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Lebanon Encounters Tour

I highly recommend you to use Encounters if you travel to Egypt. Their customer service was excellent and exceeded my expectations.

Tiffany C, 04 Nov 2018

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Lebanon Encounters OVERVIEW

TOUR SUMMARY

8 days

Beirut to Beirut

From

A$3005 (p/p)

Country(ies): Lebanon

Tour type: Small Group

Group size: Min: 2 | Max: 12

Accommodation: 3-4-star hotels, guesthouse & monastery

Meals:

Transport: A/C car/minibus/coach

Highlights: Beirut, Beiteddine Palace, Tyre World Heritage Site, Sidon Souk, Baalbek temple complex, Ksara Caves wine tasting, Cedar Forest, Qadisha Valley, Baatara Gorge & Waterfall, Byblos harbour & history, Jeita Grotto, Harissa cable car

Situated on the Eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, Lebanon is a country rich in history, culture and boasts some of the world's oldest human settlements.

This Lebanon tour spends eight days exploring this magnificent country. From ancient Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon to the oldest continually inhabited city of Byblos, and not forgetting the City of the Sun, the well-preserved complex temple in the Middle East – Lebanon will wow you like no other. As well as discovering Lebanon's history, we also take in some of the country's beautiful scenery and natural phenomena such as the Ksara Caves, the Rock of Raouche, the Baatara Gorge Waterfall and the Jeita Grotto. Plus, you will get the chance to visit the birthplace of the renowned poet Khalil Gibran and see the famous Lebanon cedar trees that is mentioned in the Old Testament.

ITINERARY

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Day 1 Arrive in Beirut, transfer to hotel
After arriving at the Beirut International Airport our representative will meet you and transfer you to the hotel. You'll have some time to settle in before we run through the itinerary with you. Once you're up to speed, you have the rest of the day free to explore Beirut at your leisure.

OVERNIGHT:

Beirut hotel

MEALS:

None

EXTRAS:

Single Room Supplement (LBSGLE)
Extra day in Beirut - pre-tour


Day 2 Barouk Cedars Nature Reserve, Deir al Qamar & Beiteddine
After breakfast we head to our first destination, the Barouk Cedar Nature Reserve, also known as the Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve, which is the largest nature reserve in Lebanon. More than 500 species of flora and 32 species of fauna call this sanctuary home.
Next, we drive to the Chouf Mountains to visit the village of Deir al Qamar – which means "Monastery of the Moon". The village is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was the capital of Lebanon during the 17th century.
Our next stop is the beautiful Beiteddine Palace – constructed in the 19th century by Emir Bashir, is exceptionally well-preserved and is a testament to the opulence of the time. Now, it hosts the annual Beiteddine Festival and the Beiteddine Palace Museum.

OVERNIGHT:

Beirut hotel

MEALS:

Breakfast

EXTRAS:

None


Day 3 Beirut to Byblos, via Jeita Grotto & Harissa

We begin today by touring Lebanon's capital, Beirut – It is one of the oldest cities in the world, and has had a turbulent history, both ancient and modern. Highlights visited include the Beirut Souks, the Corniche, and the downtown region. We will also see the Pigeon Grotto, or the Rock of Raouché, a famous natural formation rising out of the sea.

Next we experience a thrilling visit to the spectacular Jeita Grotto. Here a system of limestone caves spans a distance of almost 9 kilometres, and contains one of the largest collections of stalactites and stalagmites in the world.

Finally, we visit Harissa – known for containing an important Christian shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary, known as Our Lady of Lebanon. We take a cable car to the top of the Basilica, from where we can enjoy a spectacular view of the Bay of Jounieh. We end the day in Byblos.

OVERNIGHT:

Byblos hotel

MEALS:

Breakfast

EXTRAS:

None


Day 4 Byblos, Baatara Gorge Waterfall

Today we start by touring Byblos, another ancient Phoenician city that has been inhabited since 5000 BC and is famously known as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Byblos is filled with significant historical and archaeological sites, and also features a lovely Phoenician harbour.

We'll then head inland to visit the unique Baatara Gorge sinkhole, where during the winter and especially rainy periods a 255-metre waterfall cascades into an enormous cavern known as the Baatara Pothole - this is a spectacular natural phenomenon and is perfect for a short hike.

Later in the afternoon we take a short drive to the Qadisha Valley where we spend the night in te Monastery of St. Anthony.

