I can’t believe I’ve only just traveled to Lebanon. It’s not like the country is so far from Abu Dhabi.
I traveled from Sharjah airport, and it only takes four hours to arrive in the beautiful city of Beirut.
Why has it taken me so long to visit Lebanon? Apart from the politics that happened. I don’t like applying for visas. I’m always planning my travel to visa-free countries. The list is continuous. Do you also have reasons for not traveling to certain countries?
Applying for Lebanon Visa
Lebanon visa is easy to get. It took only one day to process in Abu Dhabi , and it was not expensive. The documentation is fundamental and should be correct.
So if you are planning on applying, my advice is to go directly to the embassy. The information online was not accurate for me. I read online; it can take a week to process.
Flights to Lebanon from the UAE are not expensive. However, June- August is the summer school vacation, and flight tickets can go up. There are a lot of Lebanese in the United Arab Emirates. Many of them fly back home during the summer vacation. So expect the flights to be full.
I do consider myself to be a smart traveler. I think years of traveling and building holiday itineraries has provided me with experience to help others who need travel advice.
I am always looking for cost-effective ways to travel. Until recently, I never considered flying with Air Arabia. Why? It’s just too far for me from Abu Dhabi. That’s what I kept telling myself. Strangely I have flown several times from Dubai International Airport.
So why change my mind? Well, flights from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Lebanon at the time of my travel dates were super expensive. I got a direct flight for a fraction of the price. All I needed to do was add the cost of the taxi from my house, and it still worked out cheaper.
Fly with Air Arabia
Air Arabia is a great and affordable option. I was impressed by the on-board service. I was able to pre-order my meals and add travel insurance to my booking at a minimal cost. Unlike other budget airlines that do not offer on-board entertainment, Air Arabia offers a selected amount of TV Shows and movies that you can watch on your device for no cost.
One movie and two TV shows later; I was already in Beirut.
Traveling Tip- Consider scanning Air Arabia website for deals and promotions. If traveling is your goal, they can certainly help you achieve it.
Lebanon is a travelers dream!
Lebanon is not a very big country, but the amount of history and things to do is what keeps travelers fascinated.
Situated on the continent of Asia, Lebanon shares land borders with Israel and Syria. Nearby countries are Cyprus, Jordan, and Turkey. The currency used is the Lebanese Pound (LBP). The language spoken is Arabic and French.
I spent nine days in Lebanon and was able to experience most of the major cities.
Traveling Tip- You can’t truly enjoy Lebanon in one weekend. Many expats from the UAE choose to spend a weekend visiting Beirut. I feel like this is a waste of travel.
There’s so much history and sights to visit. A week seems like a better option if you want to truly experience Lebanon.
How to choose a travel and tour company in Lebanon?
If you are ever thinking of traveling anywhere and you just not sure which travel company to choose. My advice is to read the reviews.
Traveling Tip – Traveler’s reviews will give you an idea of the company and help make your trip a lot smoother.
I used my favorite search tool and Googled companies. I am don’t like to spend hours searching and usually give myself a set time to find something, and the rest is just following my heart.
I found two companies online, and both had good reviews.
Beirut Airport Transfer Day Tours
Beirut Daily Tours
I decided to go with Beirut daily Tours. If the service were not up to my expectations, I would use the other company.
Traveling Tip- Ask the company to provide a taxi pick up from the airport. I paid 30 USD from the airport to my hotel situated not far from the Pigeon Rocks.
Most Travel companies use Whatsapp to communicate with their clients. Stay connected and informed.
Beirut Daily Tours
What I liked about the company!
- I felt safe and comfortable on our tours.
- The company treats their clients with respect and offers its best hospitality service.
- The drivers and tour guides are very informative and friendly. I enjoyed all the tours and felt like I was with family.
- The company includes lunch on the group tours and takes you to eat at the best Lebanese restaurants. The lunch was my favorite part of the group tours. The food ordered for me exceeded my expectations.
