Tripoli & Batroun Small-Group Tour from Beirut | Lunch Included
Description
Lebanon's north rewards those who make the effort — and this small-group tour makes it effortless. In a single day from Beirut, you will explore Tripoli's extraordinary medieval old city — one of the finest surviving examples of Mamluk architecture in the Arab world — before ending the afternoon in Batroun, a Phoenician coastal town founded over 3,000 years ago, where an ancient sea wall, stone-paved streets, and one of Lebanon's most celebrated craft beer scenes await. Lunch is at Hallab 1881 — the most famous pastry and dining institution in Lebanon, founded during the Ottoman era and still serving the finest Lebanese cuisine in Tripoli after 140 years. All tickets and lunch are included in the price — nothing extra to pay, nothing to organise. Just show up and discover the Lebanon that most visitors never reach.
Tour Options
Itinerary
8:30 AM — Departure from Beirut Your professional guide meets you at your Beirut hotel and heads north along the Mediterranean coastal highway toward Tripoli — Lebanon's second city and one of the most underrated destinations in the entire Middle East.
Begin at the commanding Crusader citadel that has watched over Tripoli since the 12th century — originally built by Raymond de Saint-Gilles, Count of Toulouse, during the First Crusade and expanded by the Mamluks who later conquered it. The ramparts offer the finest panoramic view of Tripoli's old city — minarets and stone rooftops stretching to El Mina port, with the Lebanese mountains rising steeply behind. Your guide traces the dramatic story of every civilisation that has fought for and left its mark on these walls.
Descend into the old city to visit the Al-Mansouri Great Mosque — built in the 14th century on the site of a former Crusader Cathedral of Santa Maria. The original Gothic portal from the Crusader church is still visible in the stonework — two civilisations literally layered in a single doorway. One of the most significant Mamluk monuments in Lebanon and a building your guide makes unforgettable.
A short walk to one of Tripoli's most remarkable hidden gems — the Taynal Mosque, a Mamluk structure built on Crusader foundations incorporating two connected prayer halls: one originally a Crusader church, the other a Mamluk addition. Gothic arches and Mamluk stonework side by side in the same building — a hybrid found nowhere else in the world that most visitors walk past without realising what they are looking at.
Spend an hour in one of the most authentically preserved medieval markets in the Arab world — a labyrinth of vaulted stone alleyways where gold merchants, spice vendors, fabric traders, and artisan workshops have occupied the same stalls for centuries. Unlike the restored souks of Beirut, Tripoli's old market is the real thing — alive, trading, and almost completely unchanged from the Mamluk era. Your guide navigates the lanes with the confidence of someone who grew up in them, revealing the stories behind the stalls, the crafts, and the community that has kept this market breathing for 700 years.
A brief stop at the historic Egyptian merchants' khan — Khan el Masriyin — home to one of Tripoli's traditional olive oil soap factories. Like Sidon to the south, Tripoli has a centuries-old soap-making tradition that once supplied markets across the Mediterranean. The scent of laurel and olive oil still fills these ancient stone corridors today.
No visit to Tripoli is complete without Hallab. Founded in 1881 during the Ottoman era, Hallab is the most celebrated dining and pastry institution in Lebanon — a multi-storey restaurant where generations of Tripolitans have celebrated every occasion for over 140 years. Enjoy a full Lebanese lunch of fresh mezze and grilled dishes, followed by a tasting of Hallab's legendary sweets — knefeh, baklava, and mamoul made to recipes unchanged for generations.
After lunch, stroll along El Mina — Tripoli's historic port district where the pace of life slows completely. Colourful fishing boats in the harbour, Ottoman-era mansions lining the corniche, and a palm-lined waterfront where locals gather at every hour of the day. A perfect transition between the medieval intensity of the old city and the Phoenician calm of Batroun ahead.
Arrive in Batroun — one of the oldest Phoenician cities in the world, founded over 3,000 years ago and today one of Lebanon's most vibrant and charming coastal towns. Wander the stone-paved old town with its churches, Ottoman houses, and seafront cafés. Your guide explains the 3,000-year history of a city that has barely stopped being lived in since the Phoenicians first settled here.
he final stop is one of the most extraordinary ancient structures in Lebanon — a natural rock barrier on the beach of Batroun, carved and shaped by Phoenician hands over 3,000 years ago to protect the ancient harbour from Mediterranean waves. Still standing. Still doing its job. Your guide explains the engineering genius of a people who built a sea wall that has outlasted every empire, every war, and every storm for thirty centuries. A quietly astonishing end to an extraordinary day.
Return to Beirut — approx. 5:30–6:00 PM Scenic coastal drive back to Beirut with drop-off at your hotel — completing a full day through Lebanon's magnificent north, from a medieval Mamluk city to a Phoenician sea wall on the Mediterranean coast.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
we pick up all travellers from any Hotel, Airbnb or Residence in Beirut
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(23)
It is a very good experience, they got in touch from the beginning, they passed us on time and the guide very good. We had a great time
Today I took this tour with a small group . Albert was our tour guide and I was completely surprised by his knowledge. He made our trip into a trip never to forget . I have a problem with my knee and Albert was very considerate. He is also a excellent driver, traffic around the cities is chaotic I can highly recommend this company . They are reliable, and price-quality excellent.
