• Beirut - 9:00 AM — Departure from Beirut
  An experienced English-speaking driver will pick you up from your hotel in Beirut and drive southeast into the Chouf Mountains. These mountains, covered in pine and cedar forests, rise steeply above the coastal plain as you make your way to Maaser el Shouf and the biosphere reserve.
• Shouf Cedars Reserve - Arrive at the Maaser el Shouf Cedar Reserve, the core of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve, which is Lebanon’s largest nature reserve and one of the most ecologically important protected areas in the Middle East. The reserve safeguards one of Lebanon’s largest remaining cedar forests, with ancient trees that are descendants of the vast cedar forests that once covered these mountains. These trees provided timber for Phoenician ships, Solomon’s Temple, and Egyptian palaces. A moderate one-hour hike along a marked trail through the grove includes some inclines and rocky sections, making it more engaging than a simple walk. The towering ancient cedar trunks, cool mountain air, and the serene silence of a protected forest at altitude create a memorable experience. Your driver will share stories about the reserve, the conservation efforts that preserved these trees, and the unique ecology of the Shouf during the drive.
• Beiteddine Palace - Visit one of the most stunning palaces in the Arab world, constructed between 1788 and 1840 by Emir Bashir II, who unified Lebanon’s divided mountain communities. The palace features three grand interconnected courtyards adorned with hand-cut geometric tilework, carved cedar-wood ceilings, and elaborately painted reception halls, showcasing the extraordinary ambition and craftsmanship of this mountain retreat. Beneath the palace, an underground museum houses Lebanon’s finest collection of Byzantine mosaics, with floor panels of remarkable color and detail. After experiencing the natural grandeur of the cedar forest, the human grandeur of Beiteddine offers a perfect contrast—both are extraordinary achievements, one by nature and one by human hands, within the same Chouf mountain landscape. Your driver will share the full story of Emir Bashir and his remarkable palace.
• Deir el Qamar - Travel to Deir el Qamar, meaning “Monastery of the Moon,” one of the most charming and well-preserved villages in Lebanon, and the country’s first capital under the Ma’an dynasty. The central square is surrounded by honey-stone mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries, a Druze palace, and public buildings that reflect the village’s former political significance. A mosque and a church stand just meters apart in the same square, exemplifying the quiet, enduring coexistence that defines Lebanon at its most harmonious and human.
• Fakhreddine’s Mosque - Fakhreddine Mosque & Saydet el Tallé Church
  Visit the 17th-century mosque built by Fakhreddine II, the visionary Druze emir considered one of the founding fathers of modern Lebanon. Then, climb to the hilltop Maronite church for sweeping views over the Chouf valleys below. After a day that began in the cedar forest and moved through a presidential palace, ending at two places of worship that have peacefully shared the same hillside for centuries feels like the perfect conclusion.
• Deir el Qamar - Lunch in Deir el Qamar — optional
  Enjoy a leisurely Lebanese lunch at one of Deir el Qamar’s traditional mountain restaurants, featuring stone-vaulted dining rooms and shaded terraces serving generous mezze spreads, grilled meats, and fresh mountain bread with views of the Chouf valley. After a morning hike and an afternoon in a presidential palace, this is the most natural and satisfying way to conclude a day in the Chouf Mountains.
• Beirut - Return to Beirut — approx. 5:30–6:00 PM
  Drive back to Beirut with a drop-off at your hotel, completing a full day that journeyed from ancient cedar forest to imperial palace to Lebanon’s first capital, all within the extraordinary Chouf Mountains.

• Tour Leader
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Comfortable Private Transportation

• Lunch
• Gratuities

The Chouf Mountains showcase Lebanon’s rich diversity, and this exclusive full-day tour from Beirut encapsulates three of the region’s most rewarding experiences in a single, well-paced day. Start with a moderate one-hour hike through the Maaser el Shouf Cedar Reserve, Lebanon’s largest nature reserve, which boasts one of the country’s most extensive cedar forests, recognized by UNESCO for its remarkable ecological diversity. Next, explore Beiteddine Palace, a stunning example of 19th-century Arab architecture. Conclude the afternoon in Deir el Qamar, Lebanon’s first capital, where charming honey-stone mansions and a history of peaceful coexistence create one of the country’s most captivating villages.

Experience nature, architecture, and history all within the same mountain range, all in one private day, at your own pace, with a knowledgeable English-speaking driver who knows every road and story in the Chouf.

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