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Syria | Lebanon | Jordan | combined tours| Contact us | Home
Memories of the bitter civil war are fading, as Beirut once again becomes the “Paris of the Middle East”. This tiny and diverse country is not only scenically beautiful but also crammed full of some of the world’s best Crusader, Roman and Greek archaeological sites
Please note the information below is intended as a guide only - please study this carefully. Entry and health requirements, exchange and currency information are subject to change often without notice. Please check with the appropriate authorities prior to travel to obtain the latest information.
All passport holders require a visa to enter in to Lebanon. Please ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay.
All passport holders require a visa to enter into Lebanon except:
| Austria | France | Italy | Spain |
| Germany | Australia | Belgium | Norway |
| Luxemburg | Sweden | USA | Japan |
| Denmark | Canada | Holland | Greece |
| Switzerland | Ireland | Portugal | Finland |
| Great Britain | Kuwait | Qatar | U.A.E |
| Saudi Arabia | |||
Conditions: Not to have on passport an Israeli visa or stamps of Egyptian / Jordanian borders posts with Israel |
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There are no required vaccinations for entry into Lebanon, unless you are coming from a disease-affected area. However it is recommended to have preventative shots for polio, tetanus and typhoid for your personal protection.
The currency in Lebanon is the Lebanese lira (LL), known locally as the Lebanese pound. The currency suffered from galloping inflation during the war and low denomination coins (piastres) are now virtually worthless. There are LL250 and LL500 coins still in circulation. The notes are of the following denominations: 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 but you will rarely need anything smaller than 1000. L.L are accepted virtually everywhere.
US$1 = LL1600
It is simple to change money, or to a lesser extent, traveller's cheques, if they are in British pounds or US dollars. There are many banks in the capital and all but the smallest village has at least one bank.
Tipping is considered normal for service in Lebanon, even though most restaurants add a service charge to the bill (often 16%). Even so it is expected that you leave a tip of 5 to 10% on top of that. Wages for workers are very low and, in real terms, getting lower all the time with the devaluation of the lira. Therefore waiters rely on tips to supplement their incomes.
There are no places in Lebanon as yet where you can send or receive emails except from private offices and companies.
Flights within Lebanon apply the following allowances:
First Class 40kg
Business Class 30kg
Economy Class 20kg
With such a diverse topography, it is not surprising that the weather varies quite considerably from region to region. The coastal strip has cool, rainy winters and hot Mediterranean summers. The Mount Lebanon range can concentrate the summer heat and humidity on the coast to a stifling degree. During the spring and autumn the weather on the coast is warm and dry with the occasional shower. October to April can see very heavy rainfall.
The mountains have a typical alpine climate. Fresh breezes keep the summer heat comfortable. There is heavy winter snow, which lasts from December to May on the higher peaks.
The Bekaa Valley has hot, dry summers and cold, dry winters with snow and frost. The valley is set between two parallel mountain ranges and the wind can blow quite fiercely, especially in the winter.
In May you will need a light jacket for the evening or trips to the mountains but from June onwards you can travel much lighter. If you are visiting in winter, a waterproof coat is a good idea and you might even consider a pair of waterproof boots. You will certainly need a heavy sweater of some kind.
Some airport taxes are collected locally but are subject to frequent changes so check with your travel agent at time of travel.
The extreme south of Lebanon is still subject to the occasional cross-border shelling from Israel or even air raids in retaliation for any cross-border guerrilla operations. The most dangerous zones are off-limits to visitors so there is little cause for worry. The army patrols keep people away from any dangerous areas.
The rest of the country is now quite safe to travel around. Since the disarming and disbanding of the militias in the early 1990's it has become possible to travel anywhere day or night without worries about security. There are frequent army checkpoints on the roads and occasionally you may be required to show your passport, but this is normal and no cause for concern.
Lebanon has now standardised its electricity supplies to 220V and mains power has been restored. Two pin plugs are used.
Lebanon is very photogenic with its dramatic landscapes and clear Mediterranean light. Dust can be a problem when taking your camera around Beirut and it is a good idea to keep it wrapped in a plastic bag even inside a camera bag.