Loved exploring Tripoli’s charm and Batroun’s seaside vibes — such an amazing trip! Just loved Lebanon, its culture and its people!
The tour goes to Tripoli and Batroun I. Northern Lebanon, two very different coastal towns. It is a great experience and Alain our guide with his vast knowledge and the skillful driver Mustafa navigating through, at times, heavy traffic, contribute to the enjoyment of the tour.
The tour to Tripoli and Batroun is a great experience with two contrasting locations, each with their own attraction.
Everyone needs to experience Tripoli which is nothing like Beirut. The castle , mosque & souk were wonderful to visit. Lunch at the famous 1881 was a real highlight. Batroun was nice, a very coastal feel.
I visited Lebanon for one week in June 2025 and stayed in Beirut. I spent two days in Beirut alone and took four day tours outside of Beirut with this company. The Jeita Gotto, another site that I had signed up to visit, was closed during that time, but the company made up for it by taking me to a couple of extra sites in Tripoli and sending me to Batroun on a different day. Hassane was my guide for both cities. He did a wonderful job. He was extremely competent, knowledgeable, and courteous. I had an excellent experience here and everywhere else that I visited. Tripoli is the northernmost major city in Lebanon. It is one of the country’s poorest places and the center of a large number of camps for Palestinian and Syrian migrants. The city is overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim. In Tripoli, we visited the Tripoli Citadel, a massive Crusader-era castle built in the early 12th century overlooking the city. We walked through the city souk and visited two Mamluk-era mosques from the late 13th and early 14th centuries: the Mansouri Grand Mosque and the Taynal Mosque. I forget the name of the restaurant where we ate, but it was very good. We then went to Rabbits Island. As someone who studies the Crusades, I knew it as a place with a church to which many people fled as Tripoli was retaken by Muslim forces in 1289, only to be massacred. There were a few ruined buildings there which Hassane said dated from the 19th century, but not much else to see. The standard tour includes just the Tripoli Citadel, the souk, the Grand Mosque, and lunch at a restaurant. The Taynal Mosque and the island were added in to compensate for the loss of Jeita, which was fine by me. Because I could not visit Jeita, I did Batroun with Hassane on a different day in combination with Harissa and Byblos. Batroun is a mostly Christian city, but it is more diverse than Tripoli and has a substantial Muslim minority. The city provides a beautiful view of the Mediterranean with a Phoenician-era wall. We entered Our Lady of the Sea Church, a little Greek Orthodox church on the coastline built in the 19th century. We walked through the town a little before going back to the area where we parked, stopping first at Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, a 20th century Maronite church built on the remains of what is believed to have been a smaller Crusader church. We only stayed in Batroun for about an hour, which is less than what we spent in some other places, but I feel as though I saw the most important sites that the city had to offer. Tripoli is an excellent place to learn about the history of the Crusades and medieval Muslim history, and provides a great opportunity to experience Sunni Muslim culture. I highly recommend it. Batroun was definitely worth the one-hour visit. Hassane was excellent and substantially added to my understanding and appreciation of the past and present history of both cities.
Thank you so much, William, for your thoughtful and detailed review. We're honored that you chose to explore Lebanon with us, and we’re thrilled to hear how much you appreciated both the historical depth and cultural richness of Tripoli and Batroun. Hassane will be very happy to know his guidance made such a strong impression. We truly appreciate your insight and hope to welcome you back again for more discoveries!
It is an amazing experience. To see the history, level and people of Tripoli. Batroun was the best place I have ever seen in my life. Thank you our guide Hassane.
Thank you, Melek! We're delighted you had an amazing experience in Tripoli and Batroun. Hassan will be happy to hear your kind words. Hope to see you again on another adventure! 😊
Our tour to Tripoli amd Batroun was excellent, due mostly to the superb professionalism, courtesy and knowledge of our friendly guide Albert. The car was clean and in good condition, everything advertised for the trip was done and at high standards. We had fun, learned a lot and just had a totally relaxing day, full of interesting sight visits, delicious food and causal enjoyment of walking around the towns. We did some shopping, tastes local specialities, met locals and hear great stories. I wish we would have had Albert for other tours we did at other companies. Had we known how great this company is, we would have done all out trips with them and asked for Albert as out guide.
An interesting and beautiful day trip, perfectly organized by Lebanon Tours & Travel, a highly recommended Beirut Agency. Accompanied by Rita, an expert tourist guide from Lebanon who accompanied us the entire day, assisting with professionalism and closeness with any questions about any information or needs of the group. Very reasonable price for a group. They included lunch at midday, also very well served in a well-known restaurant in Tripoli. The group is only 5 people. Worth.
