Biting into the first juicy bite of halloumi and watermelon. Sipping rosé on a sunbed overlooking the Mediterranean’s blue waters. Listening to Dabke music late into the night. Exploring ancient Roman ruins. Walking among ancient vines in the Beqaa Valley and sipping local grape varietals. These are some of my favorite Lebanon memories from when I called Beirut home.
While living there, I traversed this beautiful country’s mountains and plains, made amazing connections, and was completely bewitched by its Mediterranean coastal community. Let me show you Lebanon through my lens with an itinerary curated just for you.
June is a wonderful time to visit because it is just when the Lebanese summer kicks off and beach clubs open but before it gets too hot. While considering your trips for 2024, put the best-kept secret destination on your list and gain some bragging rights by visiting the Paris of the Middle East.
Read all about it the news on Travel+Leisure.
Itinerary Highlights
10 days, 9 nights
Lebanon is ripe with culture, history, architecture, food and wine! When you visit, the hardest decision is not how to fill your days, but how to fit it into a short itinerary. However, this one is specially curated to give you a variety of experiences with a taste of everything Lebanon has to offer:
Kick off your Lebanon experience of local hospitality, entertainment, and notorious nightlife — including a night at MusicHall for dinner and a show.
Visit the Saturday Farmer’s Market — a social enterprise that works on national and International projects to promote and preserve culinary traditions, rural heritage, and the environment. To support local female workers in villages around the country, we are staying at the guest house Beit Douma and partake in a traditional Lebanese cooking class.
Historic visit around top Beirut locations — get to know the history of Lebanon and experience it through its historical sites. See buildings from the Civil War like the infamous Holiday Inn next to its modern skyline marvels like Beirut Terraces. It is a country of contrasts!
Visit ancient Roman ruins, limestone caves, the Sea Castle, the Cedars of God, and more. Travel to palaces and temples layered with centuries of civilizations extending all the way back to the Phoenicians.
Dine at restaurants and visit wineries chosen from the Trip Whisperer list of favorites (with nearly all meals included.)
Custom wine pairing lunch at a winery on a mountainside overlooking the sea, accompanied by the chef and winery owners.
Beach club day — summer as the locals do! These chic waterfront spots are a must.
Visit local designers and artist shops. Stay at stunning guest houses that represent the best of Lebanon.
Guided along with my favorite local expert Sirena Tannoury, Wonders of Lebanon Tours and belly dancer!
Trip Pricing
$4,000 USD per person, including hand-picked accommodations for 9 nights, transportation, local guides, airport transfers, listed meals, activities, and experiences. Leave the details to us and enjoy!
Only 10 spots on this trip.
Due to the selection of small boutique properties and curated guest houses in Lebanon for this itinerary, space is limited to 10 guests, double occupancy rooms only. Solo travelers, please advise us during the intake call, so we can arrange a roommate and avoid single supplement costs.
Next steps
Arrange an intake call with Jessica (trip organizer) to run through questions, Visas, flight advice, etc: https://calendly.com/tripwhisperer/30min
Save your spot with a non-refundable $750 deposit
Final trip payment due 60 days before travel (March 31, 2024)
If anyone would like to do a pre or post-trip to Egypt, Jordan, UAE, or add other stopovers, we are happy to create a custom extension upon request for those destinations or more time in Lebanon.
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Be greeted at the airport and taken straight to the luxurious Arthaus Beirut — a top pick by Condé Nast Traveler. Then cool off in the pool or find yourself steps away from the bustling Gemmayze neighborhood bars & restaurants.
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Visit Beirut highlights such as Martyrs Square, Beit Beirut, The National Museum, Souk el Tayeb Farmers Market, Raouche Rocks, and Hamra. Visit Lebanese designers and shopping at leisure. A great way to get to know your group!
Enjoy traditional Lebanese music at the infamous MusicHall, where we will enjoy dinner and a show.
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Head south to Sidon to see the Souqs (markets), Sea Castle, and Soap Museum. Next, we drive up the mountains to the Beqaa Valley to see the Baalbek site — the best-preserved Roman ruin that rivals Athens.
After a day of travel, we will arrive at an agri-farm property tucked away behind an ivy-covered hidden door and have a relaxing dinner. The two pools and lush grounds will give you the respite you need!
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Wake up to breakfast on the terrace, before we take off to visit three amazing and favorite wineries in the Beqaa Valley.
We will come back to diner at Al Haush’s lovely restaurant after the long day and take a dip in either pool!
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Walk among the iconic Cedars of God and enjoy lunch with a scenic view of the valley.
Arrive in Douma for a walking tour. Enjoy meeting the local women who power the Tawlet and Souk el Tayeb cuisine and take a cooking lesson, followed by eating in the beautiful garden on the property. Enjoy the beautiful attention to detail of this favorite guest house.
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Enjoy a traditional Lebanese breakfast before taking a morning tour as we head north to the city of Tripoli to visit one of the oldest soap museums, Crusader Fortress, Mansouri Great Mosque and sample the famous local bakeries.
Arrive in the best beach town in the country — Batroun. Enjoy a short tour of the Old Souk, followed by dinner for sunset at a local favorite seaside place dining with your feet in the water. We’re staying in the heart of the old town so you’ll be at ease if you want go enjoy the nightlife and shop at leisure.
