Country(ies): Jordan , Lebanon
Tour type: Small Group
Group size: Min: 2 | Max: 14
Accommodation: 3 to 4-star hotels, guesthouse, monastery, bedouin camp
Meals:
Transport: A/C car/minibus/coach
Highlights: Beirut, Beiteddine, Tyre, Sidon, Baalbek, Ksara wine tasting, Cedar Forest, Qadisha Valley, Baatara Gorge & Waterfall, Byblos, Jeita Grotto, Harissa cable car, Petra, Wadi Rum, Desert Castles, Dead Sea, Kerak Castle, Kings Highway
Spend the first 7 days of this tour exploring Lebanon, located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Though small, Lebanon is rich with history, culture and was the site of some of the world's oldest human settlements.
On this tour, you will visit the great Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon. You will see Byblos, the oldest continually inhabited city in the world, and the City of the Sun, the most well-preserved temple complex in the Middle East.
This Lebanon tour is also perfect for lovers of nature and scenery. You will see several natural phenomena, including the Ksara Caves, Rock of Raouche, the Baatara Gorge Waterfall, and the Jeita Grotto. You will visit the birthplace of the renowned poet Khalil Gibran and see the famous Lebanon cedar trees, mentioned in the Old Testament.
In Jordan we start by heading out of Amman to discover some of Jordan's famous Umayyad 'Desert Castles', situated amidst the sands on ancient trading routes. We'll also explore Downtown Amman on foot, enjoying a tasty lunch of falafel and hummus in a local restaurant and picking up some Arabic tips from our guide. Next we head north to the amazing Roman site of Jerash, one of the very best preserved in the whole of the Middle East. An afternoon hike through the forests near Ajloun Castle to see some Bronze Age Dolmens follows, before we spend the night in a simple but comfortable local homestay, eating and chatting with the family.
The Roman mosaics at Madaba are next, and the amazing views towards Jericho and Israel from Mt. Nebo follow, as we descend towards the Dead Sea for a night in a 4-star resort and a swim, or float in the amazing salty waters. From the Dead Sea our next short hike takes us around the restored Dana Village in the Dana Biosphere Reserve, Jordan's largest nature reserve. A visit to the Crusader Castle at Shobak then follows before we explore Jordan's main highlight, the amazing lost city of Petra. We have time for a guided tour here, as well as free time to hike up to the Monastery and High Place of Sacrifice for some amazing views. Finally we head to the beautiful desert scenery of Wadi Rum where we'll spend the night in a comfortable Bedouin camp against the towering cliffs. The next morning we take a jeep safari through the sand dunes and past amazing rock bridges before spending some time with a local Bedouin shepherd, learning about their nomadic way of life and how they look after their animals in the desert. After a tasty lunch in the desert, we head back north to Amman for a final evening in a coffee shop, perhaps enjoying a sheesha and game of backgammon while looking back over our time in this amazing country.
Expand all
Expand all
Winter route adjustment:
During the winter months (normally from December until sometime in May), many mountain roads in Lebanon are closed due to snow. During this period the tour will be adjusted to avoid the drive from Becharre to Zahle across the Col des Cedres. All the same places will be visited and the same activities included, but the itinerary will run as follows...
Days 1-2 - As above
Day 3 - Morning Beirut City Tour, then head to the Baatara Gorge to see the sinkhole, before finishing at the Qadisha Valley. Lunch included, and overnight at the Monastery or nearby guesthouse.
Day 4 - Morning hike in the Qadisha Valley, visit Becharre and the Cedars, then return to Byblos for overnight.
Day 5 - Explore Byblos, then drive to Zahle via Beirut, with stops on the way to discover Harissa by cable car, and to explore the Jeita Grotto. Overnight in Zahle
Days 6-8 - as above
This tour has regular small-group departures all year round starting on Saturdays. The tour is also available privately on any other dates. Please contact us for more information and prices.
The hotels and accommodations listed below are the ones we most often on this tour. From time to time we may exchange these for similar properties at the same level. In general, specific hotels cannot be guaranteed on our group tours, but you may select your preferred options if you are booking a tailor-made trip.
Casa D'or
Beirut
The Casa D'or Hotel is a boutique 4-star hotel with a great location in the heart of the popular Hamra district of Beirut, surrounded by plenty of shops, restaurants and bars. All 84 rooms and suites are air-conditioned with flat screen TVs and en-suite bathrooms. The hotel has a bar and restaurant on the ground level, which serves a buffet breakfast and Lebanese & international dishes for lunches and dinners.
Auberge Braidy
Zahle
This rustic B&B hotel is located in the Zahle city centre, within walking distance from the souks. It has several room types, and offers free WiFi. It features a bar, coffee shop, business centre, and garden.
Kozhaya Monastery
Qadisha Valley
The Qozhaya Monastery is located in Lebanon’s Qadisha Valley, a World Heritage site. The guesthouse is set apart from the monastery and features simple rooms with en-suite facilities, with charming decor.
Aleph Boutique Hotel
Byblos
This boutique hotel overlooks the Mediterranean in the historical city of Byblos. It is located close to the famous Byblos ruins, and has 26 rooms and suites. Free WiFi is available, as well as a range of facilities and services.
La Casa Hotel
Amman
The La Casa Hotel is a good mid-range option, located in Jordan's capital, Amman.
Rasoun Homestay
Rasoun
This is a friendly local homestay in Rasoun village near Ajloun Castle. Accommodation is in shared rooms holding up to 4 people. Bathrooms are separate and shared. Overall you can expect a simple but comfortable and very welcoming experience.
Dead Sea Spa Resort
Dead Sea
The Dead Sea Spa hotel is a comfortable resort style hotel located on the banks of the Red Sea. Access to the Dead Sea itself is directly from the hotel, with spa treatments and Dead Sea mud to lather yourselves with before swimming also available.
Petra Elite Hotel
Petra
Located in Wadi Musa, just 1.2km from Petra, the Petra Elite Hotel offers guests comfortable 4-star accommodation.
Rahayeb Camp
Wadi Rum
This Wadi Rum desert camp has a fantastic location on the desert sands against the cliffs in the Wadi Rum Protected Area. Accommodation is in permanent goat hair tents with proper beds and all bedding provided. The food is generally excellent.
Our tours are designed to include all that you need to enjoy a really special time in the destination youre visiting. However, we do also offer some extra options to complement the tour and add some additional sightseeing or activities, or some extra time at either end of the tour.
All accommodation based options (e.g. Single supplements, extra nights, cruise upgrades) should be booked and paid for in advance so that we can make the appropriate arrangements. Other options may either be booked and paid for in advance or while you are on the tour, though we recommend booking in advance to ensure there are no issues with availability.
Many options are priced the same throughout the year, but some may incur single or high season supplements - full details are given on the tour reservation form or on request.
The detailed Tour Notes below have been written to give you some more detailed information about how the tour runs, what to expect, and how to prepare for your holiday. We recommend downloading an up to date copy of these shortly before you travel in case of any changes.
Expand all
Lebanon & Jordan Encounters & Country Reviews
Need some travel inspiration or looking for some handy travel tips? Our blog provides excellent insight into our travel destinations - from tour updates to country guides, packing lists to little known things to do, you'll find it all in our travel blog.