Cedars of Lebanon

Highlights:

• See the Cedars of Lebanon
• Jupiter Temple at Baalbeck
• Enjoy wine tasting in Zahleh
  

Day 1 - London/Beirut
Fly to Beirut. On arrival you are met and assisted before your private transfer to the Hotel L'Albergo in Beirut.

Day 2 - Beirut/Byblos
After breakfast meet your private guide and visit the city centre of Beirut, the reconstruction project of Solidere and the National Museum. Enjoy lunch in Jeita before visiting the Grottoes, a series of caverns in limestone rocks. Then drive to Jounieh and take the cable car to visit Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa with beautiful views overlooking the bay. Return to Beirut for an evening at leisure.

Day 3 - Tripoli/Byblos
Breakfast and departure to visit the city of Tripoli. Visit the St Gilles Castle and the Mosque. Drive to Byblos for a seafood lunch. After lunch see the sights of Byblos, believed to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, visit the citadel of Byblos, the old port and the souks. Drive back to Beirut hotel and overnight.

Day 4 - Cedars/Bcharreh/Qadisha Valley
After breakfast depart to visit the North of Lebanon. Enjoy a visit of the Monastery of St Anthony Qozhaya in the Qadisha Valley followed by a visit to the famed Cedars Forest. Drive to Bcharreh for lunch. After lunch visit the Museum of Gebran Khalil Gebran one of Bcharreh's most famous sons and the author of The Prophet. Drive back to Beirut hotel and overnight

Day 5 - Deir el Kamar/Beiteddine
This morning you will set off for the Chouf Mountains to the village of Deir el Kamar to see the Fakhreddine Mosque and Baz Museum. After lunch visit Beiteddine to the splendid Emir Beshir Palace. Return to hotel in Beirut and overnight

Day 6 - Baalbeck/Anjar/Ksara Winery
Today you will view one of the World Heritage sites of Lebanon, the three Roman Temples of Baalbeck in the Beqaa Valley including the Temple of Jupiter. Travel to the Ksara winery in Zahleh and enjoy a wine tasting and to see how they manufacture the Arak in the area, followed by lunch. After lunch visit the Ommayad city of Anjar, one of the country's only known ruins of the 7th and 8th century Ommayad dynasty and return to Beirut and overnight.

Day 7 - Beirut/Tyre/Sidon/Beirut
A visit to the south of Lebanon will take you to the Phoenician city of Tyre, where Phoenician purple dye originated. Sights include the Hippodrome, Arch of Triumph and the Colonnades. Stop for a fish lunch at the Resthouse in Tyre, before continuing to visit the Sea Castle and the Khans at Sidon. Return to Beirut and overnight.

Day 8 - Beirut/London
Transfer to the airport for your morning flight to London - Heathrow.