You should have no problems taking photographs anywhere in Lebanon, but if you happen to be near an army checkpoint, go up to the soldiers first and explain to them what you want to photograph. They usually will not object. It is not a good idea however to try and grab shots of the soldiers themselves. If you are travelling to the extreme south, be more careful than usual about pointing your camera at anything military - this is still a high-security zone.
Beirut is full of shops, stalls and markets where you can buy everything from locally woven rugs to electronic calculators and the latest designer wear, often at good prices. If you are looking for something original to buy, one of the best places to look is Tripoli, where the coppersmiths are still turning out traditional work. There are large numbers of workshops in the old souks and the prices for even elaborate pieces are quite reasonable.
Other areas are known for their particular handicrafts: Beiteddine and Byblos - weaving and embroidery; the Chouf - embroidery, weaving and silk; Ehden - copper and metalwork; Jezzine - cutlery; Rachaiya - jewellery; and Sarafand - glass.
Arabic is Lebanon's official language. French is widely spoken in the area but any effort to communicate with the locals in their own language will be well rewarded. No matter how far off the mark your pronunciation or grammar might be, you will often get the response "Ah, you speak Arabic very well!"
History of the Arab Peoples, Albert Hourani
Lebanon in History, Philip K Hitti
The Gates of Damascus, Lieve Joris
Pity the Nation: Lebanon at War, Robert Fisk
Lebanon is a year-round destination depending on what activities you want to pursue. It is becoming increasingly popular as a winter sports destination. There are five ski resorts in the Mount Lebanon range and the ski season extends from December to May.
One of the most beautiful times of the year to visit Lebanon is spring. During May the weather is warm enough for swimming and the whole country is carpeted with flowers.
Beirut :
The capital of Lebanon, has been called the Pearl of the Orient. Beirut’s National Archaeological Museum exhibits some of the relics ap its long history.
Baalbeck :
The importance of Baalbeck to the Roman Empire is explained by the bonds which united Rome to this country. Successively this city suffered through different battles, its monuments suffered further under the Crusaders ( 1176 ) who changed them into strongholds in the XIII th Century.
Tripoli :
The second largest city of the Lebanese Republic. Today, the castle of St. Gilles is the only remains of the Crusader’s 180 years reign. The 5000 years of Tripoli History are reflected in a fresco of 100 diverse monuments, an eloquent reminder of the glory of Arab architecture throughout the ages.
Byblos :
The most ancient city of the world, 36 k.m from Beirut, was known by the Phoenicians under the name of JOUBEL, the Phoenicians whom the alphabet was invented by them. The French alphabet is derived from the Greek, which in turn is derived from the Phoenician.
Anjar
BeiTeddine
Situated in the south of beirut. this city was founded by the phoenicians who named it sidona a name that reveals the primitive activity of the city : FISHING
TYRE :
Had been recently revived , we can find today all the glory of the Arabs and the byzantines the romans , the greeks and the phoeniciansin the necropoles that the digginghas reappeared .