- Communication from the company was excellent, and I was updated on changes and informed about tours.
- The company is punctual. Tours start on time and end on a decent time.
- The company picks you up and drops you at your hotel.
Traveling Tip– Lebanon’s traffic is unpredictable. Starting a tour early in the morning can be an advantage.
Six Days Travel Itinerary for Lebanon
Day 1 – Jeitta, Byblos, Harissa
Our tour started with the Jeitta Grotto. We took the cable car up to the caves which provided a good view of the greenery. There are two caves to visit, the upper Grotto and Lower Grotto.
The Upper Grotto
On foot, you will explore the magnificent limestone formations.
Cameras are not allowed inside the cave. You will have to lock it up safely in the safety boxes provided at the entrance.
Lower Grotto
A short boat ride will give you majestic views of the cave glistening from the blue waters. It’s breathtakingly beautiful. Cameras are not allowed, but if you lucky and have a useful guide with you, maybe you can sneak a quick picture.
Mini Zoo
After taking the train ride to the lower Grotto and exploring the cave, we headed back to our car by foot. This gave us an opportunity to see the animals and take a few pictures in the garden.
Traveling Tip– Don’t feel rushed if you in a group tour. Families can enjoy the mini zoo and garden before heading back to the car.
Sculptures
Heading to the lower Grotto sits a big statue. It is one of the most well-known statues in Lebanon and named the “Guardian of Time.” There is a café situated right across where you can quickly get a coffee or snack. Souvenirs can be bought by the small vendors next to the statue.
Crusader Castle – Byblos
A guide will take you to the castle and give you a brief history of the castle and its surroundings. The tour takes an hour. There is a small museum of artifacts in the castle. Phoenician monuments and a Roman amphitheater surround the castle. The views from above the castle are breathtaking, so don’t forget your camera.
Visit the Souk in Byblos
I loved the souk. It’s not very big, but there is plenty to buy. I bought a beautiful Lebanese outfit for 20 USD from one of the shops. There are many places to eat and enjoy a drink.
Traveling Tip– If you have kids take them to the fossil museum located in the Souk area.
Harissa
Our final part of the tour was taking a cable car up to the lady of Lebanon. The ride up with cable car took almost 15 minutes and offered spectacular views of Lebanon. The statue itself is not that enormous and is positioned on top of the highest mountain facing the Bay of Jouneih, providing everyone with fantastic views. It is very peaceful at the top, and there are trees to rest underneath.
Day 2- Anjar, Baalbek, Ksara
Baalbek
Our tour began with a photo opportunity of the world’s largest stone. It’s quite a spectacular sight and a great way to start the journey.
We then headed to the Temple of Bacchus for a guided tour which took us back in time. On your way out of the ruins, there is an oval entrance that leads to a museum and has statues, artifacts, and images on display.
Traveling Tip– Lebanon has many concerts during July. While exploring the ruins we saw the setup for a show hosted in the temple.
Anjar
Our journey continued to the impressive structures at the Umayyad archaeological site in Anjar, located in the Bekaa valley.
Day 3- Sidon, Tyre, Maghdouche
We did a private tour.
Sidon
Our tour began in Tyre. We had a guided tour around the Hippodrome. The ruins are significant and well preserved. A five-minute drive later we arrived at the seafront. Our guide provided a brief history of the Al-Mina ruins, and we took amazing pictures.
Traveling Tip– Private Tours do not include entrance fees and lunch. Take a bottle of water on hot days and a hat for shade.
In Tyre the beaches are great for relaxing and enjoy the sun. Try spending a day there if you have the time.
Next on our tour was visiting the Sidon Castle. Built by crusaders in the thirteenth century the castle rests on the sea and offers tourists a beautiful experience walking around and exploring the area.
After being amazed by the history and beauty of the fortress, we headed into the old souk where I had an opportunity to learn about the history of soap making in Lebanon. There is a small café located outside the soap museum where you can enjoy a coffee or juice.
