Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos: Full-day private tour from Beirut
Two limestone caves span nearly ten kilometers underground, and you ride through them by boat and cable car.
A full-day private tour from Beirut visits three major sites: Jeita Grotto, where you spend about 1.15 hours exploring a two-cave system by boat and cable car; the Virgin Mary statue in Harissa, reached by cable car with views over Jounieh bay; and Byblos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you walk the marina, souk and Crusader castle. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with an English-speaking guide and lunch at a traditional Lebanese restaurant. The tour runs 8 to 9 hours and is private to your booking.
Step-by-step itinerary
Full day trip from Beirut
- Pickup from hotel in Beirut at 08:30am
- Explore Jeita Grottos by cable car, boat, and train
- Visit Virgin Mary Statue in Harissa by car
- Ride cable car or drive from Harissa to Jounieh
- Tour Byblos Marina, castle, and souk
- Enter Crusader castle and archaeological site
- Shop in Byblos old souk
- Lunch at traditional Lebanese restaurant
- Drive back and drop off in Beirut
- Jeita Grotto 2h
- Our Lady of Lebanon 1h
- Byblos 45m
What’s included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off from most Beirut locations.
- private vehicle for the full day.
- English-speaking local guide.
- entry to Jeita Grotto with cable car and boat rides.
- cable car or vehicle access to Harissa and the Virgin Mary statue.
- walking tour of Byblos marina, souk and castle exterior.
- lunch at a traditional Lebanese restaurant.
Times
- Tuesday to Sunday 08:30
Last departure this season: 31 Jan 2027
Another time? ›Before you book
Operated by Lebanon Local Tour
Prices and times updated today
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The experience
Pickup happens at 08:30am from your Beirut hotel, and the drive takes you north to Jeita Grotto first. The site is a system of two separate but interconnected limestone caves spanning nearly 10 kilometers overall. You spend about 1.15 hours here riding the mini cable car and boat inside one of the caves, then returning by mini train. The route itself is the attraction, moving through the cavern rather than walking a fixed path.
From there the drive continues up the mountain to Harissa, where the Virgin Mary statue stands overlooking Jounieh bay. You can reach it by cable car or stay in the vehicle. Either way, the panoramic view of the bay and surrounding scenery is the stop. The cable car option continues down to Jounieh, where your driver meets you to head toward Byblos. If the cable car is closed, you travel by car throughout.
Byblos is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You walk the marina side, explore the old souk (a traditional market selling antiques, souvenirs and local crafts), and visit the Crusader castle (also called the castle of Gibelet), which sits adjacent to Phoenician archaeological ruins including the Temple of Baalat Gebal and the Temple of the Obelisks. The castle entry is optional. After the souk, you head to a traditional restaurant for Mediterranean Lebanese food, then return to Beirut by late afternoon.
The tour is private to your booking, so the pace and timing stay under your control. Your guide speaks English and is experienced with the sites. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included from most Beirut locations.
Is this one for you?Book this tour if you speak English and want a guide who can explain the sites in detail as you move through them. The private vehicle and fixed itinerary mean you don't arrange transport between stops or negotiate timing at each location. The day holds together without building it yourself.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Arabic.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 4).
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What exactly is inside Jeita Grotto that I'll see on the tour?
Jeita Grotto is a system of two separate but interconnected limestone caves spanning nearly 10 kilometers. You explore them by riding a mini cable car and boat inside one of the caves, then return by mini train: the route moves through the cavern itself rather than a walking path.
Can I skip the cable car in Harissa and just drive up to see the Virgin Mary statue?
Yes, you can reach the statue by vehicle instead of cable car. Either way, you get the panoramic view of Jounieh bay and the surrounding scenery from that vantage point.
Is the Crusader castle in Byblos included, or do I pay extra to enter?
Castle entry in Byblos is optional. You can choose whether to go inside or skip it. The souk and marina walk are part of the tour either way.
What time does the tour end and I get back to my hotel?
The tour runs 8 to 9 hours total, with pickup at 08:30am from your hotel. You return to Beirut by late afternoon after lunch in Byblos, with drop-off at your hotel location.
Is lunch included in the price, or do I pay separately at the restaurant?
Lunch at a traditional Lebanese restaurant is part of the tour itinerary. You eat Mediterranean Lebanese food after visiting Byblos, and the cost is included in your booking.
Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos: Full-day private tour from Beirut
8h–9h · EN +1 · at your hotel
from US$ 75 per person
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