LEBANON

Morning / afternoon: departure from major Italian cities with a flight to Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Entry procedures into the country and pick-up of the rental car according to flight schedules. Transfer to the city center through the western districts of Beirut, first impression of the city’s urban layout, marked by the civil war, reconstruction, and recent economic crises

Evening: depending on arrival time, dinner in Lebanese restaurants along the Corniche, and an evening dedicated to discovering Beirut’s surprising nightlife, one of the most active in the Middle East

Morning: breakfast and departure south along the Mediterranean coast. Arrival in Tyre, one of the oldest Phoenician cities, for centuries a maritime power of the eastern Mediterranean. Visit of the UNESCO archaeological site with its Roman complex, monumental hippodrome, necropolises, and urban remains overlooking the sea. Introduction to Tyre’s historical role in Phoenician and Roman trade routes

Afternoon: continue to Sidon, another major Phoenician center. Visit of the Crusader citadel built on a small island in front of the port and walk through the historic souq, among traditional workshops, bakeries, markets, and caravanserais

Evening: dinner and overnight in Sidon

Morning: breakfast and departure from Sidon towards the interior. Gradual ascent into the Lebanese mountains along secondary roads. Passage through Druze and Christian villages, historically autonomous communities that have shaped the country’s confessional balance. Stops in inhabited centers to understand the architectural, social, and religious differences between the various communities

Afternoon: continuation of the road trip through agricultural terraces, olive groves, vineyards, and mountain wadis. Descent toward the Beqaa Valley plateau. Arrival in Zahle, a predominantly Christian city historically linked to the agricultural and wine production of the valley

Evening: dinner and overnight in Zahle

Morning: breakfast and departure from Zahle to explore the Beqaa Valley, a vast agricultural plateau nestled between Mount Lebanon and the Anti-Lebanon range. Visit of the rural areas of the valley, the country’s productive heartland, known for cereals, vineyards, and cannabis cultivation. Introduction to the economic and social role of marijuana in the Beqaa, especially during the years of war and instability

Afternoon: wine tasting at a local winery, a testament to the valley’s millennia-old winemaking tradition. Continue to Baalbek, arrival in the city and hotel check-in

Evening: dinner and overnight in Baalbek

Morning: visit to the archaeological site of Baalbek, one of the most monumental Roman complexes ever built. Exploration of the temples of Jupiter, Bacchus, and Venus, constructed between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD on top of an earlier Phoenician sanctuary

Afternoon: departure north crossing Mount Lebanon. Stop in the Cedar forest, a national symbol of Lebanon and a remnant of the vast forests that once covered the entire mountain range. Entry into the Qadisha Valley, a sacred UNESCO World Heritage site and historical refuge of monastic communities and Maronite Christians. Stop at the Baatara Gorge, an impressive karst sinkhole carved by water over millennia. Descent toward the northern coast

Evening: dinner and overnight in Tripoli

Morning: city tour of Tripoli, the second largest city in Lebanon and one of the most historically important urban centers in the Levant. Visit of the Mamluk souq, one of the largest and most authentic in the Middle East. Entry into the Crusader citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gilles, built in the 12th century on top of a former Arab fortification

Afternoon: transfer along the coast to Batroun. Arrival in one of the country’s oldest and most vibrant cities, founded by the Phoenicians and today an example of Lebanese glamour. Walk through the historic center, between the old port and seaside districts

Evening: dinner and overnight in Batroun

Morning: breakfast and transfer to Byblos, considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Visit of the archaeological site with Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader layers. Walk through the ancient port, historically linked to the trade of papyrus

Afternoon: cable car ascent to Harissa, panoramic stop at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon overlooking the Bay of Jounieh. Continue to the Jeita Grotto, a multi-level karst cave system, one of the most spectacular in the Middle East. Return to Beirut in the late afternoon

Evening: dinner and overnight in Beirut

Morning: city tour of Beirut. Visit of the city’s main districts, including the rebuilt historic center, the Corniche, and residential areas. Introduction to Beirut’s urban complexity, shaped by confessional divisions, post-war reconstruction, and economic crises

Afternoon: entry and guided visit to the Palestinian refugee camp of Shatila. Historical overview of the Palestinian presence in Lebanon and the country’s internal political and social balances. Encounter with the daily reality of the camp and explanation of its role in contemporary Lebanese society

Evening: dinner and overnight in Beirut

Morning: breakfast and, depending on flight schedules, transfer to the airport, return of the rental car, and international return flight… and until the next adventure!