Anjar, Baalbek & Ksara Day Trip: Ancient Ruins & Lebanese Wine

Walk through two thousand years of stone, then taste wine from the oldest vineyard in the Levant

A full-day tour of eastern Lebanon's three major sites—the Umayyad city of Anjar, the Roman temples of Baalbek (Temple of Jupiter and Temple of Bacchus), and Chateau Ksara winery in Zahle—with a professional English or French-speaking guide, lunch, all entrance fees, and hotel pickup within Beirut. Nine hours on the road covers preserved ancient ruins, monumental architecture and a working vineyard with wine tasting.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Anjar, Baalbek, and Ksara

• Visit Umayyad city of Anjar
• Explore Baalbek temples
• Tour Ksara winery and taste wine

The Experience

Nine hours takes you through three distinct chapters of Lebanese history. The day starts at Anjar, the Umayyad city built in the eighth century, where you walk the remains of a planned settlement laid out in a grid—palace foundations, bathhouses, shops and gates still readable in the stone. From there the route climbs to Baalbek, where the Temple of Jupiter and the Temple of Bacchus stand among the largest Roman structures ever built; the Jupiter temple alone carried 54 columns, and enough of them still stand that the scale hits you before the guide speaks. Both sites sit in the Bekaa Valley, the agricultural spine of Lebanon, and the landscape itself frames the history.

Lunch happens in Zahle, a town known for its riverside restaurants, and the meal is set—Lebanese mezze, a main dish, fruit or dessert, and a soft drink. After eating, you move to Chateau Ksara, one of Lebanon's oldest wineries, where the cellars tunnel into the mountainside. The winery dates to 1857 and still operates the same caves; the tour includes a tasting of their wines. The drive back to your Beirut hotel takes the late afternoon, and the vehicle is air-conditioned throughout.

A professional guide travels with you all day and speaks either English or French. The guide handles the history and context at each stop. Bottled water is provided on board. Every entrance fee—to Anjar, Baalbek and Chateau Ksara—is included in the price, so there are no surprises at the gates.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or French for the full day.
• entrance fees to Anjar, Baalbek and Chateau Ksara.
• Lebanese mezze lunch with main dish, fruit or dessert and one soft drink in Zahle.
• wine tasting at the winery.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• bottled water and WiFi on board.
• hotel pickup and drop-off within Beirut city limits.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availableNot for heart conditions

Operated by Nakhal & Cie

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you are staying in a Beirut hotel and do not have a car—the pickup is included and the nine-hour itinerary is built around a single day, so the three sites and the winery fit without you arranging transport between them or timing the connections yourself.

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Top questions

What are the Temple of Jupiter and Temple of Bacchus at Baalbek?

The Temple of Jupiter and Temple of Bacchus are two of the largest Roman structures ever built, standing among the best-preserved temples from the Roman period. The Jupiter temple originally carried 54 columns; enough remain standing that you can see the scale of the original design. Both temples sit at Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley and are the main reason the site is famous.

What happens at Chateau Ksara during the winery visit?

Chateau Ksara, founded in 1857, operates historic cellars that tunnel into the mountainside. The visit includes a tour of the caves and a wine tasting of the winery's own production. It is one of Lebanon's oldest and most famous wineries and still uses the same underground cellars.

Is lunch included, and what does it consist of?

Lunch is included and served in Zahle. The meal is a set menu of Lebanese mezze, a main dish, fruit or dessert, and one soft drink per person.

Does the tour include hotel pickup in Beirut?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included if you are staying in a hotel within Beirut city limits. Pickup does not cover hostels, Airbnb or private apartments. If you are staying outside Beirut or in an unlisted accommodation, confirm the pickup location when you book.

How long is the full day, and what language is the guide?

The tour runs nine hours total. A professional, licensed guide speaks either English or French throughout the day and accompanies the group at all three sites.

What is included in the price besides the guide and lunch?

Entrance fees to Anjar, Baalbek and Chateau Ksara are all included. The price also covers the air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water on board and WiFi access during the drive.