Private Anjar, Baalbek Temple & Ksara Tour | Guided · From Beirut





Description
The Bekaa Valley covers three completely different chapters of the ancient world in a single day — and this private tour is the most comprehensively interpreted version of this itinerary available. Expert local guides at both Anjar and Baalbek. A knowledgeable driver for the full day. Three stops that span 1,300 years of history — Umayyad, Roman, and Jesuit wine caves — all in the same valley. Anjar: the only surviving Umayyad palatial city in the Levant — built by Caliph Walid I in the 8th century and abandoned within decades, explored with a local guide who makes this overlooked masterpiece impossible to underestimate. Baalbek: a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Temple of Bacchus is larger than the Parthenon — explored with a specialist local Baalbek guide whose depth of knowledge changes what you see. Ksara: Lebanon's oldest winery, founded by Jesuits in 1857, with 2 kilometres of Roman cave cellars. Tickets and lunch payable on site.
Tour Options
Itinerary
8:30 AM — Hotel pickup Your driver meets the group at your Beirut hotel and heads east on the Damascus highway — over the Lebanese mountains and down into the Bekaa Valley. Anjar is about an hour away.
Anjar — the Umayyad city most Lebanon visitors drive straight past Built in the early 8th century by Caliph Walid I — the ruler who also commissioned the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus and the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem — and abandoned within decades, never rebuilt. Colonnaded streets, a palace with over 40 towers, a mosque, and bathhouses all still standing in the Bekaa plain. The only surviving example of a complete Umayyad palatial city in the entire Levant — and one of the most underrated archaeological sites in the Middle East. Most tour groups skip it entirely. Your expert local Anjar guide makes sure you understand exactly what you are standing in and why it matters as much as anything else you will see today.
Stone of the Pregnant Woman — scale check before the temples A single limestone block, 21 metres long, weighing 1,000 tonnes, cut 2,000 years ago and never moved. Your driver explains the engineering logic — and why standing next to it recalibrates everything before you enter the temple complex five minutes ahead.
Baalbek Temple Complex — expert local guide The greatest Roman temple complex on earth — with an expert local Baalbek guide whose knowledge of these structures goes well beyond what visiting guides can offer. The Temple of Jupiter on Trilithon stones each weighing over 800 tonnes — the largest dressed stones in human history. The Temple of Bacchus, larger than the Parthenon and almost entirely intact — the best-preserved Roman temple on earth. The Temple of Venus completing a complex that took three centuries to build. Having already seen Anjar with a local expert, the Roman world of Baalbek lands with even greater force — two civilisations, the same valley, two specialist interpreters making sure nothing is missed.
Lunch in Baalbek or Zahle — optional Lebanese mezze in Baalbek or at the riverside restaurant terraces of Zahle — Lebanon's most celebrated food destination. Optional and at your own expense. Your driver recommends the best options.
Chateau Ksara — Roman caves beneath Lebanon's oldest winery Lebanon's oldest winery — founded by Jesuit monks in 1857 above 2 kilometres of Roman cave cellars where wine ages at a naturally constant temperature year-round. The cave tour connects directly back to the Roman world at Baalbek — same civilisation, same valley, different legacy entirely. Then a tasting of Ksara's iconic Cabernet-Syrah blends, crisp Blanc de Blancs, and celebrated Sunset Rosé. A day that opened at an 8th-century Umayyad ghost city closes in ancient Roman wine caves. The Bekaa in one day, interpreted properly.
Return to Beirut — approx. 6:00–7:00 PM Drop-off at your Beirut hotel. A Umayyad ghost city, the world's greatest Roman temples, and ancient wine caves — two expert local guides, one complete Bekaa day, done properly.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Free pickup is available from any hotel, Airbnb, or residence in Beirut.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(6)
The tour was well organized and fun. Our guide Hassan was very knowledgeable and funny and the driver Kasem was as well super polite. I will definitely recommend this tour for everyone interested in Lebanon history.
I really enjoyed the tour as i was traveling with my girlfriend. Our guide / Driver was great and very friendly and i formative. The sites are amazing as well.
It was a very exciting trip with nice guids. Baalbek is the most beautiful old roman monument in the world. In Anjar is also great memory and there was a excellent lunch. In Ksara we tasted great wines.
After researching and reading a lot of reviews I decided to go with Beirut Tours and I do not regret it for one second. We had Qasim (hopefully I have spelt his name correctly) as our driver. He was courteous, spoke perfect English and tailored the tour to our specifications. We started the day by visiting Anjar (Umayyad ruins) and had one of the best local tour guides (can’t remember his name unfortunately) explain the rich history of the place. He was patient, friendly and went at our pace. We then headed on to Baalbek (Roman ruins) and had another local tour guide walk us through the ruins. On the way back our driver stopped at a local restaurant for us to grab lunch and we then headed back to Beirut (note the tour also includes a visit to Ksara and the winery but being Muslim did not go for the wine tasting option). Fantastic tour and would highly recommend. Will use them again when I’m in Beirut again.
I spent a lot of time researching tour companies before I selected Beirut Tours. I was immediately impressed with how quickly my inquires were responded to, Jose was very attentive. Ziad was our driver and we could not have been any more pleased. He was pleasant, informative and spoke perfect English. We only did Baalbek and Anjar, which was plenty for the day. I look forward to my return to Beirut and take advantage of another tour next year! Look no further, you are at the right place.
My husband and I contacted Beirut Daily Tours at 8.30am in the morning to organize "last minute tour" At 10.30am our driver was at hotel. An amazing day to Sidon and Tyr. Next day a tour to spectacular Baalbek, visit to Chateau St. Thomas winery and Anjar. Our driver Ahmed was professional, and a very good driver (essential in Lebanon!!!) The local guides at the various sites were extremely knowledgeable and gave us very good lessons in the history of this beautiful country.



