Private Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Saint Charbel Tour | Beirut

5.0
(1 reviews)
Beirut, Lebanon

8 hours (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

Three of Lebanon's most powerful and spiritually resonant destinations — one private day from Beirut. This tour is not simply about sightseeing. It is about experiencing Lebanon in its fullest dimension — natural wonder, mountain sanctuary, and the extraordinary faith that has shaped this country for centuries.
Begin underground at Jeita Grotto — one of the most spectacular cave systems on earth, a finalist in the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Rise to the mountaintop at Harissa by cable car, where Our Lady of Lebanon stands with arms outstretched over the Mediterranean. Then travel to Annaya — where Saint Charbel Makhlouf, Lebanon's most beloved saint, lived as a hermit, died in 1898, and was canonised by Pope Paul VI in 1977. His monastery draws millions of pilgrims from across Lebanon and the Arab world — believers who come seeking miracles, healing, and the peace of a place where one man chose solitude over everything the world had to offer.

What's Included

English-speaking driver with local knowledge
Hotel pickup and drop-off in Beirut
Air-conditioned vehicle
Private air-conditioned vehicle
Lunch in Byblos (optional — at own expense)
Gratuities (optional)

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

we pick up travelers from any Hotel, Airbnb or Residence in Beirut

Itinerary

Duration: 8 hours (approximately)
  • Beirut (Pass by)

    9:00 AM — Departure from Beirut Your English-speaking driver collects you from your Beirut hotel and heads north through the Dog River valley — its canyon walls carved with inscriptions left by Egyptian pharaohs, Assyrian kings, and Roman emperors — toward Jeita Grotto.

    Admission ticket free
  • 1
    Jeita Grotto

    The day begins beneath the earth. Jeita Grotto is a UNESCO tentative World Heritage Site and a top-five finalist in the New 7 Wonders of Nature — two interconnected limestone caves stretching 9 kilometres beneath the Lebanese mountains. The upper cave is explored on foot through a soaring world of stalactites and stalagmites, some over 8 metres tall, formed over millions of years. The lower cave is navigated by silent electric boat along an underground river — a journey through chambers of extraordinary natural beauty where the silence is almost complete. It is one of the most visited and most memorable natural attractions in Lebanon, and rightly so.

    1 hour 30 minutes Admission ticket not included
  • 2

    From underground to above the clouds — board the Harissa Téléférique at the Jounieh seafront and ride 650 metres above sea level, the Mediterranean spreading out below as the Lebanese mountains rise ahead. The aerial views over Jounieh Bay on the ascent are among the most photographed in Lebanon — and the cable car ride itself is one of the most exhilarating experiences the country offers.

    20 minutes Admission ticket not included
  • 3
    The Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon

    At the mountaintop, stand before the iconic bronze statue of Our Lady of Lebanon — 8.5 metres tall, arms outstretched toward the sea, visible for miles in every direction. Surrounded by the Maronite Basilica and neighbouring churches, Harissa is one of the most important Christian pilgrimage sites in the Middle East — a place where faith and natural beauty exist in perfect balance, and where the view alone would justify the journey even without the shrine.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 4

    The most moving stop of the day — and for many visitors, the most unforgettable experience of their entire time in Lebanon. The Monastery of Saint Maron at Annaya is where Saint Charbel Makhlouf — Lebanon's most beloved saint and one of the most venerated figures in the Catholic world — chose to spend the last 23 years of his life as a hermit, withdrawing from the monastery to live in a small hermitage in the mountains above. He died here on Christmas Eve 1898 and was canonised by Pope Paul VI in 1977 — the first Middle Eastern saint to be canonised in the modern era. His tomb in the monastery church draws millions of pilgrims annually — believers who report healings, answered prayers, and an overwhelming sense of peace in this remote mountain place. The hermitage where he lived — a tiny stone cell on the mountainside — is also open to visitors. Whether you come as a pilgrim or simply as a traveller drawn by the story, Annaya is a place that changes people. Very few leave unchanged.

    1 hour Admission ticket free
  • 5
    Byblos

    Lunch in Byblos — optional On the drive back toward Beirut, make an optional stop in Byblos — one of the oldest cities on earth — for a relaxed lunch at a waterfront restaurant overlooking the ancient fishing port. Fresh Lebanese mezze and grilled fish with medieval city walls and Mediterranean views. After a day of natural wonders and spiritual depth, this is the gentlest possible way to return to the world.

    1 hour Admission ticket free
  • Beirut (Pass by)

    Return to Beirut — approx. 5:00–6:00 PM Drop-off at your Beirut hotel after a day that moved from the depths of the earth to a mountaintop shrine to one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in the Middle East.

    Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Supplied by Lebanon Tours & travels

Tags

Full-day Tours
Bus Tours
Private and Luxury
Private Sightseeing Tours
Cultural Tours
Religious Tours
Car Tours
Adventure Tours
Zombie
Zombie Slice
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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Rating

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