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Enjoy a leisurely day at a posh day club! We will provide the entry fee and allow you to relax, choose your own adventure and provide recommendations for dinner. There’s tons of places and easy to get around, now that you’ll have your bearings.
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Optional water sports can be arranged for the early risers like paddle boarding and surfing.
We’ll take off for the Batroun winery Sept for an exceptionally curated lunch pairing by the chef /owner with an incredible view. We’ll stop to tour the Musée Henry, a house made from 100 demolished traditional houses in Beirut.
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Head south to Byblos, and enjoy a walking tour of Old Town & its expansive archaeological site. Lunch at a local restaurant tucked below a canopy of greenery and Bougainvillea. We’ll stop at the Jeita Grotto, a system of two separate, but interconnected, karstic limestone caves that one entrance you get to marvel at by boat.
Late afternoon, arrive in Beirut. Early evening, visit the Gemmayze bars to experience Beirut’s nightlife. Dine at Liza — a gorgeous space that will leave you dazzled on your last night in the posh neighborhood Monot! A perfect farewell dinner.
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Private transfers from hotel to Beirut International Airport - bon voyage and take all those amazing memories of Lebanon with you! Tell others.
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Services included:
Accommodation for nine nights in hand-selected properties around Lebanon for a true local experience! Transportation and guides are included on the itinerary.
Airport transfers
Daily breakfast
Welcome Dinner at Arthaus Beirut on the Terrace
Touring around Beirut, Lunch at Beit Kanz, Dinner & Show - MusicHall
Touring to Sidon, Soap Museum, lunch, touring at Baalbek, dinner at Al Haush
Winery tastings, lunch and dinner
Touring of Cedars of God, lunch, and cooking class at Beit Douma
Touring of Tripoli, lunch, Batroun Old Souk Tour and sunset dinner.
Beach club entry. Transportation. Meals - lunch and meal not included to be at leisure and allow free time.
Visit Musee Henry, lunch paring at Sept Winery, and sunset mezze and drink.
Visit Bybos, Jeita Grotto, lunch and closing dinner at special Lebanese restaurant.
Accompanied by English speaking guide for listed itinerary.
Entrance fees to sites as mentioned in above program.
Transportation as per itinerary.
Excluding the Following:
Discretionary spending and you’ll be given a recommendation as well as help exchanging upon arrival if needed. Currently, businesses are accepting USD and most take credit cards.
International flights. Our team can provide recommendations or book air through air department by Trip Whisperer Agency.
Visa is free upon arrival for US carrying travelers for up to 90 days.
Tips for hotel, porters, guides and driver. Based on guest discretion which is about 10-15% recommendation.
Travel Insurance. Recommended.
PCR tests (if required; at this point, it is not).
Meals not included are limited to lunch at the beach club and dinner on Thursday or any bites outside the listed itinerary.
Alcohol is not included in nearly all meals to be at the discretion of the individual traveler.
Items of a personal nature including telephone calls, SIM cards, taxis on your own, laundry, drinks, room service.
-
Services included:
Accommodation for nine nights in hand-selected properties around Lebanon for a true local experience! Transportation and guides are included on the itinerary.
Airport transfers
Daily breakfast
Welcome Dinner at Arthaus Beirut on the Terrace
Touring around Beirut, Lunch at Beit Kanz, Dinner & Show - MusicHall
Touring to Sidon, Soap Museum, lunch, touring at Baalbek, dinner at Al Haush
Winery tastings, lunch and dinner
Touring of Cedars of God, lunch, and cooking class at Beit Douma
Touring of Tripoli, lunch, Batroun Old Souk Tour and sunset dinner.
Beach club entry. Transportation. Meals - lunch and meal not included to be at leisure and allow free time.
Visit Musee Henry, lunch paring at Sept Winery, and sunset mezze and drink.
Visit Bybos, Jeita Grotto, lunch and closing dinner at special Lebanese restaurant.
Accompanied by English speaking guide for listed itinerary.
Entrance fees to sites as mentioned in above program.
Transportation as per itinerary.
Excluding the following:
Discretionary spending and you’ll be given a recommendation as well as help exchanging upon arrival if needed. Currently, businesses are accepting USD and most take credit cards.
International flights. Our team can provide recommendations or book air through air department by Trip Whisperer Agency.
Visa is free upon arrival for US carrying travelers for up to 90 days.
Tips for hotel, porters, guides and driver. Based on guest discretion which is about 10-15% recommendation.
Travel Insurance. Recommended.
PCR tests (if required; at this point, it is not).
Meals not included are limited to lunch at the beach club and dinner on Thursday or any bites outside the listed itinerary.
Alcohol is not included in nearly all meals to be at the discretion of the individual traveler.
Items of a personal nature including telephone calls, SIM cards, taxis on your own, laundry, drinks, room service.
May 31-June 9, 2024
Save Your Spot: Space is Very Limited!
From a luxury guest-house property named in Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List to an agri-farm haven in Beqaa Valley to a seaside retreat in one of the oldest cities in the world, the accommodations offer a slice of Lebanese life. Our smaller group size allows us to stay at these unique Lebanese places with a mix of modern and traditional design.
Accommodations
Meet Trip Whisperer: Jessica Parker
A career travel publicist turned travel advisor met a charming German man on a Doha boat in Zanzibar that she didn’t know would lead her to move to Beirut. The incredible story of love that stretched across an ocean and an International move where she found her forever love: Lebanon. Ask her all about it on the trip!
