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Small-Group Chouf Countryside Tour: Beiteddine Palace and Deir El Qamar Exploration with Lunch
Beit ed-Dine
Escape the city and explore the beautiful Chouf countryside in Lebanon. Visit Beiteddine Palace and Deir El Qamar village, enjoy stunning landscapes, and indulge in a delicious lunch. Book now!
Duration:
6 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 repurposed the palace 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 dispatched a French contingent to rebuild it, reaffirming France’s historical role as protector of Christians in the Ottoman Empire, as established by a treaty in 1523. In 1864, Deir el-Qamar elected the first municipality in the Arab provinces of the Ottoman Empire. The village maintains a charming appearance with its typical stone houses and red tile roofs.
- Fakhreddine’s Mosque - Fakhreddine Mosque, featuring an 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 constructed a church on the site over the ruins of an ancient Phoenician temple dedicated to the goddess Astarte, which was later destroyed by an earthquake in 859. According to the Maronite Heritage website, “the legend says that there was a Druze Emir in Baakline looking at the hill of Dar El Kamar. He saw a light emanating from the hill, so he gathered his soldiers and ordered them to dig in the land the next morning. He instructed them: ‘If you find an Islamic symbol, build a mosque. If you find a Christian symbol, build a church.’ In the morning, the soldiers discovered a rock with a cross on it, and beneath the cross were the moon and Venus. This indicated that in ancient times, there was a temple dedicated to the moon and Venus, which later became a church.”
What's Included
- Hotel pick up & drop off
- Entrance fees
- English speaking driver
- Lunch
- In-vehicle air conditioning
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Take a break from the bustling metropolis with a day-long tour encompassing two villages within Lebanon’s rural Chouf region. Travel comfortably in an air-conditioned vehicle, taking in the scenic vistas en route to Beiteddine Palace and the village of Deir el Qamar, situated in the Chouf Mountains. Make the most of this small group excursion with included admission costs, and a delightful lunch at a local eatery.
Location
Beiteddine Palace
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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