouf-Lebanon Arabic Palace door chouf-Lebanon
• Behind Saida (Sidon) Castle Behind Saida (Sidon) Castle
• Beirut at night-Lebanon Beirut at night-Lebanon
• Entrance to Saida Castle Entrance to Saida Castle
• Saida (Sidon) Castle Saida (Sidon) Castle
•