Beirut Travel Guides (Updated September 2026)

Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos: Small Group Tour with Hotel Pickup Review Rating: 5/5 ⭐ Tour Guide: Hassane Highlights: Exceptional local guiding, smooth door-to-door transport, rich Phoenician & medieval history If you want to hit Lebanon’s top day-trip sights outside of Beirut without the stress of navigating traffic or coordinating transport, this small group tour is as good as it gets. Packing natural caves, mountain views, and ancient coastal history into an 8-hour loop, the pacing is spot on—and having Hassane as our tour guide made the whole experience unforgettable. Hassane brought immense energy, deep historical knowledge, and flawless timing, ensuring everyone felt taken care of from start to finish. * Jeita Grotto: Getting an early start at the caves is key before the afternoon crowds arrive. Hassane shared great context on the limestone formations before we headed inside. Walking through the massive upper cavern filled with stalactites and taking the boat through the lower subterranean lake was a incredible way to kick off the day. * Harissa (Our Lady of Lebanon): Next was the scenic cable car (Téléférique) ride up to the shrine overlooking Jounieh Bay. Standing below the iconic white statue of Our Lady of Lebanon offers sweeping coastal views. Hassane managed our stop time perfectly so no one felt rushed taking photos or exploring the site. * Byblos (Jbeil): The tour finishes in one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth. Hassane guided us through the archaeological ruins overlooking the sea, detailing the Phoenician roots, Roman columns, Crusader Castle, and ancient artifacts (like the famous bronze figurines and storage amphorae). We wrapped up with free time to stroll through the stone-paved souks and the historic fishing harbor. Practical Details * Pickup & Logistics: Direct hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle took away all transportation headaches. * Group Dynamic: Small group sizing allowed Hassane to keep things engaging and answer everyone’s individual questions effortlessly. * Tips: Wear comfortable walking shoes for the uneven cobblestones and ruins in Byblos. Carry a bit of cash for local souvenirs or snacks in the souk.

Alberto came to pick me up on time. He is very knowledgeable about the country, and bits and pieces of Lebanese history, culture etc. Since it was just myself , there was so much flexibility on the tour itself. Too bad we couldn’t take pics of the caves which was magnificently spectacular! I decided to skip 1 or 2 in the tour as they weren’t my thing. I learned so much about Lebanon after this trip. Hopefully you get Alberto too on your next tour.

Had a great day with. Harake on this tour. He picked me up from the airport and took me to Anjar and Baalbek. Nothing was too much for him and he was extremely helpful and knowledgable throughout the tour. I would recommend him and this company and will definitely be in touch again when I come back in JanuaryPs please start coming back to Lebanon. It feels very safe and life is as normal so no need to be scared to come

Went on a solo day trip and it was honestly one of the best decisicions I’ve made. Mr. Hassaan was extremely friendly, very well-informed, and very hospitable. I had a great time and would highly highly recommend this trip.

I booked a day tour with Hassane to visit Anjar, Baalbek, and Ksara, and it was excellent from start to finish. Hassane was friendly and personable, making the whole day feel relaxed and enjoyable rather than just a standard tour. He was also very knowledgeable, sharing great insights about the history and background of each site. The itinerary was well organized, and we got to see three amazing sites: the Umayyad ruins in Anjar, the Roman temples in Baalbek, and the Ksara vineyards. Highly recommend Hassane if you’re looking for a guide.

Did this tour solo and it was one of the best decisions of my trip to Lebanon. Baalbek alone is worth the trip, one of the most impressive ancient sites I’ve ever seen.The guide Hassan was excellent. Incredibly knowledgeable about the sites and about Lebanon in general. He had very rich knowledge about the countrys history, culture and politics, which i very much appreciated. On top of that, genuinely friendly and very welcoming throughout the whole day, which as a solo traveler makes a real difference.Would gladly do it again and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone visiting the country.

