Private Baalbek Temples & Ksara Winery Tour from Beirut
Description
Two of the Bekaa Valley's greatest experiences in one focused private day from Beirut — the most awe-inspiring Roman ruins on earth followed by Lebanon's oldest winery. No detours, no filler stops — just the two destinations that define the Bekaa Valley, done properly and entirely at your own pace. Baalbek is not simply a Roman site — it is the greatest Roman construction achievement on earth. The Trilithon stones beneath the Temple of Jupiter each weigh over 800 tonnes — heavier than anything modern cranes can lift. The Temple of Bacchus, larger than the Parthenon and almost entirely intact, is the best-preserved Roman temple in the world. After the temples, the day ends at Chateau Ksara — Lebanon's oldest winery, founded by Jesuit monks in 1857 — for a guided tour through 2 kilometres of Roman cave cellars and a wine tasting.
Tour Options
Itinerary
9:00 AM — Departure from Beirut Your private English-speaking driver collects you from your Beirut hotel and heads east on the Damascus highway, climbing through the Lebanese mountains before the Bekaa Valley opens dramatically below — a vast fertile plain stretching between two mountain ranges, one of the most historically significant valleys in the entire Middle East.
Stone of the Pregnant Woman — Hajar el Hibla Before the temples, stop at the ancient Roman quarry on the edge of Baalbek to see the Stone of the Pregnant Woman — a single limestone block measuring 21 metres long and weighing an estimated 1,000 tonnes, still lying exactly where it was cut 2,000 years ago and never moved. One of the heaviest objects ever worked by human hands in the ancient world — and the perfect prologue to the scale of what awaits at the temple complex just minutes away.
Temple of Venus & the wider complex Complete the temple complex with the elegant circular Temple of Venus and the broader archaeological site — the Great Court, Altar Court, and propylaea gateway — before heading to lunch or directly to Ksara.
Enter the greatest temple of the Roman world — built on a platform of megalithic Trilithon stones each weighing over 800 tonnes, representing the largest dressed stones ever used in construction in human history. Six of the original 54 columns still stand at 22 metres tall. Your driver explains the extraordinary engineering mystery that still baffles archaeologists today — how the Romans moved and lifted stones of this scale using ancient technology.
Walk to the Temple of Bacchus — larger than the Parthenon in Athens and almost entirely intact, its towering carved doorway, ornate ceiling coffers, and 42 standing columns make it the best-preserved Roman temple in the world. Most visitors consider this the undisputed highlight of Baalbek — a complete Roman temple standing as it stood two thousand years ago in a state of preservation that seems almost impossible given its age and history.
Lunch in Baalbek — optional Stop for lunch at one of Baalbek's local restaurants — hearty Bekaa Valley cuisine with fresh mezze, grilled meats, and local flatbread in a town that has been feeding travellers for two thousand years. A well-earned break before the final stop of the day.
End the day at Chateau Ksara — Lebanon's oldest winery, founded by Jesuit monks in 1857. The highlight is the extraordinary Roman cave cellar system stretching 2 kilometres beneath the winery — ancient tunnels discovered by the Jesuits in the late 19th century where wine ages at a naturally constant temperature year-round. After a morning walking through Roman ruins above ground, descending into Roman caves beneath a winery creates a remarkable symmetry that makes this combination uniquely satisfying. The tasting showcases Ksara's iconic Cabernet-Syrah blends, crisp Blanc de Blancs, and beloved Sunset Rosé.
Return to Beirut — approx. 4:30–5:30 PM Scenic drive back through the Bekaa Valley and over the Lebanese mountains with drop-off at your Beirut hotel — completing a perfectly focused day at two of the Bekaa's greatest landmarks.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up travelers from any Hotel, Airbnb or Residence in Beirut.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(8)
Very accommodating to very specific and last-minute requests. Knowledgeable of the places and the environment. Kind
Both the guide and the driver were friendly and helpful. I learned a lot about Lebanon and Baalbek. It was a wonderful half-day!
We drove from Beirut to Baalbek and the rich history of Lebanon is everywhere you look. The knowledge that is shared is so personal and you can hear the love the tour has for the land. Baalbek is breath taking and can only humble you with its beauty and story. You feel safe and almost at home the gentle nature of the guides. They speak with such insight and passion you can see and hear how much the enjoy the experience as much as you. Everything is taken care of and you don’t feel like an outsider. The trip is really easy and a once in a life time experience. If you love history and culture this is the perfect trip for you.
Fantastic experience. Our driver/guide Hassane was AWESOME! We don’t speak Arabic and were so grateful for Hassane arranging everything for us and having excellent conversation the whole day! He was funny and interesting to talk to. Our guide at Baalbek, Assoud (spelling may be incorrect), was sooo knowledgeable and sweet. We learned so much and the pacing for all the ruins felt perfect to us. He also kindly took the touristy pictures I wanted! Hassane did as well at the winery :). The lunch spot far exceeded our expectations - from the food to the location to the vibe to the service. It was an unexpected highlight! The wine caves were really cool and to learn the history before tasting really added to the experience. The overall vibe at the winery was excellent! Next time we will leave more room in our bags for wine to take home. :) We felt comfortable and engaged the entire experience. Highly recommend.
This was a great tour to one of the most interesting site in Lebanon. We had great time exploring Baalbek with our excellent guide Charbel and the lunch was excellent. Thank you for a very nice tour
We had such a wonderful experience with Kamel for three days that more fully colored our Lebanon trip. Kamel was wonderfully enthusiastic, warm, informative and gracious, always making us feel safe and in good hands. He energetically provided answers to our many questions and genuinely wanted to make our trip / experience of Lebanon the fullest and best it could be. Day 1 we went to Baalbek temples (absolutely extraordinary, as good if not better than the Parthenon of which we visited days before), then kindly took us to Zahle even though it was not included in the trip (where my family is from) then Chateau Ksara (oldest winery in Lebanon). We enjoyed the day so much we decided to do the Cedars of Lebanon and Beittedine Palace.. both incredible, the latter comparable in scope and magnificence to Al Hambra in Spain. Our last day in Beirut, Kamel took us to Tripoli to see the Roman castle that has been touched by so many disparate and diverse Civilizations and then to the old souk in Tripoli (an unforgettable experience). Without these three wonderful days we would have been ignorantly unaware of all the flavors that Lebanon has to offer. Prices are also exceptionally good when you compare to regular $100/day for driver. Absolutely a must. Thank you Kamel for our extraordinary time with you!
Dear Lydia, Thank you for your feedback. We are happy to know that you enjoyed your tour with us. We hope to see you in Beirut again. All the best
Friendly driver. On time and very attentive. Baalbek is a must see and the private tour is ideal if you don't have much time.
Dear Mr Gustova, Thank you for your feed back and we are happy to know that you enjoyed your trip. All the best to you and we hope to see you in Beirut again.
