• Beirut - 8:30 AM — Hotel pickup
  The driver will meet the group at the Beirut hotel and proceed north along the coastal highway, ascending into the Lebanese mountains towards the Qadisha Valley. Enjoy two hours of increasingly breathtaking scenery.
• Qadisha Valley - Qadisha Valley — UNESCO gorge · photo stop at the rim
  Stop at the rim to gaze down at the sheer limestone walls that plunge hundreds of meters to the valley floor, adorned with ancient monastery caves carved into the cliffs over seventeen centuries. Qadisha means “Holy” in Aramaic. The driver will explain who chose these remote cliffs and why. There will be multiple photo stops along the rim. The view will help travelers appreciate why Lebanon’s north is worth the journey.
• Gibran Museum - Khalil Gibran Museum — The Prophet, in the village that produced it
  “The Prophet” has sold over 100 million copies in more than 100 languages, making it one of the best-selling books of the 20th century. Khalil Gibran was born in Bcharre, influenced by this mountain landscape, and is buried here in the cave chapel of this former Carmelite monastery carved into the cliff above the village. The museum houses his original oil paintings, watercolors, and personal manuscripts. The driver will discuss Gibran’s life, his years in New York, and why “The Prophet” resonates differently when experienced in the place that inspired it.
• The Cedars of God - Cedars of God — easy one-hour hike · UNESCO-protected grove
  A UNESCO-protected grove located 2,000 meters above sea level, where some trees are over 1,000 years old and have trunks measuring more than 14 meters in circumference. These trees are descendants of the forests that built Phoenician ships and furnished Solomon’s Temple. Enjoy an easy one-hour hike on marked trails, suitable for all fitness levels, with no steep terrain. The driver will share the ecology and conservation story of Lebanon’s most iconic tree throughout the hike. Move at your own pace, with no group rushing.
• Bcharre - Lunch in Bcharre — optional
  Enjoy mountain Lebanese mezze at a local Bcharre restaurant, featuring grilled meats, fresh bread, and views of the Qadisha Valley. This is optional and at your own expense. It’s worth the stop, as the valley view from here is one of the best lunch settings in Lebanon.
• Deir Qozhaya - Kozhaya Monastery — first printing press in the Middle East
  Descend into the Qadisha Valley for the day’s final and most atmospheric stop at the Monastery of Saint Anthony of Kozhaya, founded in the 12th century and carved directly into the limestone cliff face of the valley wall. Explore cave chapels, ancient stone cells, and the complete silence of the gorge. Inside, find a pilgrimage cave active for over eight centuries and the first printing press ever used in the Middle East, brought here by Maronite monks in the 16th century. Most travelers who visit Kozhaya find it to be an unexpected and unforgettable stop. The driver will explain the full significance of the printing press and its impact on the history of knowledge in the Levant.
• Beirut - Return to Beirut — approx. 6:00–7:00 PM
  Drop-off at your Beirut hotel. Experience a UNESCO gorge, the tomb of “The Prophet’s” author, ancient cedar trees, and the first printing press in the Middle East — all in Lebanon’s north, privately and at your own pace. A journey done right.

• Knowledgeable English-speaking driver
• Easy 1-hour hike through the Cedars of God
• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Beirut
• Private air-conditioned vehicle
• Qadisha Valley viewpoint — photo stops

• Lunch (optional — at own expense)
• Gratuities (optional)

Exploring northern Lebanon offers travelers a chance to venture beyond the usual itinerary, and this exclusive day trip is designed to do just that. Experience four unique stops within the same mountain valley: a UNESCO World Heritage gorge, the museum and resting place of an author whose book has sold 100 million copies, an ancient cedar grove situated at 2,000 meters, and a 12th-century monastery carved into a cliff, home to the first printing press used in the Middle East.

Travel in a private vehicle with a knowledgeable English-speaking driver, allowing for a personalized pace without the constraints of a group schedule. The driver provides insightful facts and stories at each location. Entrance tickets and optional lunch are payable on site.

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