OVERNIGHT:

Qadisha Valley monastery or guesthouse

MEALS:

Breakfast, Lunch

EXTRAS:

None


Day 5 Qadisha Valley, Becharre & Cedars Ski Resort

This morning you will have the option of starting the day with early morning prayers with the monks of the monastery. We'll next visit another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Qadisha Valley, known as the Holy Valley, and the Holy River, Nahr Qadisha, flows through it.

We will later explore a nearby village of Becharre – the birthplace of the iconic novelist and poet of Lebanon, Kahlil Gibran – the village contains a museum dedicated to him, featuring his paintings and manuscripts.

Finally, we head to The Cedars Ski Resort – famous for skiing and snowboarding. The area known as the Cedars of God is found nearby, and contains the last remaining groves of the cedar forests.

OVERNIGHT:

Zahle guesthouse

MEALS:

Breakfast

EXTRAS:

None


Day 6 Baalbeck, Anjar & Ksara Caves
Today we head to Baalbek – called "Heliopolis" or "City of the Sun" by the Romans and Greeks, which is home to a famous temple complex that is very well-preserved. This complex was built as a sanctuary dedicated to worshipping the Heliopolitan triad of god- Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury.
Our next stop is Umayyad city of Anjar, located in the Bekaa Valley. This city was founded in the 8th century by Caliph Walid – it provides evidence of excellent town-planning and features mosques, palaces, and baths. It also features 600 shops, indicating that it was an important commercial centre.
The last stop of the day is at Ksara Caves – here you’ll find the oldest winery in Lebanon. The caves are approximately two miles long and were used as cellars to store the wines. You can expect a guided tour of the caves and the winery where you can sample some of the finest wine Lebanon has to offer.

OVERNIGHT:

Beirut hotel

MEALS:

Breakfast

EXTRAS:

None


Day 7 Tyre & Sidon
Today we’ll start touring the South of Lebanon. We kick off exploring Tyre, also known as Sour in Arabic – it is more than 4,000 years old and was a great ancient Phoenician city. Tyre is filled with important historical landmarks and is currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Our next stop is Sidon, another ancient Phoenician city, which became wealthy due its excellent production of glass and a purple dye extracted from murex – a type of shellfish. It is now a fast-growing city, and important both administratively and commercially. We'll visit the Crusader Sea Castle, the great Mosque, Khan el Franj, and many other fascinating sites.

OVERNIGHT:

Beirut hotel

MEALS:

Breakfast

EXTRAS:

None


Day 8 Beirut free time. Depart for home
Today is the last day of the tour. The time is yours free to explore Beirut until you are transferred to the airport for your departing flight home.

OVERNIGHT:

N/A

MEALS:

Breakfast

EXTRAS:

Extra day in Beirut - post-tour


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Included:
  • 5 nights in 3 to 4-star hotels in Beirut & Byblos
  • 1 night in guesthouse/hotel in Zahle
  • 1 night in monastery accommodation in Qadisha Valley
  • 24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service
  • All transport and transfers in AC vehicles
  • Entrance fees to sites visited
  • All sightseeing tours as detailed in the itinerary
  • Wine tasting in Ksara Caves
  • English speaking guide for all tours
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary (7 breakfasts, 1 lunch)

Excluded:
  • International flights (available on request)
  • Visa fees (free on arrival for most nationalities)
  • Travel insurance (compulsory, available on request)
  • Meals not indicated in the itinerary
  • Hotel gala dinner supplements if applied on Christmas & New Year's Eve
  • Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry)
  • Tips
  • Any other items not mentioned above
Notes:

Winter Season adjustments:
During the winter months (normally from December until sometime in May), many mountain roads in Lebanon are closed due to snow. During this period the tour will be adjusted to avoid the drive from Becharre to Zahle across the Col des Cedres. All the same places will be visited and the same activities included, but the itinerary will run as follows...

Days 1-2 - As above
Day 3 - Morning Beirut City Tour, then head to the Baatara Gorge to see the sinkhole, before finishing at the Qadisha Valley. Lunch included, and overnight at the Monastery or nearby guesthouse. 
Day 4 - Morning hike in the Qadisha Valley, visit Becharre and the Cedars, then return to Byblos for overnight. 
Day 5 - Explore Byblos, then drive to Zahle via Beirut, with stops on the way to discover Harissa by cable car, and to explore the Jeita Grotto. Overnight in Zahle
Days 6-8 - as above

Gallery


Dates and Prices

This tour has regular small-group departures all year round starting on Saturdays. The tour is also available privately on any other dates. Please contact us for more information and prices.