One of the best experiences of my life! Albert is a fantastic guide, welcoming, energetic, you can fall in love with Lebanon through his eyes and words, he knows how to make the experience unique. And the places are spectacular, despite it being winter beauty can not disappear. 100% recommended.

I have fantastic chance to go to this beautiful place with Hassan. He knows every place , history and culture of all aspect of fantastic place for this trip. Enjoy the beauty and warm speaking with Hassan.

Very good tour! Got to see all of the main sites of Lebanon and it's all been worth it! Jihad Harake has been very helpful in giving us context and information of every site as well as helping us in giving tips as well!

Harake showed us all of Beirut, Byblos, Batroun and Tripoli and he was incredible. His knowledge of the region and her history is vast and he is an amazing and gracious guide. We saw all of the highlights and he took us to a few lesser known areas that we otherwise might not have had the chance to see. It was a full and rich experience thanks to him, and I cannot recommend booking with him highly enough. I will be sending my family and friends visiting the region to do the same!

Activities to do during your stay in Beirut. The sites are beautiful. Very friendly guide who explains well.

Amazing tour of Anjar, Baalbek+ lunch and winery tour! The guide was super friendly, the food was amazing and the places breathtaking. Baalbek was a sight to behold. Definitely recommended if you like cultural landmarks (food is culture too 😉) even a tiny bit.

The tour was very nice and well organised! Our guide Hassane was very well informed and took us to an amazing restaurant. The Anjar tour was very interesting, Baalback was incredible and the winery was interesting as well.

This tour started in Anjar as a taste of the next stop which is Baalbek. Baalbek is just extraordinary & Charbel the Archiologist was extremely knowledgeable with a brilliant sense of humour. Lunch was in Zahle which was one of the best meals I have ever had, dips, meats, salads & fresh seasonal fruit. The day ended with a visit to Ksara Winery 🍷 A great day and Albert our guide was absolutely fantastic with looking after us , driving carefully, commentary and kindness.

I had the absolute pleasure of being guided to Baalbek by two incredible individuals who made my experience in Lebanon unforgettable. Starting from my hotel at the Royal Tulip in Beirut, Albert, the driver and guide, went above and beyond in every possible way. He was the kindest gentleman I’ve ever met—so knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely invested in ensuring I had an enriching experience. Albert spent the entire day answering all my questions, no matter how small, with remarkable depth and insight about Lebanon’s history, culture, and landmarks. His guidance and advice were invaluable, and I cannot imagine experiencing the beauty of Lebanon without his expert and sage knowledge.Not only did Albert and the team make sure I felt completely safe and cared for throughout the journey, but they also went the extra mile to show me unique souvenir shops, ensuring I got the best deals and didn’t miss a single highlight along the road. Their attention to detail and commitment to creating a perfect experience were unparalleled.Beyond being incredible guides, these two were genuinely good-hearted people with whom I felt an instant connection. I walked away not just with amazing memories but with friends for life. I cannot recommend this tour and these exceptional individuals highly enough. If you’re visiting Lebanon, this is an experience you absolutely must have.

We had a wonderful experience with our guided tour, and a very special thanks to our guide, Albert, who truly made the day memorable.It was immediately clear that Albert is genuinely passionate about his job. He was extremely professional, both in terms of his knowledge and his excellent level of English, and he was able to explain everything in a very engaging and understandable way. What we appreciated most, however, was how caring and attentive he was throughout the entire experience. He was not simply following a fixed itinerary or ticking off the planned stops; instead, he paid attention to our interests and expectations and tailored the experience to make sure we got the most out of our day.A great example was our visit to the Crusaders’ temple. Albert went out of his way to arrange a guided tour on the spot, specifically because he felt it would better meet our expectations and give us a deeper experience. This kind of initiative and attention to detail really stood out to us.The car was also very clean and comfortable, with excellent air conditioning, which made the journey very pleasant. We also had a delicious meal at the restaurant, with really tasty food and a beautiful view.Overall, we couldn’t have asked for a better guide or experience. Albert’s knowledge, professionalism, passion, and genuine care for his customers made a real difference.