Jeita Grotto tour from Beirut: Private day with Harissa & Byblos

Limestone caverns lit from within, a harbor frozen in Phoenician time, and a statue that commands the coast.

A private full-day tour from Beirut to Jeita Grotto, Harissa, and Byblos with your own driver-guide in an air-conditioned SUV. You walk through the illuminated upper cave and take a seasonal boat ride in the lower gallery of Jeita Grotto, then visit the towering Virgin Mary statue at Harissa overlooking Jounieh Bay, explore ancient Byblos's Crusader fortress and Roman theater, and wander the old souk. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Beirut are included, along with bottled water, coffee and tea stops, and time for lunch at a local restaurant.

Options for this experience

4 options

From US$ 125 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Iconic Trio Tour No fixed time Guide in English, French or Arabic Visit to Jeita, Harissa and Byblos: Explore the Jeita Grotto, the Harissa shrine and the old town of Byblos on a private day trip from Beirut. Private guided tour: Enjoy a comfortable ride in an SUV with an English-speaking driver-guide for a flexible experience. Duration: 9 hours: A full-day experience that starts in Beirut and returns after sunset. Time for lunch: Free time in Byblos to eat at the restaurant of your choice. Jeita – Harissa – Byblos: Pickup from your Beirut hotel, then visits to Jeita, Harissa and Byblos before returning to Beirut. Private SUV: Travel in a modern Jetour X70 Plus SUV with air conditioning, Wi-Fi and plenty of room. Included: Transport and Wi-Fi, covering fuel, tolls, parking and Wi-Fi. Entrance fees, tastings and meals are not included. Excludes: the Batroun and Aannaya sites. Pickup is included.

Pilgrimage tour to Saint Charbel No fixed time Guide in English, French or Arabic Annaya Monastery experience: Visit the tomb of Saint Charbel and explore the hermitage and monastery grounds. Private guided tour: A private SUV with an English-speaking driver for a personal and spiritual journey. Duration: 9 hours: A full-day spiritual retreat through Annaya, Harissa and scenic Byblos. Time for lunch: Optional stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Meals are not included. Annaya – Byblos – Harissa: A scenic coastal and mountain route featuring iconic spiritual landmarks. Jeep/SUV Jetour X70 Plus: A spacious SUV with air conditioning and Wi-Fi for a comfortable, quiet ride. Included: Transport and Wi-Fi, covering fuel, tolls, parking and Wi-Fi. Entrance fees, tastings and meals are not included. Excludes: the Jeita and Batroun sites. Pickup is included.

Coastal Gems Tour No fixed time Guide in English, French or Arabic Batroun and beyond sightseeing: Extend the trip to explore the Batroun Old Souk, Mseilha Fort, Nabu Museum, Our Lady of Nourieh, the Phoenician Wall, the Port and the Diaspora Village. Private guided tour: A personalized experience with an English-speaking driver in a comfortable private SUV. Duration: 10 hours: Approximate time for travel and stops at all listed sites, with flexible time at each location according to your group. Time for lunch: Stop for a local meal at your own expense along the scenic route. Jeita, Byblos, Batroun: Visit the Jeita Grotto, Byblos (Citadel, Port, Souk), Batroun (Mseilha Fort, Nabu Museum, Old Souk, Our Lady of Nourieh) and Harissa. Jeep/SUV Jetour X70 Plus: A modern SUV with air conditioning, Wi-Fi and ample space for a relaxed journey. Included: Transport and Wi-Fi, covering fuel, tolls, parking and Wi-Fi. Entrance fees, tastings and meals are not included. Excludes: the Aannaya sites. Pickup is included.

Lebanon Freedom Tour No fixed time Guide in English, French or Arabic Harissa, Byblos and Batroun: Visit Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, the ancient landmarks of Byblos, and relax in coastal Batroun with an optional stop at a winery. Private guided tour: A personalized tour in a private SUV with an English- and French-speaking driver. Duration: 10 hours: An extended full-day experience covering cultural, spiritual and leisure sites. Flexible lunch break: Optional lunch stop at a local restaurant or winery. Harissa – Byblos – Batroun: A journey through Lebanon's coastal highlights, combining heritage and leisure. Jeep/SUV Jetour X70 Plus: Air-conditioned, Wi-Fi-equipped and spacious for a comfortable trip. Included: Transport and Wi-Fi: A flexible, relaxed full-day coastal experience, without the Jeita Grotto and Annaya sites. Entrance fees and meals are not included. Pickup is included.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Jeita, Harissa, and Byblos

• Visit archaeological rock inscriptions
• Admire Ottoman stone bridge
• Explore Jeita Grotto upper cave
• Take boat ride in Jeita Grotto lower cave
• Walk along historic Phoenician port
• Tour Crusader-era fortress and ruins
• Visit Crusader-era church and garden
• See historic mosque in Byblos
• View rare marine fossils collection
• Pass by Armenian genocide orphanage site
• Browse lively cobblestone market
• Pass by Byblos Wax Museum
• Lunch by Byblos Dock and Fishing Port
• Visit Monastery Saint Maroun
• Explore Saint Charbel's Hermitage in Aannaya
• Stop at Mseilha Fort exterior
• Tour Nabu Museum
• Visit Our Lady of Nourieh Monastery
• Stroll Batroun's Old Souk
• Admire St. Stephen Cathedral
• Walk historic Port of Batroun
• See ancient Phoenician Wall
• Explore Lebanese Diaspora Village
• Optional cable car ride to Harissa
• Visit Virgin Mary statue at Harissa

