M
Fantastic tour
This tour was perfect but a very big tour. The tour guide was knowledgable and friendly. And the sites themself were very impressive. Lunch as well was excellent. Highly recommended.
Qadisha Valley, Cedars & Baalbek Small-Group Tour | May–Oct
+8 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 8–9 hours
- Price from
- $150 / person
- Location
- Beirut, Lebanon
- Rating
- 5.0 / 5 · 2 reviews
- Languages
- AR, EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 15
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Hotel pickup
- Available
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Lebanon Tours & travels
Description
This is Lebanon's most dramatic one-day journey — and it only exists for six months of the year. Beginning deep in the Qadisha Valley at one of Lebanon's oldest cliff-face monasteries, ascending through UNESCO World Heritage landscapes to the ancient Cedars of God at 2,000 metres, then crossing the high mountain pass into the Bekaa Valley to stand inside the greatest Roman temple complex on earth — all with tickets and lunch included, nothing extra to pay. The route itself is the experience. The mountain road that opens each May — crossing from the cedar forests of the north directly over the Lebanese mountain range into the Bekaa toward Baalbek — is one of the most spectacular drives in the Middle East, and one that the vast majority of Lebanon visitors never get to take. This small-group tour puts you on it, with a professional guide bringing every stop fully to life.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 8:30 AM
- Next available
- Fri, Oct 9
- Adult
- $150
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $300.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 8.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Beirut
8:30 AM — Departure from Beirut Your guide meets you at your Beirut hotel and heads north along the coastal highway before climbing into the northern Lebanese mountains — the landscape shifting from Mediterranean shore to cedar-forested peaks as you gain altitude toward the Qadisha Valley.
Maronite Monastery of St. Anthony The Great
Begin at the bottom of the Qadisha Valley at one of Lebanon's oldest and most atmospheric monasteries — the Monastery of Saint Anthony of Kozhaya, carved directly into the limestone cliff face of the valley wall in the 12th century. Cave chapels, ancient stone cells, and the sound of the valley echoing around you create a sense of complete remove from the modern world. Inside, two treasures await — a cave sanctuary that has been a place of pilgrimage for over eight centuries, and the first printing press ever used in the Middle East, brought here by Maronite monks in the 16th century to print liturgical texts in Arabic and Syriac. Your guide tells the full story of this extraordinary place before you begin the ascent through the valley above.
Qadisha Valley
Ascend to the rim of the Qadisha Valley — one of the most breathtaking viewpoints in Lebanon — and look back down into the gorge you just came from. The sheer limestone walls drop hundreds of metres to the valley floor, with ancient monastery caves visible in the rock face below. Qadisha means "Holy" in Aramaic — a name earned over seventeen centuries of Christian monasticism in this dramatic natural sanctuary. Your guide explains the full spiritual and historical significance of the valley from above before the road climbs on toward the cedars.
The Cedars of God
Walk among the Cedars of God — a UNESCO-protected grove of ancient cedar trees at the roof of Lebanon, some over 1,000 years old, their massive trunks measuring more than 14 metres in circumference. These are the descendants of the forests that built Phoenician ships, Solomon's Temple, and Egyptian palaces — and standing among them at 2,000 metres above sea level, with the Bekaa Valley beginning to appear on the other side of the mountain ridge, is one of the most memorable moments in any Lebanon itinerary. A 30-minute guided walk takes you through the grove at your own pace before the mountain road east begins — the road that only opens in May and makes the rest of today possible.
Before the temples, stop at the ancient Roman quarry to see the Stone of the Pregnant Woman — a single limestone block 21 metres long and weighing an estimated 1,000 tonnes, still lying where it was cut 2,000 years ago and never moved. After the natural scale of the cedars and the valley, this man-made monument sets the extraordinary scale of what awaits at the temple complex.
Baalbek Temple
Enter the greatest Roman temple complex on earth — a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Temple of Jupiter stands on Trilithon stones each weighing over 800 tonnes, and the Temple of Bacchus, larger than the Parthenon and almost entirely intact, is the best-preserved Roman temple in the world. Your guide brings the full story of Baalbek — from Phoenician sacred site to Roman sanctuary to Byzantine church to Arab fortress — to life in one of the most awe-inspiring archaeological sites anywhere on earth.
Lunch in Baalbek — included A well-earned lunch at a local Baalbek restaurant — hearty Bekaa Valley mezze, grilled meats, and fresh flatbread in a town that has been feeding travellers for two thousand years. Fully included in your tour price.
Beirut
Return to Beirut — approx. 6:00–7:00 PM Scenic drive back over the Lebanese mountains via the Damascus highway with drop-off at your Beirut hotel — completing a day that began in a cliff-face monastery, rose to the ancient cedars, crossed a mountain pass, and ended inside the greatest Roman temples on earth.
What's included
Included
Comfortable transportation
Tour Leader
Entry / Admissions to Historical Sites
Taste real Lebanon with a fresh, authentic lunch included.
Hotel pick up and Drop off
Small group sizes
Air-conditioned vehicle
Professional, knowledgeable guides
Not included
Gratuities
Pickup Locations & Times
we pick up travelers from all hotels, Airbnb or any destinations in Beirut
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
5.0
2 reviews
How it compares in Beirut
- Starting price $150 is 50% above the typical $100 for tours of similar length in Beirut
Excurgo comparison of 438 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Qadisha Valley, Cedars & Baalbek Small-Group Tour | May–Oct take?
Qadisha Valley, Cedars & Baalbek Small-Group Tour | May–Oct lasts about 8–9 hours. The itinerary has 8 stops.
How much does Qadisha Valley, Cedars & Baalbek Small-Group Tour | May–Oct cost?
Prices start at $150 per person for this Beirut experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $300. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Qadisha Valley, Cedars & Baalbek Small-Group Tour | May–Oct run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 8:30 AM.
Can I cancel Qadisha Valley, Cedars & Baalbek Small-Group Tour | May–Oct for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. we pick up travelers from all hotels, Airbnb or any destinations in Beirut Pickup points include Tilia Apart Hotel, Coral Beach Hotel and Resort Beirut.
What languages is Qadisha Valley, Cedars & Baalbek Small-Group Tour | May–Oct offered in?
The experience is available in AR, EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 15 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Qadisha Valley, Cedars & Baalbek Small-Group Tour | May–Oct worth it?
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 2 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Lebanon Tours & travels.
Reviews(2)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
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from$150
5.0(2) Free cancellation