Day 01: Beirut
Arrive to Beirut international airport. Meet, assist and transfer to hotel. Lunch will be at a local restaurant in Raouche area. In the afternoon, sightseeing tours of Beirut the historic Phoenician port and the city that wouldn’t die. Visit its newly reconstructed area with its gloriously restored French Mandate-Era buildings, old mosques and churches. Proceed to the exceptional national museum which was first opened 1n 1942, after its renovation, the museum features about 70 large objects on display on its ground floor. The highlight of the collection is the Sarcophagus of Ahiram, King of Byblos, which is inscribed with the earliest known example Of the Phoenician alphabet. Back to hotel and overnight.Day 02: Beirut – Byblos – Jeita
In the morning, leave Beirut to the ancient city of Byblos, the oldest continually inhabited town in the world, still looks like the ancient Phoenician Port it was few hundred years ago. The most noteworthy sites include the Crusaders’ Castle , built during the 12th and 13th centuries, the Egyptian temples, the most ancient of which dates back to the 2nd Millennium BC, the Roman Amphi-theatre , the Phoenician Royal Necropolis and the scenic 12th century Church of St John the Baptist. Free time at the bazaar and souk in the old city for shopping. After lunch proceed to Jeita Grotto, a mysterious network of 9 Km of Underground caves, where you can enjoy the natural formation in the lower grotto by riding intimate boats and admire the rich Limestone deposits and an infinite variety of Crystals, Giant Mushrooms and elaborate Chandeliers in the upper grotto. Back to hotel. Free at leisure or join a dinner at Nahr el Founoun with folk dance.
Day 03: Beirut – Beiteddine – Tyr
After breakfast, drive to Beiteddine, through the Chouf mountain, a grandiose 19th century palace built by Emir Bechir El-Chehabi II, who ruled Mount Lebanon for over half century. It’s an example of the 19th century Lebanese architecture. Proceed to Tyr passing by Deir El Qamar, the former capital of Mount Lebanon, with its Cobble-Stone streets, walled and picturesque gardens.After passing by Sidon, arrive to Tyr. Lunch at local seashore restaurant. Tyr was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1979 thanks to the effort of The International Association for the Safeguard of Tyr; it has some of the world’s most fascinating archeological ruins, mostly Roman times, Phoenician, Greek and Byzantine eras. Visit the Inland Hippodrome and Necropolis, one of the largest Roman Sites in the Mediterranean. The Necropolis is a stunning grouping of Tombs and Sarcophagi from Byzantine or Roman times. The Hippodrome is one of the biggest and best preserved Roman sites in the world. The old city on the peninsula, with its archeological Digs, huge Marble paving stones and ancient Mosaic Path on the southern side. On the northern end lie a 5th century Roman circus and the remains of a 4th century Church. Drive back to Beirut. Overnight at hotel.
Day 04: Beirut – Chtaura – Baalbeck – Ksara
In the morning, drive to Baalbeck with a stop at Chtaura for a coffee break. Chtaura is a busy City on the road between Beirut and Damascus (Syria). Arrive to Baalbeck, the world renowned archeological site, is the most glorious site In the Bekaa Valley, named after Baal, a revered Phoenician God. The Acropolis of Baalbeck is among the largest and best reserved corpus of Roman
Architecture in the world with Temples built in 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D and dedicated to Jupiter, Venus and Bacchus. The Bacchus Temple, larger then the Parthenon in Athens, is the most intricately decorated Roman Temple in the world. Lunch at local restaurant in Baalbeck. On the way back stop in Ksara visit the winery. Back to Beirut. Overnight at Hotel.Day 05: Beirut
After breakfast, morning free at leisure. Noon, transfer to Beirut international airport.