Lebanon

The capital Beirut is located on the Mediterranean Sea and is remarkably modern. During the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) the city was almost completely destroyed. However in recent years attempts have been made to give the city back its old atmosphere. It's lovely to stroll on Corniche Boulevard.

The city has several souks, i.e. markets. The Souk el Tayeb is best known, but Bourj Hammoud, Souk el Ard and Souk el Ahad are also visited. Here you will find an abundance of fresh where. But you can smell it. You can taste and buy almost anything. There are also restaurants and bars for serving food and drinks.

The National Historical Museum is special. The country’s rich history and the surrounding region can be seen here. The Sursock Museum is best known for contemporary Lebanese art.

Baalbek are ruins of the Romans. It was an important center for religion at the time. In particular, the Temple of Jupiter which was a kind of pilgrimage site. The remains of the Bacchustmpel and Venus Temples can also be seen in Baalbek.

You can visit the ruins. In particular, the immense Stone of the Pregnant Woman stands out. It weighs 1,000 tons. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in the Beka Valley in the east of the country.

Jeita Grotto are impressive limestone caves of more than 9 kilometers. Only part of the Caves of Jeita can be visited. This excursion can be booked with a guide, who will also give you a lot of information about the caves. The caves are located in the Nahr al-Kalb Valley in the town of Jeita. The Caves of Jeita are 10 miles north of Beirut.

Byblos was once an independent state. This was during the Ancient Greek Empire, the Egyptians and the Roman Empire. According to legend, the name Bible comes from the name Byblos. It is a fact that here on a large scale the most important writings of Christianity were copied.

Many excavations have been done in recent decades. As well as various restorations. Byblos has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. You can visit these ruins. The attractions are the Roman amphitheatre and the Egyptian temples. The church and the castle are also beautiful.

The Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve is one of the most rugged parts of Lebanon. The wildlife here includes the wolf, but also wild boar, the special mountain gazelle, gold jackal and the wild goat, amongst other animals. It's a lovely place to walk in. Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve is located in the hills in southern Lebanon.

Lebanese cuisine is becoming well known to many people. During your tour of Lebanon you will automatically taste the many influences on the dishes. And especially a lot of snacks; Mezze. The various foods were influenced by the Turkish, Greek, Cypiotic and many others.

The dishes are often light and refined. Hummus is popular, as is tahini, a sauce that you get with a lot of meat. Think lamb mince, chicken and shawarma. But there is also a lot to enjoy for vegetarians. Many vegetables are also prepared on the popular grills.

Lebanon borders Israel in the south and Syria in the east (and north). You can easily take a tour of multiple countries. Border formalities can however take a long time.