THE LAND OF SAINTS

Day 1: Beirut (Arrival) – Byblos

Meet & assist at the airport by our representative. Transfer to the hotel. 

Check in. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Byblos – Annaya – Kfifane – Jrebta – Byblos

Breakfast at the hotel.

1- Byblos, one of the top contenders for the "oldest continuously inhabited city" award, dates back at least

7,000 years 5,000-4,000 BC). Byblos is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Visit of the Crusader castle, the Roman amphitheater, St John the Baptist church and the old souqs.

2- Annaya, where the remains of Lebanon’s Saint Charbel are entombed. Charbel is today the object of

veneration and his life is a supreme example of absolute devotion to God.

The Monastery of Mar Maroun at Annaya is a simple building where a statue of Saint Charbel stands in

 the courtyard, arms raised to heaven. His tiny church is always filled with the prayers and the voices of

 believers, while nearby a small museum displays the frugal objects that belonged to the Saint. Lunch in

a local restaurant. In the afternoon,

3- The Monastery of Saint Cyprien and Justinian in Kfifane village near Batroun. Today it becomes a

pilgrimage site thanks to Saint Nemat Allah Kassab Al-Hardini, who is buried in the modest place. Built

well before the 17th century, in 1766 the Lebanese Maronite Order transformed the monastery into a

seminary for study of theology, philosophy, literature and law. Among its students was not only Saint

Hardini but also Saint Charbel Makhlouf, who in 1989 was canonized as a saint.

4- The Convent of St. Joseph at Jrebta – Batroun (The blessed Rafka), this convent was built in 1897; it

belongs to the order of the Lebanese nuns. The Blessed Rafka was one of the six nuns who marked the

beginning of the cloistered life in this convent, on the 3rd of November 1897. She lived there until she

died on the 23rd of March 1914, confined to her bed by great sufferings. On the 27th of November

1985, His Holiness the Pope John-Paul II declared the Beatification of Rafka.

Return to Byblos. Dinner & Overnight at the hotel in Byblos.

Day 3: Byblos – Deir el Nourieh – Jeita – Harissa – Bkerke – Byblos

Breakfast at the hotel.

1- Saydet el Nourieh or Our Lady of Light – Chekka. The story of the light that gives its name to the monastery

is celebrated. It is said that two sailors were in peril on a stormy sea when the Virgin appeared to them as

a light and guided them gently to the shore. they carved a cave in the cliff and dedicated it to the Virgin

Mary. In the 17Th centuries a Greek Orthodox monastery was build and completed in the 19th century.

2- Visit of Jeita Grottoes, nominated for the seven-world wonder, with their fantastic rock formations:

stalactites and stalagmites, stone curtains and columns.

3- On the way to Bkerke, visit Harissa, an immense immaculate statue of “Our Lady of Lebanon” overlooking

the bay of Jounieh.

4- Visit the residence of the Maronite Patriarch “Bkerke”.

Return to Byblos. Dinner & Overnight at the hotel in Byblos.

Day 4: Byblos – Balamand – Cedars – Qadisha – Beirut

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to the North region.

1- Visit the Balamand Monastery situated 80 km north of Beirut on a plateau overlooking the blue

Mediterranean, where over ten centuries of endeavor to learn and teach have flourished. It is on this

ancient site that the Cistercian monks built Balamand Abbey in 1157 A.D. on existing Byzantine ruins

after the end of the second crusade.

2- Cedars’ forest: The reserve constitutes what remains of Lebanon’s once vast cedar forest mentioned in

the Old Testament.

3- Qadisha Valley, houses some of the most important early monastic settlements in the world.

Rock-cut chapels, grottoes, and hermitages, many painted with frescoes dating back to the 12th and 13th

centuries, are Tucked into the steep walls. Visit of Monastery of Mar Antonios Qozhaya.

Transfer to Beirut. Check in at the hotel in Beirut. Dinner & Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Beirut – Beiteddine – Deir el Qamar – Beirut

Breakfast at the hotel.

1- Beiteddine Palace, a masterpiece of the early 19th century Lebanese architecture built by Emir Bechir

Chehab II

2- Deir El Kamar, known as the Capital of Emirs. From its palaces, Mount Lebanon was governed from the

16th century until the 18th century.

3- Visit of the capital Beirut:

The historical Central District - Downtown: The Grand Serail, the National Parliament Building and the

 Roman Bath complex. Martyrs’ Square, Nejmeh Square “Clock Tower”, St George Maronite Cathedral,

 St Louis Capuchin Church, Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque and Al-Omari Grand Mosque & Beirut Souks.

Zaytouna Bay, Saifi Village & Gemmayzeh neighborhood and much more.

 Stop at Pigeon Rock and enjoy a short walk along the Corniche

Return to the hotel

*The Beiteddine Palace is closed on Mondays & National Holidays.

Day 6: Beirut – Baalbeck – Ksara – Tanail – Beirut

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to the Bekaa Valley

1- Baalbeck where Lebanon's greatest Roman treasure can be counted among the wonders of the ancient

world. Enjoy the visit of the largest and most noble Roman temples ever built; they are also among the

best preserved.

2- Ksara, the most famous winery of the region dating back to the 19th century, for wine tasting.

3- Continue to visit Deir Tanail.

Return to Beirut. Dinner & Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7: Beirut – Qana – Tyre – Maghdouche – Beirut

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to the South region

1- Visit the village of Qana, where it is believed Jesus performed the miracle of turning water into wine, is

located in South Lebanon.

2- The Phoenician Sour (Tyre), queen of the seas, an island city of unprecedented splendor. There are two

major archaeological sites in the town that can be seen. The Al-Bass Site consists of an extensive

necropolis, a three-bay monumental arch, and one of the largest hippodromes ever found. The City

Site, located on what was originally the Phoenician Island city.

3- Maghdouche, the town of the big statue of the Holy Maria. The story tells that in the cave (today a

church) Maria was waiting overlooking the beach to look for Jesus and his followers. Today you will

have a splendid view of the whole area from the statue.

Return to Beirut. Dinner & Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: Beirut (Departure)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport and assistance for departure.