Private Jeita Grotto, Harissa Cable Car, Byblos & Dog River Tour

9:00 AM — Departure from Beirut Your knowledgeable English-speaking driver collects you from your Beirut hotel and heads north along the Mediterranean coastal highway — the first stop is just 20 minutes away at the Dog River canyon.

Where the coastal road narrows between the cliffs and the sea at the Dog River canyon, the limestone walls have served as the world's oldest continuously updated archive of military history for over three thousand years. Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II carved his victory inscription here in 1274 BC after the Battle of Kadesh — the earliest entry in what became a remarkable 3,000-year tradition. Assyrian King Esarhaddon followed in 671 BC. Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius added his own record. French General Gouraud marked the creation of Greater Lebanon in 1920. And the Lebanese Republic itself continued the tradition — recording independence, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the departure of Syrian troops in inscriptions that bring the archive right up to the 21st century. No single stretch of rock in the world records the passage of so many civilisations across so many centuries. Your driver brings each inscription and its story to life.

From ancient inscriptions on the cliff face above ground, descend into one of the most spectacular cave systems beneath the ground — a UNESCO tentative World Heritage Site and top-five finalist in the New 7 Wonders of Nature competition. Two interconnected limestone caves stretching over 9 kilometres beneath the Lebanese mountains — the upper cave explored on foot through a soaring cathedral of stalactites and stalagmites up to 8 metres tall, and the lower cave navigated by silent electric boat along an underground river through chambers of extraordinary natural beauty that took millions of years to form.

Board the famous Harissa Téléférique at the Jounieh seafront and ride 650 metres above sea level to the mountain sanctuary — the aerial views over Jounieh Bay, the sparkling Mediterranean coastline, and the Lebanese mountain ranges on the ascent are among the most spectacular in Lebanon. The cable car ride itself is one of the most photographed experiences in the country.

At the mountaintop, stand before the iconic bronze statue of Our Lady of Lebanon — 8.5 metres tall at 650 metres above sea level, arms outstretched toward the Mediterranean below. Surrounded by the Maronite Basilica and neighbouring churches, this is one of the most recognised and most visited religious monuments in the entire Middle East — a place of pilgrimage for Christians and a landmark of extraordinary symbolic power for all Lebanese.

Arrive in Byblos — continuously inhabited for over 7,000 years, one of the oldest cities on earth, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 12th-century Crusader castle was built from recycled Phoenician and Roman stones and contains within its walls Neolithic settlements, Bronze Age temples, Phoenician royal tombs, and Roman colonnaded streets — all visible in a single site. Byblos gave the world its alphabet and its name gave us the word Bible. Your driver brings 7,000 years of history to life with the depth and detail that only a knowledgeable local can provide.

Wander the stone-paved old souk — artisan workshops, antique dealers, and Phoenician-inspired jewellery — before strolling to the ancient fishing harbour, one of the oldest ports in the world still in daily use. The colourful boats, medieval walls, and Mediterranean views make this the most photogenic corner of Byblos and the natural setting for lunch.

Lunch in Byblos — optional Enjoy a relaxed lunch at one of Byblos's waterfront restaurants — fresh Lebanese mezze, grilled fish, and seafood overlooking the ancient fishing port with the medieval city walls as your backdrop. One of the most memorable lunch settings in Lebanon.

Return to Beirut — approx. 5:00–6:00 PM Scenic coastal drive back to Beirut with drop-off at your hotel — completing a day that moved from ancient cliff inscriptions to underground caves, from a mountaintop shrine to one of the oldest cities on earth.