Lebanon Mountain Trail Adventure

Arrive in Beirut

Welcome to Lebanon! Upon arrival at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, meet an MT Sobek representative and transfer to the hotel. Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner with the group.

Walk the Baskinta Literary Trail & Transfer to Byblos

After breakfast at the hotel, receive a briefing for the day. Then depart for Baskinta, where you take a short guided walk on the Baskinta Literary Trail, part of the Lebanon Mountain Trail, which invites you to discover landmarks associated several acclaimed writers and poets from the region. Lunch at a small, local restaurant in a trailside village, then transfer to Byblos and spend the afternoon exploring this medieval UNESCO-listed city.

Tour Medieval Sights in Byblos & Tripoli

Wake for a visit to Byblos Crusader Castle, built in the 12th century from limestone and remains of Roman structures. Then drive to Tripoli — founded around 800 BC and inhabited by Greeks, Phoenicians, and Romans — and visit the old souk, port, and fortress, all of which date from medieval times. Continue on to Ehden and tour the old town's Midane Square, Mar Mema Church (one of the oldest Maronite churches in Lebanon, dating back to the ninth century), and St. Georges Cathedral. Dine at the lodge tonight.

Follow the Lebanon Mountain Trail in Ehden Cedars Nature Reserve

After breakfast, take a hike on the Lebanon Mountain Trail to Qozhaya Monastery, also known as the Monastery of St. Anthony. In continual use since its founding in the eighth century, the monastery has been printing texts since the 16th century — including texts in Syriac, a language that the Maronites still use in their services.

Hike into Holy Qadicha Valley

Today is spent hiking along the Lebanon Mountain Trail from Qozhaya to Qadicha. Ouadi Qadicha, also known as Holy Valley, is one of the most important settlement sites of the first Christian monasteries in the world. Its monasteries, many of which are very old, are set in an extraordinarily rugged, beautiful landscape. We will pass by troglodotique constructions, old monasteries and visit the old village of Qanoubine.

See the Cedars of Tannourine

Your hike today takes you from Hadath el Jebbeh to the Tannourine Cedar Forest Nature Reserve. Established in 1999, the reserve protects Lebanon's largest and densest cedar forest, and comprises over 2.5 million trees. The scenery is beautiful, the air is clean, and the birds are plentiful. Enjoy a packed lunch during the hike.

Head to Tannourine, Baalbek & Taanayel Domaine

Head to Tannourine this morning and visit the scenic waterfall known as the Baatara Gorge Sinkhole or the Three Bridges Sinkhole. Then transfer to Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley, one of Rome's breadbaskets — Roman sites and ruins dot the area. Visit the city's temple, Turkish school, and recent archaeological discoveries. Enjoy lunch in a small restaurant in town, and then transfer to Taanayel Domaine for a free afternoon around the lake.

Visit Ancient Anjar

After breakfast, travel to Anjar and visit the UNESCO-listed Ummayyad city, founded in the eighth century and today home to outstanding ruins. Continue to Massaya for a tour and wine tasting at a family-owned winery started by the Ghosn brothers after the civil war. They produce indigenous Lebanese varietals. Later transfer to Tyre, a once-great Phoenician city where, legend has it, purple dye was invented.

Explore UNESCO-Listed Tyre and ancient Sidon

Rise early this morning for a traditional breakfast in the old souk of Tyre. Then tour the souk, the 12th-century Crusader Cathedral, and the Roman hippodrome before transferring to Sidon, an important Phoenician city that was settled as early as 4,000 BC. Sidon is home to the Sidon Sea Castle, built by the Crusaders in AD 1228; a thriving souk; Phoenician temples; and an ancient church converted into the Great Mosque after the Crusaders were driven out before returning to Beirut. This evening, enjoy a festive farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

Depart from Beirut

Transfer to the airport for your homebound flight.