Start Date
End Date
Price (P/P)
Offer price
Note

9th of Nov 2024

16th of Nov 2024

A$3005

-


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7th of Dec 2024

14th of Dec 2024

A$3005

-


Book this tour in less than 3 minutes!

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21st of Dec 2024

28th of Dec 2024

A$3005

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Book this tour in less than 3 minutes!

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Accommodation

The hotels and accommodations listed below are the ones we most often use on this tour. From time to time we may exchange these for similar properties at the same level. In general, specific hotels cannot be guaranteed on our group tours, but you may select your preferred options if you are booking a tailor-made trip.

Casa D'or

Casa D'or

Beirut


The Casa D'or Hotel is a boutique 4-star hotel with a great location in the heart of the popular Hamra district of Beirut, surrounded by plenty of shops, restaurants and bars.

Local rating

Our rating

 Casa D'or Casa D'or

The Casa D'or Hotel is a boutique style 4-star rated hotel with a great location in the heart of the popular Hamra district of Beirut. There are lots of shops, restaurants, bars and banks within easy walking distance, including Beirut's largest shopping souk. The airport is around 20 minutes drive from the hotel.

All 84 rooms and suites are air-conditioned with flat screen TVs and en-suite bathrooms. Other room facilities include a mini-bar, tea/coffee tray, safety deposit box, hairdryer, toileteries, work desk and direct dial phone. Room service is available and the hotel front desk is operated 24hrs.

The hotel has a bar and restaurant on the ground level, which serves a buffet breakfast and Lebanese & international dishes for lunches and dinners.

Auberge Braidy

Auberge Braidy

Zahle


This rustic B&B hotel is located in the Zahle city centre, within walking distance from the souks. It has several room types, and offers free WiFi. It features a bar, coffee shop, business centre, and garden.

Local rating

Our rating

 Auberge Braidy Auberge Braidy

Auberge Braidy is located in the heart of Zahle, surrounded by pubs and restaurants and near to the Zahle souks. It is a former old political house that has been refurbished into a rustic B&B hotel. It features standard, double, and twin rooms. Free WiFi is available in the rooms and public areas, and there is a business centre on site. Facilities include a coffee shop, bar, terrace, and garden, as well as a health club available for use at a partner property.

Kozhaya Monastery

Kozhaya Monastery

Qadisha Valley


The Qozhaya Monastery is located in Lebanon’s Qadisha Valley, a World Heritage site. The guesthouse is set apart from the monastery and features simple rooms with en-suite facilities, with charming decor.

Local rating

Our rating

 Kozhaya Monastery Kozhaya Monastery

The Qozahya Monastery of St. Anthony is found in the Qadisha Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for the caves found along its steep sides. There is a guesthouse located at the monastery, which features simple but comfortable accommodation. The rooms are charmingly decorated and have en-suite facilities.

Aleph Boutique Hotel

Aleph Boutique Hotel

Byblos


This boutique hotel overlooks the Mediterranean in the historical city of Byblos. It is located close to the famous Byblos ruins, and has 26 rooms and suites. Free WiFi is available, as well as a range of facilities and services.

Local rating

Our rating

 Aleph Boutique Hotel Aleph Boutique Hotel

Aleph Boutique Hotel is found within the historical city of Byblos, overlooking the Mediterranean, just 5 minutes from the world’s oldest ruins. It has 26 rooms and suites with unique decor, each with TVs, minibars, and hairdryers. There are conference facilities, a rooftop restaurant, beach accessibility, a concierge service, and free WiFi in the lobby and rooms.

Options

Our tours are designed to include all that you need to enjoy a really special time in the destination you‘re visiting. However, we do also offer some extra options to complement the tour and add some additional sightseeing or activities, or some extra time at either end of the tour.

All accommodation based options (e.g. Single supplements, extra nights, cruise upgrades) should be booked and paid for in advance so that we can make the appropriate arrangements. Other options may either be booked and paid for in advance or while you are on the tour, though we recommend booking in advance to ensure there are no issues with availability.

Many options are priced the same throughout the year, but some may incur single or high season supplements - full details are given on the tour reservation form or on request.

Single Room Supplement (LBSGLE)

Single Room Supplement (LBSGLE)

Min numbers: 1 person


This option books a single room in all the accommodation throughout the tour. Room shares may be available but the supplement is payable if a room share cannot be arranged.

