Bekaa Valley tour from Beirut: Anjar, Baalbek & Ksara Winery

Three completely different Lebanon in one day: ancient ruins, colossal temples, and wine caves beneath the earth.

A private full-day tour from Beirut through the Bekaa Valley visits three UNESCO and archaeological landmarks: the 8th-century Umayyad palatial city of Anjar, the Baalbek temple complex where the Temple of Bacchus stands larger than the Parthenon, and Chateau Ksara's 2-kilometre Roman cave cellar system with wine tasting. A knowledgeable driver in English or Arabic shares the history throughout, with hotel pickup and drop-off included. Lunch in Zahle is optional at your own expense.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Baalbek1h 30m
2. Chateau Ksara1h

Explore Bekaa Valley's heritage and winery

• Pickup from Beirut hotel
• Visit Umayyad ruins of Anjar
• See Stone of the Pregnant Woman
• Tour Baalbek Temple Complex
• Optional lunch in Zahle
• Visit Chateau Ksara winery and caves
• Return to Beirut hotel

The experience

The Bekaa Valley opens dramatically as you climb east from Beirut on the Damascus highway, and the tour begins at Anjar: a beautifully preserved 8th-century Umayyad palatial city that most visitors to Lebanon never discover. Built by Caliph Walid I, the same ruler who commissioned the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Anjar was abandoned just decades after construction and never rebuilt, leaving colonnaded streets, a grand palace with over 40 towers, a mosque and bathhouses still standing in the middle of the plain. Your driver brings the site to life with the full story of how it survived intact for twelve centuries.

Before reaching the temples, you stop at an ancient Roman quarry to see the Stone of the Pregnant Woman: a single limestone block 21 metres long and weighing an estimated 1,000 tonnes, still lying exactly where it was cut 2,000 years ago. Then comes Baalbek, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the scale of Roman ambition stops you cold. The Temple of Jupiter stands on Trilithon stones each weighing over 800 tonnes: the largest dressed stones ever used in human construction. The Temple of Bacchus, larger than the Parthenon and almost entirely intact after two thousand years, is widely considered the best-preserved Roman temple in the world. The circular Temple of Venus completes a complex that has astonished visitors for centuries.

The afternoon closes at Chateau Ksara, Lebanon's oldest winery, founded by Jesuit monks in 1857. The highlight is walking through the extraordinary Roman cave cellar system stretching 2 kilometres beneath the winery: ancient tunnels discovered by the Jesuits in the 19th century, where wine ages at a naturally constant temperature year-round. The tasting that follows showcases Ksara's iconic Cabernet-Syrah blends, crisp Blanc de Blancs, and beloved Sunset Rosé. Your driver returns you to your Beirut hotel by early evening, completing a full day through two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a hidden Umayyad city, and Lebanon's oldest wine caves.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Beirut.
• private air-conditioned vehicle.
• knowledgeable local driver in English or Arabic.
• entry to Anjar, Baalbek and Chateau Ksara.
• wine tasting at the winery.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Under 6: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Lebanon Daily Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Beirut without a car: hotel pickup settles the logistics, and the private vehicle means you move at your own pace through three completely different sites without coordinating group timing or waiting for a shared bus to fill.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

How long does the full tour take from pickup to drop-off?

The tour runs approximately 8 hours, with pickup from your Beirut hotel at 9:00 AM and return by early evening around 5:30–6:30 PM.

What exactly is the Stone of the Pregnant Woman and why is it worth seeing?

The Stone of the Pregnant Woman is a single limestone block 21 metres long and weighing an estimated 1,000 tonnes, still lying in an ancient Roman quarry exactly where it was cut 2,000 years ago. It is one of the most extraordinary sights in Lebanon and prepares your imagination for the temple complex just minutes ahead.

Is lunch included in the tour, or do I need to arrange it myself?

Lunch is optional and at your own expense. A highly recommended stop in Zahle (Lebanon's most celebrated food and wine destination) offers famous restaurant terraces along the Bardawni River serving some of the finest Lebanese mezze in the country.

What happens during the Chateau Ksara visit?

You walk through the extraordinary Roman cave cellar system stretching 2 kilometres beneath the winery: ancient tunnels discovered by Jesuits in the 19th century where wine ages at a naturally constant temperature year-round. The visit closes with a tasting of Ksara's iconic Cabernet-Syrah blends, crisp Blanc de Blancs, and beloved Sunset Rosé.