Trip to Beirut and Cairo for 15 days

We depart Beirut after breakfast, and our first stop is Barouk Cedar Nature Reserve, also known as Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve. It is Lebanon's largest natural reserve and is rich in biodiversity, with 500 plant species and 32 wild creatures calling its sanctuary home. The most well-known are the remnants of Lebanon's old cedar woods, which were referenced in the Bible.

We next go to the Chouf Mountains to see the town of Deir al Qamar, which translates as "Monastery of the Moon". The hamlet is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and served as Lebanon's capital in the seventeenth century. It's quaint and picturesque, with stone buildings and meandering streets. 

We next proceed to the exquisite Beiteddine Palace. Emir Bashir built the palace in the nineteenth century, and it is extremely well-preserved, demonstrating the splendor of the time. 

Finally, we return to Beirut to spend the evening in the city's lively cafés and restaurants.

Meals: breakfast and lunch.

We begin the day by visiting Beirut after breakfast, Lebanon's capital and largest city. It is one of the world's oldest cities, with a volatile history that includes both ancient and modern periods. This is obvious in the juxtaposition of new structures with little old dwellings and historical architecture, some of which still have bullet holes and damage from the 1970s civil war.

After leaving Beirut and traveling north to Byblos, we will pay a visit to the breathtaking Jeita Grotto. A limestone cave system spanning over 9 km features one of the world's biggest collections of stalactites and stalagmites. It represents the country and was a finalist in the New 7 Wonders of Nature competition.

Next, we travel to Harissa, which is famed for having an important Christian shrine devoted to the Virgin Mary known as Our Lady of Lebanon. We take the cable car to the top of the Basilica, where we can enjoy a breathtaking view over the Bay of Jounieh, regarded as one of the most beautiful bays in the Middle East. Finally, we arrive at Byblos, another ancient Phoenician city inhabited since 5000 BC.

Meals: breakfast and lunch.

After breakfast, then we explore Byblos' harbour and sights. Then we'll pack up and go inland to see the remarkable Baatara Gorge sinkhole, where a 255-meter waterfall pours into a gigantic cavern known as the Baatara Pothole in the spring and especially during wet seasons. 

The cave is also known as the Cave of the Three Bridges, because to the three natural stone arches that span the waterfall. This is a stunning natural occurrence, and we have time to go for a short climb and see adjacent Douma Village. Today's menu includes a classic Lebanese lunch.

The day concludes with a short journey to the picturesque Qadisha Valley, where we will spend the night at the Monastery of St. Anthony, in a separate building with plain but decent en-suite accommodations.

Meals: breakfast and lunch.

Those interested may wake early this morning to participate in morning prayers with the monastery's monks. After breakfast, we will have time to tour the Qadisha Valley, another UNESCO World Heritage site. It is known as the Holy Valley, and the Holy River, Nahr Qadisha, runs through it.

Our first visit after leaving the valley is the adjacent town of Becharre, birthplace of Lebanon's famed novelist and poet, Kahlil Gibran. The hamlet has a museum devoted to him, which displays his paintings and papers. Next, we visit the Cedars Ski Resort, which is well-known for its skiing and snowboarding. The Cedars of God are close, and they include the last remaining groves of the region's cedar woods.

The afternoon is spent on a picturesque journey via the Col des Cedres (2581m) before descending down numerous tight switchbacks to the Bekaa Valley, a high plateau between the Mr. Lebanon and Anti Lebanon mountains. We end the day at the little village of Zahle.

Meals: breakfast and lunch.

Today after breakfast we'll visit Baalbek, which is a must-see for anybody visiting Lebanon. It was known as "Heliopolis" or "City of the Sun" by the Romans and Greeks, and it is home to a well-preserved temple complex. This structure, one of the best examples of Roman architecture at its pinnacle, was created as a shrine devoted to the Heliopolitan triad of gods: Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury.

We next travel to the Umayyad city of Anjar, located in the Bekaa Valley. Caliph Walid founded it in the eighth century, and it showcases outstanding urban planning with mosques, palaces, and spas. 

