Itinerary Details
MT Sobek: Lebanon Mountain Trail Hiking
Day 1 Arrive in Beirut
Welcome to Lebanon! Upon arrival at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, meet an MT Sobek representative and transfer to the hotel. Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner with the group.
Accommodation: Le Commodore Hotel
(D)
Day 2 Walk the Baskinta Literary Trail & Transfer to Byblos
1-hour private van transfer
2 hours/3 miles hiking with 660’ elevation gain & 985’ elevation loss
After breakfast at the hotel, receive a briefing for the day. Then depart for Baskinta, where you take a short guided walk on the Baskinta Literary Trail, part of the Lebanon Mountain Trail, which invites you to discover landmarks associated several acclaimed writers and poets from the region. Lunch at a local guesthouse, then transfer to Byblos and spend the afternoon exploring this medieval UNESCO-listed city.
Accommodation: Edde Sands Hotel
(B, L, D)
Day 3 Tour Medieval Sights in Byblos & Tripoli
45-minute private van transfer
Wake for a visit to Byblos Crusader Castle, built in the 12th century from limestone and remains of Roman structures. Then drive to Tripoli — founded around 800 BC and inhabited by Greeks, Phoenicians, and Romans — and visit the old souk, port, and fortress, all of which date from medieval times. Continue on to Ehden and dine at the lodge tonight.
Accommodation: Belmont Hotel
(B, L, D)
Day 4 Follow the Lebanon Mountain Trail in Ehden Cedars Nature Reserve
3 hours/6 miles hiking with 660’ elevation gain & 1,300’ elevation loss
After breakfast, tour the old town's Midane Square, Mar Mema Church (one of the oldest Maronite churches in Lebanon, dating back to the ninth century), and St. Georges Cathedral. Then, take a hike on the Lebanon Mountain Trail to Qozhaya Monastery, also known as the Monastery of St. Anthony. In continual use since its founding in the eighth century, the monastery has been printing texts since the 16th century — including texts in Syriac, a language that the Maronites still use in their services.
Accommodation: Belmont Hotel
(B, L, D)
Day 5 Hike into Holy Qadicha Valley
3-4 hours/7 miles hiking with 600' elevation gain & 530' elevation loss
Today is spent hiking along the Lebanon Mountain Trail from Qozhaya to Qadicha. Ouadi Qadicha, also known as Holy Valley, is one of the most important settlement sites of the first Christian monasteries in the world. Its monasteries, many of which are very old, are set in an extraordinarily rugged, beautiful landscape. We will pass by troglodotique constructions, old monasteries and visit the old village of Qanoubine.
Accommodation: Mount Jackal Guesthouse
(B, L, D)
Day 6 See the Cedars of Tannourine
3-4 hours/ 6-7 miles hiking with 1,650’ elevation gain & loss
Your hike today takes you from Hadath el Jebbeh to the Tannourine Cedar Forest Nature Reserve. Established in 1999, the reserve protects Lebanon's largest and densest cedar forest, and comprises over 2.5 million trees. The scenery is beautiful, the air is clean, and the birds are plentiful. Enjoy a packed lunch during the hike.
Accommodation: Mount Jackal Guesthouse
(B, L, D)
Day 7 Head to Baalbek, Explore Roman Wonders & Go Wine Tasting
3-hour private van transfer
Today, head to Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley, one of Rome's ancient breadbaskets. Discover the impressive Bacchus temple, and other Roman sites and archaeological discoveries in the area. Stop in at a Turkish school and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before transferring to Domaine De Chouchene for a free afternoon around the lake. Follow-up with wine tasting at Chateau Ksara, Lebanon's oldest winery founded in 1857. The winery has an incredible network of Roman caves, where their rarest and finest vintages are stored!
Accommodation: Domaine De Chouchene
(B, L, D)
Day 8 Visit Ancient Anjar
2.5-hour private van transfer
After breakfast, travel to Anjar and visit the UNESCO-listed Ummayyad city, founded in the eighth century and today home to outstanding ruins. Later transfer to Tyre, a once-great Phoenician city where, legend has it, purple dye was invented.
Accommodation: Dar Alma Tyre
(B, L, D)
Day 9 Explore UNESCO-Listed Tyre and ancient Sidon
1.5-hour private van transfer
After breakfast at the hotel, tour the souk, the 12th-century Crusader Cathedral, and the Roman hippodrome before transferring to Sidon, an important Phoenician city that was settled as early as 4,000 BC. Sidon is home to the Sidon Sea Castle, built by the Crusaders in AD 1228; a thriving souk; Phoenician temples; and an ancient church converted into the Great Mosque after the Crusaders were driven out before returning to Beirut. This evening, enjoy a festive farewell dinner in a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Le Commodore Hotel
(B, L, D)
Day 10 Depart from Beirut
Transfer to the airport for your homebound flight.
Accommodation: Le Commodore Hotel
(B)
