Lebanon Off The Beaten Path

  Byblos Ruins
by LoriPori
 
  • Byblos Ruins
      Byblos Ruins
    by LoriPori
  • Byblos Ruins
      Byblos Ruins
    by LoriPori
  • The Church from afar
      The Church from afar
    by mikey_e
  • Verdun from above
      Verdun from above
    by mikey_e
  • Mike in the cave
      Mike in the cave
    by mikey_e
 
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Kfarhim Grotto

by sachara

On our way from Beirut to Deir al-Qamar in 1995 we passed the village Kfarhim and saw a sign of a grotto. The Kfarhim Grotto is a small natural cave. They told us it was discovered 80 years ago. The cave has stalagmites and stalactites, but was not very impressive. During our visit we saw that the cave was decorated with multi-colored disco lightning and had a bar. The owners of kfarhim Grotto sent me in 2007 the following updates:- the kfarhim grotto is discovered in 1974- we dont have any bar in our grotto- we discovered many areas inside the grotto in the last years after theyear 2003 which means our grotto now is very big with many impessive stalictites and stalagmites- our price for entrance now is changed to 8000 l.l.Open from 7am to 7 pm.South of Beirut

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Kahlil Gibran bust

by jorgejuansanchez

This huge bust is located in a small town called Bsharri, between Tripoli and the famous cedar park, with hundreds of these trees (the cedar is the symbol of Lebanon and it appears in the flag).The monument consists in a huge stone head at the entrance of the hilly city where Kahlil Gibran was born. In spite of having lived in USA (he died in New York in 1931) where he was a writer and painter, and wrote his classical works The Prophet or The Fool, he is much admired in Lebanon.

Excursion to Baalbek

by RawdgerDodger

Baalbek is pretty much just a bunch of ruins but it has great historical significance. It was originally erected as a temple by the Eastern Roman Empire. Then when the Eastern Roman Empire fell, the Turks took it over and converted it into a bath. Since the Turkish rule, this area has fallen into many various country's hands most notably Syria until quite recently. It is a great acropolis-type ruin to wander around on. And if one looks closely, one can still see the artwork on the tile floors.

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Beqaa valley

by uglyscot

In the Beqaa valley the fruit and vegetables grow to enormous size because the soil is so fertile.Extraordinary heavy weights and sizes are quoted for watermelon, potatoes and tomatoes. Seeing is believing, so go to a stall selling greengroceries and admire the 'giant' fruit.

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Baalbeck

by sarrahh

Baalbeck, Lebanon's greatest Roman treasure, can be counted among the wonders of the ancient world. The largest and most noble Roman temples ever built, they are also among the best preserved. Towering high above the Beqaa plain, their monumental proportions proclaimed the power and wealth of Imperial Rome. The gods worshipped here, the Triad of Jupiter, Venus and Mercury, were grafted onto the indigenous deities of Hadad, Atargatis and a young male god of fertility. Local influences are also seen in the planning and layout of the temples, which vary from the classic Roman design.

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Aanjar

by sarrahh

Aanjar, 58 kilometers from Beirut, is completely different from any other archaeological experience you'll have in Lebanon. At other historical sites in the country, different epochs and civilizations are superimposed one on top of the other.Aanjar is exclusively one period, the Umayyad. Lebanon's other sites were founded millennia ago, but Aanjar is a relative new-comer, going back to the early 8th century A.D. Unlike Tyre and Byblos, which claim continuous habitation since the day they were founded, Aanjar flourished for only a few decades. Other than a small Umayyad mosque in Baalbeck, we have few other remnants from this important period of Arab History.

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Nahr el-Kalb -aka Dog River

by TheWanderingCamel

15 km north of Beirut, the highway passes through a tunnel and over a small river before heading on to Byblos and the north.The narrow defile through which the Dog River runs, so narrow men could only pass in single file, was for centuries the only way through the mountains from the coast. A tradition that began with Rameses II's Egyptian army has seen stelae left on the cliff face to mark successful crossings.Babylonians, Assyrians, Greeks and Romans all left their markers as have more modern armies such as the the Allies of WW1 and 2 right through to the Phalange in the Civil War.The importance of this site has been recognised by an application for it to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Nahr el-Kalb

by TheWanderingCamel

There is a small rough parking area at Nahr el-Kalb - you need to make a swift exit to the right off the freeway as soon as you come out of the tunnel.To see all the stelae involves time and a bit of effort - you'll need to cross over to the other side of the road via some steps and a bridge and there is one as far down as the Mameluke bridge you will see a few hundred yards down the valleyThere's an open-air restaurant by the Mameluke bridge and, if you're not in a hurry, the drive (or hike) up the steep, narrow valley is very scenic.

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The best wine in Lebanon

by TheWanderingCamel

The wine made by Chateau Musar is undoubtedly the best of Lebanese wine. Most of the grapes are grown in the Bekaa but the wine (and arak) is made at the winery just north of Beirut.Free tours of the winery are available but must be booked at least 24 hours in advance and a time will be given for your arrival. It is worth this extra effort. We had a very comprehensive tour of the winery with the winemaker himself - over an hour - and ended by sharing a bottle of a serious vintage! There's no shop selling souvenirs but you can buy wine after the tour from the office.

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Deir Mar Antonius

by TheWanderingCamel

The steep and winding road that takes you deep into the Qadisha Valley to the Maronite Monastery of St Anthony of the Desert ends at the gatehouse and from there it's a short walk down to the monastery itself. The church is built right into the cliff-face, the beautiful facade leading into a vaulted stone church where the cave itself foms part of the roof and walls. The shackles in th grotto next to the chuch were used to restrain the mad who were left in thcave overnight in the hopes of a miracle.This monastery housed the first printing press in the Middle East, though the press in the museum now is a 19th century replacement.There are lovely views from the terrace and if you are able to come on a weekday you may well have the place to yourself, in which case you will be struck by the peace and beauty of the setting. Weekends are somewhat different!

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Unique Places in Lebanon

Top 3 Hotels in Lebanon

InterContinental Hotels IC PHOENICIA BEIRUT  Beirut

 5 Reviews and 99 Opinions  Beirut 

 Hotels in Beirut

Palmyra Hotel  Baalbeck

 4 Reviews and 22 Opinions  Charl digol..had been there....that's enough..for me Old lebanese hotel..you want to go back in... 

 Hotels in Baalbeck

Quality Inn Tripoli  Tripoli

 1 Review and 15 Opinions  There is not much choice of good quality hotels in Tripoli, so the Quality Inn it had to be. It was... 

 Hotels in Tripoli

105 Hotels in Lebanon
 
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Reviews and photos of Lebanon attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Lebanon sightseeing.

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Off The Beaten Path: Cities in Lebanon
  1. Beirut Off The Beaten Path
  2. Tripoli Off The Beaten Path
  3. Baalbeck Off The Beaten Path
  4. Tyre Off The Beaten Path
  5. Sidon Off The Beaten Path
  6. Bcharre Off The Beaten Path
  7. `Anjar Off The Beaten Path
  8. Qana Off The Beaten Path

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Popular Regions in Lebanon

Mohafazat Beyrouth Off The Beaten Path  Mohafazat Liban-Nord Off The Beaten Path  Mohafazat Beqaa Off The Beaten Path  Mohafazat Mont-Liban Off The Beaten Path 

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Hi, I am traveling from the USA to northern Lebanon to see my girlfriend who I met in the states a year ago. I have been to Europe... 

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A: It would probably help if you identified the culture of her family. Are they Christian or Muslim? Are they educated or not? Are they well-integrated with Western society... 

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