Hiking and Culture journey for veterans who want to see more of the country
In collaboration with Georges Farah Travel
This return trip is based on flying with Transavia. Departing on Friday afternoon, directly from Amsterdam Schiphol to Lebanon Beirut.
Friday:
Afternoon departure from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
Evening arrival at Beirut International Airport, followed by a transfer to ‘Le Commodore’ hotel in Beirut. Check-in, dinner, and overnight stay.
Saturday:
Breakfast together, then departure to ‘Nahr el Kalb’ to visit the historic steles and monuments carved into the rocks. Continue to ‘Jeita Grottos’, exploring both the upper and lower caves.
Bus transfer to Harissa to visit the church of ‘Our Lady of Lebanon’. Afterward, travel by bus to Jounieh for lunch at ‘Simar El Bahr’ restaurant. Return to Beirut and explore the city center.
Dinner and overnight stay in ‘Le Commodore’ hotel in Beirut.
Sunday:
Breakfast together and check-out. Drive to Jabal Moussa for a stunning hike, starting from the ‘Chouwan Gate’. Continue to Byblos for lunch at ‘Malena’ restaurant. After lunch, visit the Crusader Castle, archaeological excavations, and the old souks of Byblos. Check-in at ‘Aleph’ hotel in Byblos.
Dinner and overnight stay in Byblos.
Monday:
Breakfast together, then travel north to Msaylha for a scenic hike along the ‘Msaylha Trail’.
Continue to Tripoli to visit the old souks and the historic railway station. Lunch in Tripoli, followed by a drive to Batroun to explore the old town and the ‘Phoenician Wall’. Return to the hotel in Byblos for dinner and overnight stay.
Tuesday:
Breakfast together and check-out. Drive north to Bcharre to visit the ‘Gibran Khalil Gibran Museum’.
Continue to the famous ‘Cedars of God Forest’ for a nature walk. Lunch will be served near the cedar forest. Visit ‘St. Anthony Kozhaya Monastery’, then continue to ‘Le Tournant’ hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Wednesday:
Breakfast together, then drive to Hawka, where we begin a hike down into the Qadisha Valley.
Along the way, visit ‘Qannoubine Monastery’, the ‘Cave of St. Marina’, and the historic ‘Monastery of St. Elishaa’. Lunch (most likely a packed lunch). Return to ‘Le Tournant’ hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Thursday:
Breakfast together and check-out. Drive through the Cedars Forest to the mountain pass between the north and the Bekaa Valley, with a photo stop. Continue to Baalbek to visit the world-famous Roman temples. Lunch at ‘Lakkis’ restaurant in Baalbek. Visit ‘Our Lady of Zahle’ in Zahle.
Check-in at ‘La Place’ hotel in Zahle, followed by dinner and overnight stay.
Friday:
Breakfast together and check-out. Drive to the Chouf Mountains to visit ‘Beiteddine Palace’.
Continue to Deir el Qamar for lunch. After lunch, explore the charming village of Deir el Qamar, then return to Beirut. Take a walk along the famous ‘Corniche’ and ‘Raouche Rocks’.
In the late afternoon, transfer to the airport for departure. Arrival in Amsterdam, just after midnight.
This itinerary is an example of a hiking and cultural trip through Lebanon. We are always looking for new and breathtaking sites in this beautiful country that are worth visiting.
The maximum number of participants, including the tour leaders, is 22 people.
