Meet & Assist by our representative at the airport.

Proceed to Byblos , Discover a town that goes back 7,000 years; and the world’s oldest continuously inhabited. Located 37km north of Beirut, Byblos is a quite charming small town of great history.

Visit its ancient sites, and then explore the old part of the town on foot, starting from fishermen’s harbor, leading uphill towards the Church of St. John the Baptist and souks. With free time for Lunch.

Drive to the downtown district to see the huge reconstruction project-taking place to create a new commercial and residential district of the 21st century. This project has actually discovered that the capital is standing on the site of a very ancient settlement going back at least 5,000 years. Recent excavations have uncovered important archaeological sites from Canaanite, Phoenician, and Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Omayyad, Abbassid, Crusader, Mamluke and Ottoman eras. The 1.80 sq. meters reconstruction project includes new buildings but constructed in the traditional style, besides hundreds of old structures that have been restored and renovated to its original shapes, including Beirut’s souks and historical mosques and churches.

Proceed to Corniche road and stop for a short walk in the favorite promenade of many Beirutis. Further along, the road climbs steeply to a cliff edge, which is the headland of Beirut, with an array of cliff-top restaurants and cafes-, a panoramic view of the bay and famous Pigeon’s Rock. The road then leads down, stretching out a beautiful sandy beach and a prestigious residential area of Ramlet El-Baida.

Drive to Damour, a small town, 17km south of Beirut,   and   climb   another 26km east, passing   through   the charming town of Deir el-Qamar , it is an old town hemmed   in   an   urban frame that maintained the architectural prosperities of   the   17th and 18th centuries. Continue to the imposing palace of Beiteddine.   The palace is the best   example   of   early 19th   century   Lebanese   architecture, built over a 30-year period by Emir Bashir. Visit the palace complex and its museums (costume & weapons of that era) as well as a fine collection of well-preserved Byzantine mosaics

Optional Tour :

The Holy South (Cana – Tyre – Maghdouche) & Sidon

Departure to visit the South of Lebanon. Drive to Cana, and discover the stone jars described in the Gospel, namely the ones that contained water and Christ turned into wine. Their volume corresponds to the one described in the New Testament: 80 to 120 liters. Near the village of Cana, on a big isolated rock, there is a sculpture representing twelve persons and, in the middle of them, a thirteenth person of bigger height stands up, this probably

symbolizes the twelve disciples and Christ.

Proceed to Tyre, the first city that had its own church; on his way to Jerusalem in 57AD, St. Paul stopped by, discovered some disciples, and stayed seven days (Acts, XXI, 4). Visit the vestiges of Tyre Crusader Cathedral. Drive to Sarafand, the biblical Zarephath (later known as Sarepta) that is famous for the miracle of Elijah who raised the widow’s son from the dead and multiplied her olive oil and grain supplies (1 Kings 17). Continue to visit Maghdoucheh, where the sanctuary of Saydet el-Mantara, or Our Lady of Care, dug in the rock. It is a chapel where the Virgin Mary waited for her Son while He was preaching on the Lebanese coastline. On September 8, (feast of Virgin Nativity), people go on pilgrimage to the cave.

Drive back along the coastal road to visit another important Phoenician town, Sidon, with its Sea Castle and old covered souks.

Drive 20km along the highway north of Beirut to visit the Dog River, for its commemorative inscriptions that have been left behind by conquering armies between 2nd millenium BC and 1949 AD.

Proceed to the nearby principal source of the River, Jeita, a beautiful natural wonder, and best caverns in the Middle East. Transfer by cable car to the caverns, which consist of two parts, lower & upper galleries. The lower ones are visited by boat ride, while the upper caverns on foot. Enjoying the refreshingly cool temperature, the sound of rushing water, columns and sculptures that have been formed

by water and time, supported by an effective lighting system, allowing to glimpse the uppermost roofs.

Proceed along the coastal road to Jounieh; take the Telepherique up to the outstretched arms of the Virgin of Lebanon in Harissa- a breathtaking view of the bay.

Head to the peaceful green of Annaya rests the remains of the saint Lebanese Mar Charbel. Born May 8, 1828 at Bqa'aqafra, one of the highest villages in the Cedars region, Mar Charbel is now an object of worship and life a supreme example of hard work and absolute devotion to God. The monastery of Mar Maroun Annaya simple, squat building, with its statue of Saint Charbel arm raised to the sky in the outdoor courtyard with a wrought iron fence, a small church constantly illuminated by the prayers and wishes of believers, its small museum objects with a total

frugality that belonged to Saint, all contribute to a unique atmosphere that the faithful find themselves in the tranquility of a bathed by the grace of God landscape.

Transfer to Beirut International Airport for your departure flight back to Cairo.