Jounieh, Harissa & Byblos day tour from Beirut: Private car

Ride the telpherage to Harissa, explore a limestone grotto, then wander Byblos at your own speed

A private car tour from Beirut visiting Jeita Grotto, Harissa (reached by telpherage cable car), and the coastal town of Byblos, with an English-speaking guide and hotel pickup included. You control how long to spend at each site and where to eat, making the itinerary flexible around your interests rather than a fixed group schedule.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Jeita Grotto2h
2. Byblos2h

Visit Jeita Grotto, Harissa, and Byblos

• Travel 20 min from Beirut to Jeita Grotto
• Explore limestone formations in Jeita Grotto
• Drive 30 min to Jounieh
• Take 9 min telpherage to Lady of Harissa statue
• Visit St. George Cathedral and shrine
• Drive 37 min to Byblos
• Walk through Byblos old markets
• Visit Crusader Castle and wax museum
• Visit Saint John-Mark Cathedral
• Enjoy marine tour and meal by the sea

The experience

The tour runs nine hours and covers three distinct stops north of Beirut, each one reachable by private car so you're not waiting for a coach to fill or moving at someone else's pace. Jeita Grotto sits 20 minutes from the city. You walk 700 meters through the upper and lower chambers to see stalactites, stalagmites, and limestone formations carved naturally over millennia. From there, the drive to Jounieh takes 30 minutes, and a nine-minute telpherage ride lifts you above the bay to Harissa, where the statue of Our Lady of Lebanon overlooks the water and St. George Cathedral sits nearby.

Byblos, 37 kilometers north, is the final stop. The old town holds a Crusader castle, a wax museum, and Saint John-Mark Cathedral, but the real draw is the network of souks: narrow lanes lined with cafes and small shops where you can linger as long as you want. The guide speaks English throughout and knows the sites, but the car and the timing are yours. You decide when to move on and where to stop for a meal by the sea.

Car fares and passenger insurance are included in the price. Admission fees to the grotto, castle and museums, food, and drinks are separate, so you're not locked into reserved restaurants or preset menus.

What’s included

• Private car transport from your hotel.
• English-speaking guide.
• passenger insurance.
• hotel pickup and return.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (21 to 60 years) · Senior (61 to 75 years) · Youth (13 to 19 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 12 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Lebanon Cedar’s Tours

Is this one for you?Nine hours lets you move through all three sites without rushing, but rules out a full day elsewhere in Beirut. Choose this if you want to see the grotto, ride the cable car, and explore Byblos without coordinating your own transport or waiting for a group coach to depart.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 19 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

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.

How far is Jeita Grotto from Beirut, and what do you actually see inside?

Jeita Grotto is 20 minutes from Beirut. You walk through the upper and lower chambers for about 700 meters of the grotto's 2,200-meter total length, passing stalactites, stalagmites, and natural limestone formations shaped like curtains, columns, and draperies.

What is the telpherage and how long does it take to reach Harissa?

The telpherage is a cable car. From Jounieh, it's a nine-minute ride up to Harissa, where you'll find the statue of Our Lady of Lebanon and views across Jounieh Bay.

Can I spend as much time as I want in Byblos, or is there a set schedule?

You control the pace. Since you're in a private car with a guide, you decide how long to stay in Byblos exploring the old town, the castle, the souks, or sitting by the sea.

Does the tour include meals or entry tickets?

No. Car fares and insurance are included, but admission to Jeita Grotto, Byblos Castle, museums, and all food and drinks are separate, so you choose where and what to eat.

What time does the tour start and end?

The tour runs nine hours total. Hotel pickup is included, and your guide will arrange the start time based on your hotel location and preferences.