Jeita Grotto, Harisa & Byblos: Small Group Tour with Hotel pickup
Description
Experience the rich scenery and history of Lebanon hassle-free with this small group tour departing from Beirut. Explore iconic sites like Jeita Grotto, Harissa, and Byblos as knowledgeable commentary enhances your journey. No car rental necessary!
Tour Options
Itinerary
8:30 AM — Departure from Beirut Your guide meets you at your Beirut hotel and you head north, winding through the Dog River valley — its canyon walls carved with inscriptions left by Egyptian pharaohs, Assyrian kings, and Roman emperors — toward your first stop at Jeita Grotto.
Jeita Grotto — natural wonder of Lebanon Descend into one of the most spectacular cave systems in the world — a UNESCO tentative World Heritage Site and a finalist in the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Jeita Grotto is a network of two interconnected limestone caves stretching over 9 kilometres beneath the Lebanese mountains. The upper cave is explored on foot, revealing a cathedral of dramatic stalactites and stalagmites, some towering over 8 metres tall. The lower cave is navigated by boat along an underground river, gliding silently through chambers of extraordinary natural beauty.
Téléférique cable car & Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon Ride the Harissa cable car up the mountain for sweeping views over Jounieh Bay and the Lebanese coastline, before arriving at the iconic bronze statue of Our Lady of Lebanon, standing 8.5 metres tall at 650 metres above sea level. One of the most recognisable religious monuments in the Middle East, the shrine draws pilgrims and visitors from across Lebanon and the Arab world. The panoramic views from the terrace are spectacular.
Explore the cluster of historic churches surrounding the shrine — including the Maronite Basilica of Our Lady of Lebanon and the Melkite church nearby. Together they form one of Lebanon's most important pilgrimage complexes, representing the country's deep Christian heritage and its tradition of religious coexistence.
Arrive in Byblos — continuously inhabited for over 7,000 years and one of the oldest cities on earth — and begin at the Crusader castle built in the 12th century from the stones of ancient Phoenician and Roman temples. Inside, layer upon layer of civilisation unfolds: Neolithic foundations, Bronze Age temples, Phoenician royal tombs, and Roman ruins, all within a single archaeological site. Your guide pieces together the extraordinary story of a city that gave the world its alphabet and whose name gave us the word "Bible."
Wander through the charming old souk of Byblos — stone-paved lanes lined with artisan workshops, antique dealers, and jewellery shops specialising in Phoenician-inspired designs. A perfect place to browse or pick up a memento before lunch.
Lunch in Byblos — optional Enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants overlooking Byblos fishing port — fresh Lebanese mezze, grilled fish, and seafood served with one of the most beautiful harbour views in Lebanon. A well-earned break before the final stop of the day.
End your time in Byblos at its ancient fishing port — one of the oldest harbours in the world, still used today by local fishermen as it has been for millennia. The colourful wooden boats, medieval city walls, and sparkling Mediterranean make this the most photogenic spot in Byblos and the perfect final memory of the day.
Return to Beirut — approx. 4:30–5:00 PM Drop-off at your Beirut hotel after a day that took you from the depths of the earth at Jeita, to the heights of Harissa, to the ancient shores of one of the oldest port cities in the world.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick-up travelers from any Hotel, Residence or Airbnb in Beirut.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(158)
This tour was amazing, Albert , our guide was exceptional, he was kind and Knowledgable , he gave us great history info about Lebanon, explained every detail with passion. I highly recommend this tour with Albert
100% recommend, especially for solo travelers or if you’re from the US. I had such a great time with Albert on the Byblos tour. It was an intimate tour with so much history and fun facts along the way. Albert is friendly with all of the touristic establishment staff members so they greet him/us when we arrive. It was not a strenuous walking tour but instead an organized, leisurely trip across 3 very culturally rich locations that would otherwise take much longer to worry about with driving,parking,tickets,lunch, etc. Tip: Bring small bill cash ($10s, $5s, and $1s) for your entrance tickets to the grotto/gondola and for shopping in the old souk. Note: You won’t be able to take your own photos inside of the caves but can pay for them to take some of you. This is the case for anyone who comes regardless of the group. I was traveling solo and this was my first time in Lebanon so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Everything was so organized and it really felt like an old friend was taking you around. I felt so comfortable with him and hope to book another tour with him next time I’m in Lebanon, maybe to Baalbek. I have done guided tours before and they take all day and are so exhausting and boring. The day flew by, from 8:30am - 4pm. I wouldn’t recommend this if I didn’t have such a great time with Albert. Here are some photos I took along the way.
The Grotto alone is worth it, genuinely one of the most breathtaking natural sites I’ve ever visited. Hassan was again a fantastic guide, knowledgeable, friendly and welcoming throughout. Highly recommended.
It was good. The caves were cool.
100000/10 I got picked up at my hotel at the scheduled time and warmly welcomed, we visited all the places mentioned and guided with history and all kinds of information about where we were and free too ask questions. Albert was a wonderful guide! I will never forgot this day trip and so greatful that i booked it! Thank you xoxo
We Just got back from the tour and It was Amazing. The guide, Albert was very good, he shared his knowledge about Lebanon and the country in general as well as all the info we needed in the sites. The tour was very good, comfortable and with a good amount of time to do everything. We recommend it!
Amazing experience , best view
A truly enjoyable day—everything was straightforward and very well organized, and Hassan turned out to be a very friendly and helpful guide I had the privilege of arriving right when the Jeita Grottoes opened and having them all to myself Beautiful places and truly charming people I met throughout the trip A day that felt like a breath of fresh air, given the current situation
I had an amazing experience. Hassane is an extremely knowledgeable and professional guide. Absolutely recommended to everyone interested in exploring Lebanon through a local’s eyes with great insights and fun facts
Albert was very nice and professional, as well as a good driver, very knowledgeable and friendly. The tour was well organized with the timings, the van was comfortable and all the places we visited were beautiful.