Price from
A$585
per person

This option books a single room in all the accommodation throughout the tour. If you are a single traveller and would be happy to share a room, let us know and we will see if we can pair you up with another single traveller of the same sex. If a room share is not available when you book then we will add the single room supplement to your booking and it will be payable with your balance payment unless we have arranged a room share for you by then. If a room share is arranged after you have paid the supplement then we will refund it to you. Room shares are arranged in order of booking.

Note: The price shown is a low season price. Slightly higher prices may apply during high and peak seasons - the exact price for your dates will be shown on the online booking form and is always available on request.

Tour Notes

The detailed Tour Notes below have been written to give you some more detailed information about how the tour runs, what to expect, and how to prepare for your holiday. We recommend downloading an up to date copy of these shortly before you travel in case of any changes.

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  1. Accommodation

We use good quality 4-star hotels on this tour. Accommodation is based on twin, triple or double en-suite rooms with air conditioning. Please visit the accommodation tab of this tour for examples of the hotels normally used on this tour. If you have any specific accommodation requests please let us know and we'll be happy to provide you with a customised quotation.


  2. Health and Vaccinations

You should ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including emergency evacuation and repatriation.

Recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures vary according to the country you are visiting and where you are travelling from. We recommend you contact your GP/medical practitioner or a travel clinic for current information on vaccinations needed for your destination.  You should ensure that you are up to date with vaccines and boosters recommended for your normal life at home, including for example, vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions.
In addition, additional courses or boosters normally recommended for the countries in this region are:

Egypt: Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A
Jordan: Tetanus, Hepatitis A
Israel: Hepatitis A, Poliomyelitis
Lebanon: Dipheria, Hepatitis A

Malaria is not generally present unless it has been contracted abroad; you do not need to take malaria prophylactics.

More information is available here: Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon

Note: We are aware of some places in Egypt using ‘black henna’ instead of pure brown henna. Black henna contains a chemical dye PPD (paraphenylenediamine) which can result in severe allergic reactions and resultant scarring. To be safe we recommend avoiding any henna tattoos while in Egypt unless you are certain they are using pure brown henna.


  3. Time

The time in Egypt, Jordan and Israel is GMT plus 2 hours. Daylight saving adjustments have historically been applied in some years but not others. At present it appears that there will be no daylight saving changes in Egypt 2016 and beyond, though this may change at short notice (with a resulting impact on flight times and schedules). In Jordan and Israel, daylight saving of one hour is generally applied between the end of March and the end of October, making it GMT plus 3 hours. Exact dates vary from year to year and sometimes the changes may be scrapped altogether.


  4. Voltage

Sockets are two round pronged and 220 volts (Type C). Universal adaptors are available in most airport shops if you don’t have one already. Standard European adapters will work fine, though sometimes they may feel a little loose in the sockets. All hotel rooms have electrical sockets where you can re-charge cameras, phones etc. Hair dryers are normally available on request from the hotel reception if not in your room already.
If you have US appliances (110 volts) you will need a voltage converter as well as a plug adapter.


  5. Dates & Prices

This tour is designed as a sample tailor-made tour itinerary. As such we do not offer set group departure dates that you can join. Rather, the tour is available for you to do privately starting on any date of the year. Guideline seasonal prices are given below, based on 2 people travelling. If you would like to adjust the tour itinerary, or there will be more or less people travelling, please contact us and we will customise a price for you.


  6. Booking & Payment

If you would like to book a place on this tour, please complete the online reservation form on our website (via the Dates & Prices tab on the tour page). You can pay your deposit or full balance online, or just hold a reservation if you prefer. We will then contact you with more details about how to complete your booking. Payments may be made by debit or credit card (subject to a card processing fee), or by making a bank transfer or posting us a cheque/bank draft. Full details will be provided in your booking confirmation email. Please contact us if you would like any more information or have any questions before making a booking.


  7. Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event). More information...

You may arrange your own insurance, or you can take advantage of a comprehensive policy that we can arrange for you through Endsleigh Insurance which has been designed to be suitable for our tours. The policy is available to travellers of all nationalities and you do not need to live in the UK  to take out the policy. For full details of cover provided, prices and to apply for one of our policies, please complete travel insurance application form.

