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Full-Day Private Trip to Beiteddine Palace, Deir el Qamar and Sidon
5.0
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Beit ed-Dine
Embark on a full-day private trip to Beiteddine Palace, Deir el Qamar, and Sidon from Beirut. Explore historical sites, charming towns, and stunning landscapes without the hassle of renting a car.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Beiteddine Palace - Beiteddine Palace, also known as the ‘House of Faith,’ is a 19th-century palace located in Beiteddine, Lebanon. It is the venue for the annual Beiteddine Festival and houses the Beiteddine Palace Museum. The palace was constructed by Emir Bashir Chehab II, who later ruled the Mount Lebanon Emirate, between 1788 and 1818. Post-1840, the Ottomans used it as a government building, and during the French Mandate, it served as a local administrative office. In 1943, it was designated as the president’s official summer residence. The palace suffered significant damage during the Lebanese Civil War. Today, parts of it are open to the public, while the rest remains the president’s summer residence.
- Deir el Qamar - Deir al-Qamar, meaning ‘Monastery of the Moon,’ is a village situated southeast of Beirut and five kilometers from Beiteddine Palace in the Chouf District of Mount Lebanon. Deir El Qamar was the first village in Lebanon to establish a municipality in 1864 and is the birthplace of many notable figures, including artists, writers, and politicians. The village was home to people of various religious backgrounds and featured a mosque, synagogue, and Christian churches. In 1860, Deir al-Qamar was destroyed during the civil war between Druze and Christians, during which the town was set on fire. Napoleon III sent a French contingent to rebuild it, reaffirming France’s historical role as protector of Christians in the Ottoman Empire, as established by a 1523 treaty. In 1864, Deir el-Qamar elected the first municipality in the Arab provinces of the Ottoman Empire. The village retains a picturesque appearance with typical stone houses and red tile roofs.
- Fakhreddine’s Mosque - Fakhreddine Mosque, with its octagonal minaret, is located in Deir el Qamar, Lebanon. Built in 1493 and restored in the 16th century by Fakhreddine I, it is the oldest mosque in Mount Lebanon.
- Saydet El Talle Church - The Church of Saidet et Tallé, translated as Our Lady of the Hill, is one of the most significant historical and religious sites in Deir el Qamar, dating back to the 15th century. Monk Nicolas Smisaati built a church on the site over the ruins of an old Phoenician temple dedicated to the goddess Astarte, which was later destroyed by an earthquake in 859. According to the Maronite Heritage website, a legend says that a Druze Emir in Baakline saw a light emanating from the hill of Dar El Kamar. He ordered his soldiers to dig in the land the next morning, instructing them to build a mosque if they found an Islamic symbol and a church if they found a Christian symbol. The soldiers found a rock with a cross on it, and beneath the cross were the moon and Venus, indicating that the site had once been a temple dedicated to the moon and Venus before becoming a church.
- Sidon - Sidon, one of the oldest Phoenician cities, was founded in the 3rd millennium BC and flourished in the 2nd millennium BC. Sidon was renowned for its purple dyes and glassware, and Jesus visited the city. During the Crusades, Sidon changed hands multiple times and was destroyed and rebuilt several times.
- Crusaders Sea Castle - The Sidon Sea Castle was constructed by the Crusaders in the 13th century on a small island connected to the mainland by a causeway, serving as a fortress of the Holy Land. It is one of the most notable historical sites in Sidon, Lebanon. The castle was largely destroyed by the Mamluks in 1291 and later restored by Fakhr el-Dine Maan II in the early 17th century. Old prints depict the fortress as a site of great beauty, but little remains of its original embellishments.
- Khan al-Franj - Khan al-Franj is one of Sidon’s main attractions. Built in the early 17th century by Emir Fakhreddine II, it served as a hotel for ambassadors and a center for commercial exchange between Lebanon and France. The hotel quickly became a hub for literature, religion, history, industry, and diplomacy, becoming a cultural and civilizational center. The khan features a large rectangular courtyard with a central fountain surrounded by covered galleries.
- Soap Museum - Saida - The Soap Museum in Sidon specializes in Levantine soaps. The soap workshop was originally established by the Hammoud family in the 17th century. The museum traces the history of soap making in the region, its development, and manufacturing techniques. Visitors can watch demonstrations of traditional olive oil soap making and learn about the history of ‘hammam’ (bath) traditions. The museum also features a historical section with artifacts found during onsite excavations, including clay pipe heads from the 17th to 19th centuries and pottery fragments. The museum building is an old soap factory from the 17th century, with parts dating back to the 13th century.
- Debbane Palace - The Debbane Palace, built in the Old City of Sidon in the 18th century, is the last remaining house from the Ottoman period in a city now dominated by traffic and modern storefronts. Accessed via a narrow stairwell in the crowded Souq, the palace is constructed atop the markets below. Inside, it features reception rooms, stained-glass windows, rare mosaic tiles, and centuries-old stables. The Debbane Palace is the only example of an Ottoman palace within the city walls of urban Lebanon.
- Sidon Souks - The souks of Sidon are the center of commercial activities, including retail and craft industries. The souk is a labyrinth of narrow alleyways filled with small kiosks, shops, cafes, street vendors, butchers, grocers, shoemakers, tailors, and jewelers.
What's Included
- Tour Leader
- Hotel Pick up & Drop off
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Comfortable Private Transportation
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Entrance fees
Additional Information
Experience Beitddine, Deir Elkamar, and Sidon all in one day from Beirut without the burden of hiring a vehicle. Travel in a deluxe car across the Lebanese countryside and seize the opportunity to immerse yourself in the landscape as your chauffeur handles the wayfinding. Key attractions include the Beitddine Palace, the Old Souk, the Sea Side Crusader Castle, various mosques, churches, and more.
Location
Beiteddine Palace
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
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(1 Rating)
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1 star
Janice_g
Mar 12, 2023
We liked walking in Sidon... - We liked walking in Sidon and the soap museum. We really enjoyed Beiteddine Palace and the mosaic exhibit.
We thank our driver Hassan for allowing us to speak Arabic without constant correction. He is a good guide.
Review provided by Viator
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