Arrive in Beirut and transfer to your hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, there may be time to explore the city independently. Overnight Hotel Le Commodore. No meals or guided activities are included today.

This morning after breakfast meet with your local guide and start the day with a stroll on the breezy and bustling corniche, an activity enjoyed by many local Beirutis. During the walk, learn about how the area was shaped by the civil war and the regeneration efforts since.  Stark reminders of the conflict are very much still visible including the bullet ridden Holiday Inn hotel building which has remained derelict and were the scenes of intense battles.

Continue to Martyrs Square and observe the impressive Mohammad Al Amin Mosque complete with its towering sandstone minarets. We will also stop to see the archaeological site of the Roman baths in the centre of the city. Continue to the National Museum where we take an enriching visit and learn about the turbulent history of Lebanon which will give the experiences of the coming day’s added context.

Souk el Tayeb

Later it will be possible to visit the Souk el Tayeb food market (Saturdays from 09h00 till 14h00 and Tuesdays from 12h00 till 17h00 only – currently closed in line with the Covid-19 governmental restrictions; subject to reopening), an authentic local experience not to be missed. After the visit to the souk, any remaining time today will be at leisure and your evening is free to enjoy a local restaurant in the city and we will be happy to make recommendations. The bustling Bourj Hammoud district with its large Armenian population is a good option for authentic cuisine. Here you will enjoy an authentic Lebanese/Armenian meal tonight. Overnight Hotel Le Commodore (B)

Continue a short distance up the Mediterranean coast to the impressive Jeita Grotto to observe an amazing interconnected labyrinth of caves stretching for a distance of some 6 miles. Continue following the coast to the ancient town of Byblos, said to have been continuously inhabited since the 6^th Century BC.

Spend time exploring this delightful place with its picturesque harbour, the well restored 12^th century crusader castle and the roman archaeological site with a beautifully situated small amphitheatre overlooking the shimmering Mediterranean Sea. The next stop is Batroun where you will explore the narrow cobblestone streets and observe the traditional Ottoman style houses. Also take a stroll through Batroun’s small but old souk and the magical ruins of the Phoenician port including the ancient sea wall.

We recommend that you take an opportunity to try the authentic local lemonade here in Batroun, very refreshing and equally as delicious.  Later in the afternoon, return to Beirut where your evening is at leisure.  Overnight Hotel Le Commodore (B)

We depart early today and head inland to what surely must be regarded as one of world’s most astonishing Roman archaeological sites at Baalbek. We spend ample time exploring the site in detail which is believed to date back some 5000 years.

The site is so grand in its scale that is not hard to visualise what the city must have been like in its pomp. Continue thereafter to a charming Bekaa Valley winery for a leisurely Lebanese mezze style lunch and wine tasting in the Bekaa Valley. Here enjoy a tour of the cellar and the production areas before enjoying degustation of the excellent wines. Return to Beirut where your evening is at leisure. Overnight Hotel Le Commodore (BL)

Spend any remaining time at leisure before transferring to the airport for your onward flight. (B)