Note: Any country that borders the Mediterranean is considered as 'Europe' for the purposes of travel insurance (including Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Morocco). If you are doing a tour that visits one country in 'Europe' and one that is 'Worldwide' (for example, an Egypt and Jordan tour), then you need a 'Worldwide' policy. When completing the form you should enter your travel dates including any extra days involved in overnight flights or connecting travel between your home and the tour. Our policies are not able to cover any extra time or activities other than your tour and options booked with us and your travel to & from home.

If you plan to arrange a hot air balloon flight locally, or do some scuba diving during your tour, you should check the small print in your policy to make sure these are covered (these are covered in our policy). Please also check the maximum altitude that you will be reaching and that full cover including emergency evacuation is provided up to this altitude.

IMPORTANT:  We must have your travel insurance details (policy number and type of insurance) before you depart or you may not be allowed to join the tour.  If you haven't told us already, please let us know the details when you can. You should take a paper copy of your insurance policy with you as you may be asked to show this at the start of the tour.


  8. Financial Security

We are a UK registered company and an ABTA Member (Y4447) and you can be confident when booking with us that your money is safe and protected. Financial failure insurance is provided through Affirma to protect all customers for the land portion of their tour.
Please see our website or booking conditions for more information.


  9. Responsible Tourism

It is impossible not to have an impact on the local environment, cultures and eco-systems when you travel. However, it is very possible to try and ensure that these impacts are as limited, or positive as possible. We are committed to ensuring that we try to leave our host countries in a better state than we found them and encourage and assist our travellers to help us with this.
The following are a few simple tips that require very little effort on your part but which will help ensure that any effect you have on the locations you visit is positive rather than negative.

  • Don’t prejudge: Things in different countries will almost certainly be different. That doesn’t make them worse or inferior, just different.
  • Communicate: Don’t expect locals to speak your language. Take the trouble to learn a few words or phrases of the local language. Don’t worry about sounding silly. Most locals are patient and accommodating and appreciate you making the effort to communicate in their language.
  • Conserve energy: Be careful not to waste valuable resources. Use local resources sparingly. Switch off lights, air-conditioning and fans when you leave the hotel room and don’t waste water. Remove superfluous packaging. Many countries have far less efficient waste disposal systems than ours. Remove packaging from newly acquired items before leaving home.
  • Don’t litter: No matter how untidy or dirty the country you’re travelling in may look to you, avoid littering, as there is no need to add to the environment's stress. Many of the countries we visit have a tough challenge dealing with rubbish and waste. Please consider taking home as much plastic waste as you can (e.g. water bottles).
  • Choose environmentally friendly products: By using environmentally friendly (bio degradable) sun creams, shampoos and detergents you can help reduce pollution.
  • Respect local customs and traditions: As you are a guest in these countries, you should also comply with the local customs. If you are friendly and well mannered, the locals will reciprocate and it will only enhance your experience. It’s important to follow dress and behaviour guidelines especially when visiting religious or sacred sites (your tour leader will advise you how best to do this).
  • If a client commits an illegal act the client may be excluded from the tour and Egypt Uncovered shall cease to have responsibility to/for them. No refund will be given for any unused services.

All porters are employed and equipped following guidelines set by the International Porter Protection Group (IPPG).


  10. Follow Us Online

You can stay in touch with us online by following us on Facebook and Twitter. We post updates on relevant travel news in our destination countries, special offers and discounts and other interesting travel related news and information.
www.facebook.com/EgyptUncovered
www.twitter.com/encounterstravl (yes, without the 'e')


  11. Before you travel

It is important when considering and preparing to travel anywhere in the world that you have a good understanding of the country you are visiting, its laws and customs, and the possible risks and situations that may occur. This includes specific risks related to your itinerary (eg. does it involve water & can you swim, are you fit enough for the activities included), as well as more general risks such as terrorism and natural disasters.

General details and links to more information about health risks, visa requirements, money, and travel insurance are given in these tour notes. We recommend that you re-read all these before your departure as well as the small print of your travel insurance policy so you know exactly what is covered and what is not.

You should take copies of your important travel documents with you and ideally also store them online securely as a backup. Make sure that you have given us your emergency contact details and told that person where and when you are travelling. Ensure you take enough money with you and that you have access to emergency funds.

Finally, you should read through and stay updated with the current official government travel advice for your destination. We are registered partners with the UK Foreign Office's 'Travel Aware' campaign which provides further useful and invaluable information.

'Travel Aware' campaign

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Lebanon Encounters & Country Reviews

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