The day concludes with a visit to Ksara Caves, which may be Lebanon's oldest winery. The caverns, which are nearly two miles long, have been utilized as wine cellars for generations. We take a guided tour of the caves and winery, followed by a wine tasting where you may try (and, if desired, purchase) some of Lebanon's best wine.

Meals: breakfast and lunch.

Today we're taking a tour of southern Lebanon, after breakfast. We begin by going to Tyre , often known as Sour in Arabic. It is about 4,000 years old and was a thriving ancient Phoenician metropolis. Tyre has several historical sites and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Our next stop is Sidon, or Saida, another ancient Phoenician city, arguably the oldest. The city got affluent as a result of its superior glass manufacturing and the extraction of a purple dye from murex, a type of shellfish. It is today a rapidly rising metropolis with significant administrative and commercial importance.

In Saida, we will see the Crusader Sea Castle, the Great Mosque, Khan el Franj, and other fascinating monuments. You'll also get the opportunity to meander around the historic souks.

Overnight in Beirut.

Meals: breakfast and lunch.

When you arrive at Cairo International Airport, our team leader will greet you, help you collect your visa and bags, and bring you to your hotel to start your trip.

Overnight in hotel.

On the following day, and after eating your open-buffet breakfast in the hotel, you will start your day with the Great Pyramid of King Cheops, who was affected by his father's attempts to build gigantic burial tombs, King Cheops (Khufu in the ancient Egyptian language) constructed his pyramid by means of more than 2.3 million limestone blocks to serve as the eternal home from which he would ascend to heaven, the building stood at a height of 146 meters and 230 meters long.

Then visit the Great Sphinx at Giza, a statue of a man-headed lion believed to have been built by King Chephren himself since it stands within his pyramid complex, and explore the Valley Temple, where the king was mummified as part of the burial ritual.

Continue your journey in Cairo by visiting the site of Egypt's oldest capital, the ancient city of Memphis, now known as Mit Rahina, and visiting the open-air museum with the second-largest alabaster sphinx and the colossal statue of King Ramses II, the most powerful king during the new kingdom.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.

You will have your delicious buffet breakfast, and you will transfer to visit the oldest area in Cairo to spend a very educational Coptic Cairo tour. 

Visit the Hanging Church of the Holy Virgin Mary, which was built above the ruins of the Roman fortress of Babylon; the church of St. Sergius, also known as the cavern church, which contains the well in which the holy family got their necessary water while taking refuge in the crypt inside; and Ben Ezra Synagogue.

Finally, you will be taken to Cairo's oldest market, the Khan El Khalili bazaar, for an incredible shopping experience.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.

After breakfast, transport to Cairo International Airport to catch your flight to Hurghada. When you arrive at Hurghada Airport, our representative will meet you and bring you to the hotel, assisting you with all check-in requirements. 

Spend the rest of the day relaxing by the pool or watching the night show, or you may go on an optional Hurghada Bedouin Safari by Jeep after sunset, or any other Hurghada adventure you like.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.

This morning after breakfast, you will have a boat snorkeling cruise from Hurghada to the Mahmya Islands. The tour begins when your tour leader transports you to the location where you will join the boat and cruise with precise pauses for the finest snorkeling and swimming experiences in one of the best natural protected locations with a variety of fish and coral reefs. 

Return to the hotel after completing the snorkeling trip to Mahmya Island by boat.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.

After breakfast, Take an adventure to see the various marine species, beautiful coral reefs, and colorful fish in the Red Sea. The only submarine in the Middle East has a capacity of 44 passengers and a crew of two captains who will take us on a wonderful trip under the water of the Red Sea. It descends 22 meters below sea level, where you can witness numerous types of aquatic life. 

Scuba diving is optional. 

After your Hurghada Submarine Excursions, we will bring you back to your Hurghada hotel.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.

After breakfast at the Hurghada hotel, you'll be free to enjoy the rest of the day as you see fit. Alternatively, you may join one of our Hurghada day trips and excursions. 

Stay overnight at the Hurghada Hotel. 

Meals: breakfast and lunch.
 

It is time to say farewell. Following breakfast, your private driver will take you to the airport for your home journey. 

Meals: Breakfast.