| DAY | LEBANON 4 DAYS - 3 NIGHTS |
| DAY 1 | BEIRUT / M. & ASSIST AT AIRPORT / TRANSFER TO HOTEL . |
| DAY 2 | BEIRUT / JEITA GROTTO / JOUNIEH / HARISSA / BEIRUT HOTEL . |
| DAY 3 | BEIRUT / BYBLOS / TRIPOLI / BEIRUT HOTEL . |
| DAY 4 | BEIRUT / TRANSFER TO AIRPORT . |
| DAY | LEBANON 5 DAYS - 4 NIGHTS |
| DAY 1 | BEIRUT / M. & ASSIST AT AIRPORT / TRANSFER TO HOTEL . |
| DAY 2 | BEIRUT / SAIDA / BEIT EDDEIN PALACE / SHTOURA HOTEL . |
| DAY 3 | SHTOURA / BAALBECK / ANJAR / P.M. TRANSFER TO BEIRUT HOTEL . |
| DAY 4 | BEIRUT / TRIPOLI / BYBLOS / BEIRUT HOTEL. |
| DAY 5 | BEIRUT / TRANSFER TO AIRPORT . |
| DAY | LEBANON 5 DAYS - 4 NIGHTS |
| DAY 1 | BEIRUT / M . & ASSIST AT AIRPORT / TRANSFER TO HOTEL . |
| DAY 2 | BEIRUT / F.D. TOUR : BAALBECK / ANJAR/ BEIRUT HOTEL . |
| DAY 3 | BEIRUT / F.D. TOUR : CEDARS / BECHERRE / BEIRUT HOTEL . |
| DAY 4 | BEIRUT / H.D. TOUR : BYBLOS / HARISSA / JOUNIEH / BEIRUT HOTEL . |
| DAY 5 | BEIRUT / TRANSFER TO AIRPORT . |
| DAY | LEBANON 6 DAYS - 5 NIGHTS |
| DAY 1 | BEIRUT / M. & ASSIST AT AIRPORT / TRANSFER TO HOTEL . |
| DAY 2 | BEIRUT / BAALBECK / ANJAR / ZAHLE / BEIRUT HOTEL . |
| DAY 3 | BEIRUT / BYBLOS / JOUNIEH / HARISSA / BEIRUT HOTEL . |
| DAY 4 | BEIRUT / MOUSAS CASTLE / BEITEDDINE / DEIR AL KAMAR / BEIRUT HOTEL . |
| DAY 5 | BEIRUT / F.D. TOUR & CEDARS / BECHARRE / BEIRUT HOTEL . |
| DAY 6 | BEIRUT / TRANSFER TO AIRPORT . |
| DAY | LEBANON 6 DAYS - 5 NIGHTS |
| DAY 1 | BEIRUT / M. & ASSIST / AT AIRPORT / TRANSFER TO HOTEL . |
| DAY 2 | BEIRUT /F.D. BAALBECK / ANJAR / ZAHLE / BEIRUT HOTEL. |
| DAY 3 | BEIRUT / F.D. CEDARS / BECHARRE / TRIPOLI / BEIRUT HOTEL . |
| DAY 4 | BEIRUT / H.D. BYBLOS / JOUNEH / HARISSA / BEIRUT HOTEL . |
| DAY 5 | BEIRUT / F.D. SIDA / TYRE / BEIRUT HOTEL . |
| DAY 6 | BEIRUT / TRANSFER TO AIRPORT . |
| DAY | LEBANON 8 DAYS - 7 NIGHTS |
| DAY 1 | BEIRUT / M. & ASSIST . TRANSFER TO HOTEL |
| DAY 2 | BEIRUT / F.D. BAALBECK / ANJAR / ZAHLE / BEIRUT HOTEL. |
| DAY 3 | BEIRUT / F.D. CEDARS / BECHARRE / TRIPOLI / BEIRUT HOTEL . |
| DAY 4 | BEIRUT / H.D. BYBLOS / JOUNEH / HARISSA / BEIRUT HOTEL . |
| DAY 5 | BEIRUT / F.D. SIDON / TYRE / BEIRUT HOTEL . |
| DAY 6 | BEIRUT / F.D. BEITEDDINE / DAIRE AL KAMAR MOUSAS CASTLE / BEIRUT HOTEL . |
| DAY 7 | BEIRUT / F.D. JEITA GROTTO / TRIPOLI / BEIRUT HOTEL . |
| DAY 8 | BEIRUT / TRANSFER TO AIRPORT. |
| DAY | LEBANON SKI & DAYS |
| DAY 1 | BEIRUT / M. & ASSIST . |
| DAY 2 | BEIRUT / CEDARS / SKI RESORT CEDARS HOTEL. |
| DAY3 | CEDARS / FREE DAY / CEDARS HOTEL . |
| DAY 4 | CEDARS / FREE DAY / CEDARS HOTEL . |
| DAY 5 | CEDARS / FAQRA SKI RESORT / FAQRA HOTEL . |
| DAY 6 | FAQRA / FREE DAY / FAQRA HOTEL . |
| DAY 7 | FAQRA / H.D. SKI / BEIRUT HOTEL. |
| DAY 8 | BEIRUT / TRANSFER TO AIRPORT . |
Syria | Lebanon | Jordan |combined tours| Contact us | Home
