Day 2 - Beirut - Tyre
Day 3 - Sidon – Deir el Qamar – Barouk
Drive to Sidon and visit the old town with sites including the sea castle, old souks, Debbaneh Palace and Saint Nicholas Cathedral. If time permits, we will also stop at the Phoenician site of Echmoun. Later we drive to the old village of Deir el Qamar, with its well-preserved 17th and 18th century architecture, mosques, palaces and public squares. We then visit the 17th century Moukhtara Palace before heading to the largest nature reserve in Lebanon where some of the trees are estimated to be 2000 years old. We take a short hike and our guide will explain the flora and fauna of the area. Overnight Deir el Oumara or similar. (B)
Day 4 - Beiteddine – Aamiq Wetlands - Chtaura
Day 5 - Aanjar – Baalbek - Chtaura
Day 6 - Jeita – Harissa – Byblos
Visit the archeological site ‘Qalaat Faqra’ with its Roman and Byzantine ruins. From here continue to the magnificent grottoes of Jeita, then later head to Harissa to visit ‘Our Lady of Lebanon’ overlooking the bay of Jounieh. Finally we reach Byblos, which has been continuously inhabited since the 6th millennium BC. Overnight Byblos Sur Mer Hotel or similar. (B)
Day 7 - Becharre – Qadisha Valley - Qozhaya
Day 8 - Tripoli – Batroun - Beirut
Visit the second largest city in Lebanon, Tripoli, including the old part of the city with its colourful souks, Crusaders Fortress, narrow alleyways, hammams and mosques. On the way back to Beirut we make a stop at the impressive Baatara gorge waterfall in Tannourine and also Batroun, which lies on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and boasts charming streets, gardens, ancient churches and archaeological landmarks. Time permitting, we also stop at the rock-hewn Kaftoun Monastery. Overnight Crowne Plaza Hotel or similar. (B)
Day 9 - Beirut
Transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)
What's included?
What's not included?
Visas
All travellers, including British citizens, can obtain visas upon arrival at Beirut International airport. You should ensure that your passport has at least six months’ validity after the end date of your trip. We also strongly recommend that your passport has a minimum of two blank pages next to each other – on rare occasion it may lead to problems with visas and immigration authorities if it does not.
Visa regulations and requirements can change however and so we recommend that you contact your nearest embassy for the most up to date information.
Health and vaccinations
We are not medically qualified and so we recommend that you speak to your doctor or nearest health professional for advice concerning recommended vaccinations. For more advice on vaccinations you can also visit www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk.
If you have any physical limitations that might impact your ability to participate in the planned tour activities, it’s essential that you make us aware as soon as possible so that we can discuss this with you.
Insurance
It is a condition of joining our tours that you have suitable travel insurance in place, and we cannot accept travellers without insurance. All policies differ in terms of what they will cover, but as a minimum you need medical and health cover which will cover you for the whole time that you are away. Most policies will also include cancellation cover, which will cover you if an unforeseen circumstance obliges you to cancel your trip. We recommend that you obtain your insurance as soon as you book your trip.
Please note that government travel warnings often affect the validity of your travel insurance, and you should check this with your insurance company.
Money
The local currency in Lebanon is the Lebanese Pound. If you want to bring money to exchange while here, US dollars in smaller notes would be best, although the banks will also exchange major foreign currencies such as sterling and euros. ATM’s will be available and relatively widespread, dispensing USD or Lebanese Pound
Local conditions
When travelling to some of the destinations we offer you need to bear in mind that things won’t always work here as we’re used to them working at home. Travelling in underdeveloped and untouristed destinations requires both patience and a sense of humour. There may be problems with infrastructure, attitudes may be different, and maintenance may not be as high a standard as we would always like, but this is very much part and parcel of travelling in such a place. We aim to resolve any issues as quickly as possible, and thank you for your patience.
Travel advice
We keep a very close eye on the travel advice issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office so that we can keep you up to date with any warnings. At the time of writing the FCO advises against travel to all parts of Lebanon that we visit on this tour. Should you have any concerns over safety please do not hesitate to contact us and we can address your concerns. We work very closely with our local team and are fully confident that we can operate tours safely in Lebanon.
This relates to advice from the British government – other nationalities need to check the stance of their own governments.