Maghdouche
Last but not least, we took a drive to visit the town’s famous landmark, our lady of Mantara. It is believed to be the place where Mary waited for her son Jesus Christ when he was preaching in Sidon, Cana, Tyre, and Sarafand. The church is built in a cave and is a famous pilgrimage site. The staircase that leads to the top offers fantastic views and a quiet place to enjoy the view.
Day 4- Tripoli
A visit to Lebanon’s second-largest city. I made sure I saved the day to this historical city and discovered the impact of the Mamluk’s during the 14th century. We visited the mosque and saw kids running around. We then took a drive up to the Citadel, a well preserved famous historical landmark that towers over the views of Tripoli. With so much history of the fortress and lots more pictures, we then headed toward the busy souk area. The souk is ancient and offers a wide selection of everything under the sun. Many soap vendors are selling locally made soaps. After a short visit to the souk, we headed to the Hammam. We only took pictures and were given a summary of its existence.
Traveling Tip– Make sure to eat the local bread called Kaak. You can buy Zaatar spice and sprinkle it on and have a delightful taste in your mouth. Ask your local guide or tour company to allow you to sample sweets and Hallab. Tripoli is famous for the local sweets. Women should wear modest clothing that covers their legs, arms, and head when visiting the mosques.
Day 5 – Qadisha, Jubran, Hiking in Becharre Cedars
Our tour started with a visit to a church carved in the mountain. Before entering the museum section of the monastery, there are breathtaking views of the valley. Inside you will discover an old printing press, many old religious books, and monuments. Qadisha valley is well known for sheltering Christian communities for many centuries.
Next, we drove up a winding mountain reaching a very high altitude to enjoy the beautiful and famous trees that symbolizes the Lebanon flag. The Cedar trees stand tall and proud. You will spend thirty to forty minutes walking past the trees, taking pictures and enjoying the fresh crisp air. The trees have religious and historical significance. The Phoenicians, Egyptians, Romans, and Turks used the trees for different purposes.
Traveling Tip– It can get chilly up in the mountains. Make sure to bring a light jacket. There are many vendors selling cedar wood carvings and displays. Remember to bargain for a reasonable price.
Our final stop on tour was the well-known poet Khalil Gibran museum. The museum houses the artists’ paintings, a display of his room and resting place. Many levels will guide you along as you navigate and admire his work. Down below, you will see the tomb, and a room of his simple belongs. After you exit the museum, there is a small café to enjoy a tea and light snack.
Traveling Tip– Taking pictures are not allowed inside the museum. Families with kids should know that many of his paintings depict a lot of nudity. Ask your driver to allow you to take pictures of the big statue outside the museum.
A poem by Khalil Gibran
Let These Be Your Desires
Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself
But if you love and must needs have desires,
Let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook
That sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart
And give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer
For the beloved in your heart
And a song of praise upon your lips.
www.PoemHunter.com – The World’s Poetry Archive
Day 6 – Beirut City
I left exploring Beirut for the last days of our trip. I wanted to explore the city at my own leisure. Traveling around the city by taxi can be expensive. So we opted for our favorite choice of transport around a famous city.
CitySightseeing Beirut
The tickets can be purchased online or in front of the “I love Beirut” sign. The bus takes you to all the main sites and attractions. Departure time is at 9:30 am at the first stop which is Martyrs Square. There are fifteen stops along the way. During peak season the bus frequency is around 45- 60 in waiting time. Purchasing a ticket will include entrance into the National Museum.
Traveling Tip– Beirut’s traffic is unpredictable and chaotic. Don’t feel disappointed if you do not make it to all the stops. Some stops are in walking distance from each other and can save you time. You can include a walking tour in your ticket price for extra dollars.
www.city-sightseeing.com +961 1 332201
Please share your favorite experiences in the comment sections so I can help make this post more beneficial for future travelers.
استمتع برحلتك – Astamtae birihlatik
Enjoy your trip!
Superlady
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