• Beit Eddine - Beiteddine Palace, also known as the ‘House of Faith,’ is a 19th-century palace located in Beiteddine, Lebanon. It is the venue for the annual Beiteddine Festival and houses the Beiteddine Palace Museum. Constructed by Emir Bashir Chehab II, who later ruled the Mount Lebanon Emirate, the palace was built between 1788 and 1818. After 1840, it served as a government building for the Ottomans and later as a local administrative office during the French Mandate. In 1943, it was designated as the official summer residence of the president. Although it suffered significant damage during the Lebanese Civil War, parts of the palace are now open to the public, while the remainder continues to serve as the president’s summer residence.
• Deir el Qamar - Deir al-Qamar, meaning “Monastery of the Moon,” is a village situated southeast of Beirut, approximately five kilometers from Beiteddine Palace in the Chouf District of Mount Lebanon. In 1864, Deir El Qamar became the first village in Lebanon to establish a municipality and is the birthplace of many notable figures, including artists, writers, and politicians. The town was home to people of various religious backgrounds and featured a mosque, synagogue, and Christian churches. In 1860, Deir al-Qamar was devastated during the civil war between Druze and Christians, during which the town was set on fire. Napoleon III dispatched a French contingent to rebuild it, reaffirming France’s historical role as protector of Christians in the Ottoman Empire, as established by a treaty in 1523. In 1864, Deir el-Qamar elected the first municipality in the Arab provinces of the Ottoman Empire. The village maintains a charming appearance with its typical stone houses and red tile roofs.
• Fakhreddine’s Mosque - Fakhreddine Mosque, featuring an octagonal minaret, is located in Deir el Qamar, Lebanon. Built in 1493 and restored in the 16th century by Fakhreddine I, it is the oldest mosque in Mount Lebanon.
• Saydet El Talle Church - The Church of Saidet et Tallé, translated as Our Lady of the Hill, is one of the most significant historical and religious sites in Deir el Qamar, dating back to the 15th century. Monk Nicolas Smisaati constructed a church on the site over the ruins of an ancient Phoenician temple dedicated to the goddess Astarte, which was later destroyed by an earthquake in 859. According to the Maronite Heritage website, “the legend says that there was a Druze Emir in Baakline observing the hill of Dar El Kamar. He saw a light emanating from the hill, so he gathered his soldiers and instructed them to dig in the land the next morning. He told them: ‘If you find an Islamic symbol, build a mosque. If you find a Christian symbol, build a church.’ In the morning, the soldiers discovered a rock with a cross on it, and beneath the cross were the moon and Venus. This was the sign that, in the distant past, there was a temple dedicated to the moon and Venus, which later became a church.”

• Private transportation
• Tour Leader
• Hotel pick up & drop off
• In-vehicle air conditioning

• Lunch

Embark on a captivating journey through Lebanon’s rich history with our Private Half-Day Tour to Beiteddine and Deir El Qamar from Beirut. Explore the opulent Beiteddine Palace and charming village of Deir El Qamar, delving into Lebanon’s Ottoman past and ancient heritage. Led by expert guides, this excursion promises a blend of cultural enrichment and breathtaking scenery, offering an unforgettable glimpse into Lebanon’s historical treasures.

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