Stops and time spent at each 3 stops

1. Jeita Grotto Entry included 1h 10m
2. Jounieh 30m
3. Our Lady of Lebanon 50m

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Beirut.
• private air-conditioned SUV transportation.
• professional local driver-guide in English or French.
• bottled water provided in the vehicle.
• complimentary coffee and tea stop.
• Wi-Fi on board.
• all fuel, tolls, and parking fees.
• written brochure with historical highlights for each site.
• printed itineraries or souvenir postcards.
• time allocated for lunch at a local restaurant (meal cost separate).
• all taxes and service charges.

Times

• Every day No fixed time

Before you book

Group Private 5 group tours ›

Live guide English, French and Arabic

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included.

Ages Adult (13 and older) · Youth (3 to 12 years) · Child (2 years): free · Infant (under 2): free

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

Good to know

Low physical effort Infant seats available Infants must sit on laps

Operated by Discover Lebanon Tours

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

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Traveler reviews

5.00 ★★★★★ Exceptional 1 verified traveler review

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The experience

Jeita Grotto anchors the day: two galleries of limestone formations carved over millennia, the upper one lit and walkable, the lower one navigable by seasonal boat when water levels allow. The drive from Beirut takes you north through the Nahr el-Jawz valley, and your guide narrates the route: the Dog River's Ottoman bridge marks the boundary between empires, its rocks inscribed by armies spanning centuries. You stop to walk the bridge and photograph the carvings before heading to the grotto itself.

From there the tour branches by option. The Iconic Trio adds Harissa and Byblos in a single afternoon. Harissa sits on a clifftop above Jounieh Bay, home to a towering statue of the Virgin Mary and a cable car (optional, at your own cost) that climbs through pine forest. Byblos follows: a Phoenician port that never stopped being a port. You explore the Crusader fortress built from Roman stones, climb its towers for views of the old harbor, walk past the Temple of Baalat Gebal and the Roman Theater, then descend into the cobblestone souk where fishermen still work the dock. A Romanesque church, a historic mosque, and a fossil museum sit within the same compact ancient center. Lunch happens here, at a restaurant by the fishing port, and the time is yours to linger or browse the artisan shops. The Coastal Gems option extends the day to Batroun's old town and harbor after Byblos, adding the Phoenician seawall, St. Stephen Cathedral, and the Lebanese Diaspora Village. The Lebanon Freedom Tour skips Jeita entirely and focuses on the three coastal towns at a slower pace. The Saint Charbel Pilgrimage replaces Jeita with two spiritual sites: Monastery Saint Maroun and Saint Charbel's Hermitage in Aannaya, both set in mountain views, before moving to Harissa and Byblos.

Your driver-guide speaks English or French (Arabic also available) and stays with you for the full day. The SUV is air-conditioned, and the vehicle includes bottled water, Wi-Fi, and a complimentary coffee or tea stop. A written brochure with historical highlights for each site travels with you. The tour runs 9 to 10 hours door to door. Entrance fees to attractions are paid on-site, not included in the booking. Lunch cost is separate. Customizations are possible (add a winery stop, extend beach time, or swap in other sites), so the day can bend to what you want to see.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (3 to 12 years); Child (2 years): free; Infant (under 2): free.

What's inside Jeita Grotto and how do you move through it?

Jeita Grotto has two galleries of limestone formations. The upper gallery is illuminated and you walk through it on a paved path. The lower gallery is accessible by seasonal boat ride when water levels permit. If water is too low, the boat ride may not operate that day. Both galleries showcase natural limestone sculpting built over millennia.

Can I customize the tour or swap sites if I don't want to see everything listed?

Yes. The tour offers four set options (Iconic Trio, Coastal Gems, Lebanon Freedom, and Saint Charbel Pilgrimage), and you choose one at checkout. Beyond that, you can add winery stops, extend beach time, or request other sites. Discuss custom changes when you book.

What's included in the price and what do I pay separately?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Beirut, the private SUV with driver-guide, bottled water, coffee and tea stops, Wi-Fi on board, fuel, tolls, parking, and time allocated for lunch. You pay entrance fees to attractions directly on-site and cover your own lunch cost at the restaurant. Optional experiences like the cable car at Harissa are extra.

How long is the full day and when does it start?

The tour runs 9 to 10 hours total, including hotel pickup and drop-off in Beirut. Your guide will confirm the exact pickup time when you book.

What is Byblos and why is it worth the time?

Byblos is an ancient Phoenician port city on the Mediterranean coast, continuously inhabited for over 5,000 years. You explore a Crusader-era fortress built from Roman stones, climb its towers for harbor views, walk past the Temple of Baalat Gebal and a well-preserved Roman Theater, visit a Romanesque church and historic mosque, browse a fossil museum, and wander the old souk where fishermen still work. It's a single compact site where multiple historical layers sit side by side.