• Beirut - 8:30 AM — Departure from Beirut
  The guide meets the group at the hotel and travels east on the Damascus highway, ascending through the Lebanese mountains as the Bekaa Valley unfolds below.
• Umayyad Ruins of Aanjar - Anjar — the sole remaining Umayyad palatial city in the Levant
  Constructed in the early 8th century by Caliph Walid I, who also commissioned the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus and the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. It was abandoned just decades later and never rebuilt. The city features colonnaded streets dividing it into four quarters, a grand palace with over 40 towers, a mosque, and bathhouses, all still standing in the Bekaa plain. Most visitors to Lebanon pass by without stopping, but the guide ensures a comprehensive understanding of its significance.
• Stone of the Pregnant Woman - Stone of the Pregnant Woman — the quarry that sets the scale
  Before visiting the temples, there is a stop at the ancient Roman quarry to view the Stone of the Pregnant Woman. This single limestone block, 21 meters long and weighing an estimated 1,000 tonnes, remains where it was cut 2,000 years ago. It was never moved. The guide explains the engineering logic behind it and why standing next to this unfinished block enhances the understanding of the temple complex.
• Temples of Baalbek - Baalbek Temple Complex — the greatest Roman temples ever built
  The Temple of Jupiter stands on Trilithon stones, each weighing over 800 tonnes, the largest dressed stones in human history. The Temple of Bacchus is larger than the Parthenon and almost entirely intact, making it the best-preserved Roman temple in the world. The Temple of Venus completes a complex that took three centuries to build. The guide covers the full architectural, religious, and historical significance of Baalbek, one of the most extraordinary sites on earth, ensuring every minute is valuable.
• Baalbek - Lunch in Zahle or Baalbek — included
  Enjoy Lebanese mezze and grilled meats, either in Baalbek or at a riverside restaurant in Zahle, Lebanon’s renowned food capital, depending on the day and group preference. This is fully included in the tour price.
• Chateau Ksara - Chateau Ksara — Roman caves, Lebanese wine, founded 1857
  Lebanon’s oldest winery, established by Jesuit monks in 1857, features 2 kilometers of Roman cave cellars discovered beneath it in the 19th century, where wine ages at a naturally constant temperature year-round. The cave tour comes first, exploring ancient tunnels that connect directly to the Roman history seen at Baalbek, followed by a tasting of Ksara’s iconic Cabernet-Syrah blends, crisp Blanc de Blancs, and celebrated Sunset Rosé. The guide places the winery visit within the broader Roman narrative of the Bekaa Valley.
• Beirut - Return to Beirut — approx. 6:00–7:00 PM
  Drop-off at the Beirut hotel, covering the Umayyad, Roman, and Ottoman layers of the Bekaa Valley in a single guided day, from a ghost city to the world’s greatest temples to ancient wine caves.

• Hotel Pick up & Drop off
• Professional Guide
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Entry/Admission - Anjar (if option selected)
• Entry/Admission - Temples of Baalbek (if option selected)
• Lunch in a local restaurant (if option selected)

• Gratuities
• Entry/Admission - Chateau Ksara
• Food or drinks unless specified

The Bekaa Valley offers a unique opportunity to explore three distinct historical sites in just one day, all included in this guided small-group tour. Visit Anjar, the only remaining Umayyad palatial city in the Levant, constructed and deserted in the 8th century, never to be reoccupied. Discover Baalbek, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the Romans erected temples of unparalleled scale. Explore Ksara, Lebanon’s oldest winery, established by Jesuits in 1857, featuring 2 kilometers of Roman cave cellars beneath it. The tour includes lunch and all entrance fees.

The guide weaves together a cohesive story of Umayyad city-planning, Roman engineering at its grandest, and a winery that has been crafting Lebanese wine since the Ottoman period. The Stone of the Pregnant Woman, a 1,000-ton Roman quarry block left behind 2,000 years ago, sets the stage before entering the temple complex.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.