Qadisha Valley & Cedars of God tour: Small group with lunch

Three ancient Christian sites in one morning, then lunch in the mountains

A small-group tour of Qadisha Valley, Becharre and the Cedars of God Forest in Lebanon, departing from your hotel with a professional guide and returning the same day. The tour includes entry to all three sites and a lunch of authentic Lebanese cuisine at a local restaurant. You choose whether to add the meal and tickets at checkout, or take the guided tour alone. Suitable for all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Qadisha Valleypass by
2. Gibran Museum30m · entry included
3. Cedars of God Forest45m · entry included

Explore Qadisha Valley and Bcharre

• Visit Qadisha Valley monasteries
• Explore Bcharre town and churches
• Tour the Gibran Museum
• Walk in Cedars of God Forest
• See Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great

The experience

The day starts in Qadisha Valley, one of the earliest settlement sites of Christian monasteries in the world. The valley's caves, monasteries and terraced landscape date back to the first phase of Christianity, and the Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great (built as early as the fourth century and rebuilt after centuries of destruction) still stands at 950 meters above sea level, surrounded by pine, oak and fruit trees. From there, the tour moves to Becharre, the town that preserves the only remaining original Cedars of God and was the birthplace of Kahlil Gibran, the Lebanese writer, painter and sculptor whose museum occupies the former Monastery of Mar Sarkis.

At the Gibran Museum, you walk through 440 original paintings and drawings, his tomb, and the furniture and manuscripts he kept in his New York studio: a biographical record of one of the twentieth century's most influential artists. The museum itself is housed in a restored monastery, so the building carries as much history as the collection inside it. Then comes the Cedars of God Forest, where 375 ancient cedars remain from forests that once covered the region and were prized enough to be cited 103 times in the Bible. The cedar is Lebanon's national symbol and appears on the flag. Standing among the survivors gives the scale of what has been lost and what endures.

Your hotel pickup and drop-off are included, as is the air-conditioned vehicle and a professional English-speaking guide for the full eight hours. Lunch at a local restaurant and admission tickets to all three sites are optional at checkout. You can take the guided tour alone, add lunch, or bundle both lunch and entry together depending on what suits your day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• professional English-speaking guide for the full eight hours.
• lunch at a local restaurant with authentic Lebanese cuisine (on the lunch options).
• entry tickets and admission to Qadisha Valley, the Gibran Museum and the Cedars of God Forest (on the option that includes tickets).

Options for this experience

3 options

Guided tour, lunch not includedGuide in English · 08:30Lunch and tickets are not included. Please note this option does not cover the lunch or the tickets, so those costs are paid by you. Pickup is included.

Guided tour with lunchGuide in English · 08:30Tickets are not included. Please note this option does not cover tickets, so that cost is paid by you. Lunch is included in the tour price. Pickup is included.

Guided tour with lunch and ticketsGuide in English · 08:30Tickets to historical sites are included in the tour price. Lunch is included in the tour price. Pickup is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesThursday and SundayDeparts at 08:30

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

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 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Lebanon Tours Online

Is this one for you?Choose the guided tour alone if you want to see the sites with a professional guide but prefer to handle your own meals and entry. Add lunch if you want to eat at a local restaurant without planning it separately. Bundle lunch and tickets if you want everything arranged (entry, transport and a meal) in a single booking.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What is the Qadisha Valley and why does this tour spend time there?

Qadisha Valley is one of the world's earliest Christian monastic settlement sites, with caves, monasteries and cultivated terraces dating back to the first phase of Christianity. The Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great, built in the fourth century and rebuilt after repeated destruction, still stands at 950 meters above sea level surrounded by pine, oak and fruit trees, making it a living record of early monastic life in Lebanon.

Can I see the original Cedars of God on this tour?

Yes. The Cedars of God Forest holds 375 surviving ancient cedars. The last remains of forests that once covered the region and were cited 103 times in the Bible as the most valued construction material for religious buildings. Becharre is the only town where the original cedars are still preserved and growing.

What does the Gibran Museum contain?

The Gibran Museum, housed in the former Monastery of Mar Sarkis in Becharre, holds 440 original paintings and drawings by Kahlil Gibran, his tomb, and the furniture and manuscripts from his studio when he lived in New York City. The museum was founded in 1935 to honor the Lebanese writer, philosopher and artist.

Do I need to arrange my own lunch, or is it provided?

Lunch at a local restaurant serving authentic Lebanese cuisine is optional. You choose at checkout whether to add it to your booking. If you select the lunch option, it is included in the tour. If you prefer to skip it, you can take the guided tour without a meal.

How does hotel pickup work on this tour?

Your hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the tour price. The air-conditioned vehicle collects you from your hotel at the start of the day and returns you at the end of the eight-hour tour, so you don't need to arrange separate transport to the valley.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You spend the day in an air-conditioned vehicle moving between sites, with time to walk and explore at each location, but there are no strenuous hikes or climbs required.