Qadisha Valley, Bcharee & Cedar Small Group Tour with Lunch
Description
Discover the breathtaking beauty of North Lebanon on this full-day guided small-group tour from Beirut. Journey through the majestic mountains, visit the UNESCO-listed Qadisha Valley, explore the hometown of Khalil Gibran, and walk among the ancient Cedars of God Forest — one of the last vestiges of Lebanon’s historic cedar trees. End the day with a peaceful visit to Kozhaya Monastery, nestled deep in the valley. This tour combines culture, nature, and spirituality, offering an unforgettable glimpse into Lebanon’s soul.
Tour Options
Itinerary
8:30 AM — Hotel pickup, Beirut Meet your guide at your Beirut hotel lobby and head north along the scenic coastal highway before climbing into the Lebanese mountains. Scenic photo stop — northern highway Pull over at a panoramic viewpoint on the drive north for photos of the Lebanese mountains and coastline. A great first taste of the landscape ahead.
Qadisha Valley viewpoint — UNESCO World Heritage Site Stand at the rim of one of the most breathtaking valleys in the Middle East. The Qadisha Valley — meaning "Holy Valley" in Aramaic — has sheltered Christian monastic communities since the earliest centuries of Christianity. Your guide shares the valley's spiritual and historical significance as you take in the dramatic cliff scenery below.
️ 10:30 AM – Visit Khalil Gibran Museum (Bcharre) Visit the hometown of Khalil Gibran, Lebanon's most celebrated poet and the author of "The Prophet" — one of the best-selling books of the 20th century. The museum, housed in a former monastery, displays his paintings, manuscripts, and personal belongings, offering an intimate portrait of his life and genius.
️ 12:30 PM – Explore the Cedars of God Forest Walk among the legendary Cedars of God (Arz el Rab), a UNESCO-protected grove of ancient cedar trees, some over 1,000 years old. These are the very trees that built Phoenician ships, Solomon's Temple, and Egyptian temples. One of the most iconic natural landmarks in Lebanon and the entire Middle East.
Lunch — mountain village restaurant Enjoy a relaxed lunch break in the Bcharre area, sampling traditional Lebanese mountain cuisine — hearty mezze, grilled meats, and local bread — with mountain views.
️ 3:00 PM – Visit Kozhaya Monastery (Qadisha Valley) Descend into the Qadisha Valley to visit one of Lebanon's oldest and most revered monasteries, carved directly into the cliff face. The Monastery of Saint Anthony of Kozhaya dates to the 12th century and houses a cave sanctuary, an ancient printing press — the first in the Middle East — and an atmosphere of deep spiritual peace.
Return to Beirut — approx. 5:00–6:00 PM Scenic drive back south with drop-off at your Beirut hotel, completing a full day in the heart of Lebanon's mountain heritage.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick-up travelers from any Hotel, Residence or Airbnb in Beirut.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(14)
Excellent excursion to the cedars: beautiful weather, and abundant snow made the experience unique! Nehme, our driver, was all day, taking care of us. He made us discover superb viewpoints, a beautiful Maronite monastery, and of course, the valley of cedars under the snow! Many thanks to him and our operator! An excursion warmly recommended!
I had a great experience in Qadisha valley. My tour guide, Michael, was very attentive to details. Eve though there was heavy snow in Mountain Lebanon, we ended up finding nice views to see the cedar forest and the place around the village. I would definitely recommend the company and Michael
Wonderful trip! Unforgettable destinations! Magical cedar forests! Delicious food! Very nice and competent guide Albert!
Thank you, Vanya! We're thrilled you had an unforgettable experience—Albert will be so happy to hear your kind words!
We spent the day with our guide Rita and she explained many things to us about the valley and the Cedros forest. We had a great time in a fairly small group. The food very good. Our guide has always been very attentive and answered all our questions. Very good.
Splendid trip, worth every minute. Though a longish day, it was fun all the way. The sights were amazing & exceeded expectations. Food was sumptuous, company was great. Big Mike was chilled out fun. Rita was energetic till the end. Kept us glued to the explanations & experience. Exceptionally courteous as well. Highly recommended
The experience has been perfect, the places visited are beautiful and both the guide and the driver multiply the experience. My father is 86 years old and has been able to participate in everything thanks to his empathy and sympathy. Thank you for making our day happier
¡Nos alegra mucho saber que tuvieron una experiencia perfecta! Estamos encantados de que tanto la guía como el conductor hayan contribuido a hacer que el día fuera especial, especialmente para tu padre. ¡Gracias por elegirnos y por compartir su felicidad con nosotros!
Trip was interesting and Qadisha Valley was beautiful. Guide provided good background of the sights.
Amazing day tour wiith Hassane-a remarkably well informed and super polite person who made this trip a truly memorable one!
We went to the Qozhaya Monastery, followed by stopping at Qadisha valley itself, followed by going to the Cedars of God, followed by lunch & finally going to the Ancient Phoenician wall at Batroun (we were given the option). Overall a great experience. I fell in love with the Qadisha valley, I didn’t want to leave that place, I wish I could live there! The host was nice, although I’m a bit confused as to some of the historical details he claimed about the Qozhaya Monastery. The monastery goes back to the 12th century, yet it was claimed that these monks were persecuted by the Romans. There was no Latin Roman Empire which ended in the 4/5th century as we know it, in the 12th century there was what we call today the Holy Roman Empire (which was Germanic, Catholic & not really an Empire), and what we call today the Byzantine Empire (which was Greek, Orthodox Christian & had lost a lot of its power by the 12th century).
Absolutely visit Qadisha Valley and Bcharre & Ceders of God is one of highlight of our Lebanon trip ! Beautiful scenery with easy access from capital Beirut many friend of mine was surprise there is snow in middle east country when they saw my picture . Also need to thanks of our driver guide Mr Hassane M rad, we laughed most of time during the day tour as Hassane is a funny guy !
