This morning begins with breakfast on the 32nd floor of the Hilton Grand Hotel, overlooking the city of Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea. After breakfast, we walk just five minutes to St. Rita’s Church to attend the Sunday Maronite Liturgy, joining the local parish community for Sunday Mass in Arabic.

Following the liturgy, we depart for the Qadisha Valley—approximately a two-hour drive, with lunch along the way. Known as The Holy Valley, Qadisha cradles centuries of Christian monasticism and preserves the earliest roots of the Maronite Church, dating back to the 4th century. UNESCO recognizes this sacred place as “one of the most important early Christian monastic settlements in the world.”

Weather and time permitting, we will visit Our Lady of the Fortress, a remarkable vantage point. On a clear day, the view stretches across northern Lebanon, the full sweep of its coastline, and even into Syria and its distant shoreline.

We then continue to the Monastery of St. Anthony, nestled deep within the Qadisha Valley. This monastery is believed to be the birthplace of the first printing press in the Middle East, which is said to have been built in 1584. Its earliest known printed text is The Book of Psalms from 1610. The Lebanese Maronite Order restored the printing press in the early nineteenth century. Though its operations were interrupted during the 1860 war and again during World War II, it stands today as a treasured witness to the region’s cultural and religious heritage.

Dinner in the Qadisha Valley.

Breakfast and Dinner are included.

Today, we continue our time in the Qadisha Valley, visiting numerous holy sites and encountering the places where monks and hermits lived, prayed, and sought God in silence for many centuries.

We begin with breakfast at our hotel before driving down into the valley to visit Mar Lichaa Monastery, one of the ancient monastic communities carved into the cliffs. Here, we will have a private Mass.

For lunch, we enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience at a small restaurant nestled among the trees at the bottom of the Qadisha Valley—an unforgettable setting of natural beauty and peace. After lunch, those who wish may take part in an optional hike through the valley to Qannoubine Monastery and the Grotto of St. Marina the Monk, both treasured sites of early Christian monastic life.

Qannoubine Monastery, one of the oldest in the valley and for centuries the seat of the Maronite Patriarchate.

Grotto of St. Marina the Monk, a deeply moving site honoring the saint whose life of humility and hidden holiness has inspired pilgrims for generations.

Dinner this evening is in the Qadisha Valley (OYO – on your own).

Overnight in the Qadisha Valley.

Breakfast and Lunch are included.

We begin the day with breakfast at our hotel in the Qadisha Valley before departing for the town of Bcharre, a center of Maronite Christian heritage.

Our first stop is the Basilica of Saba, a historic and beloved church in Bcharre. From there, we continue to the House of St. Charbel, a place deeply connected to the life of Lebanon’s most beloved modern saint. Here, we will have a private Mass at the House of St. Charbel.

Following Mass, we visit The Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab)—a protected grove of Lebanon’s famous ancient cedar trees. These towering cedars, some thousands of years old, are among the last survivors of the great forests that once covered the mountains of Lebanon. The cedars are mentioned in the Bible 103 times, including this verse from Ezekiel:

“Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of a high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.”

We enjoy lunch among the majestic Cedars, a serene and memorable experience in this remarkable mountain region.

Dinner this evening is in Bcharre 

Breakfast and Lunch are included.

This morning we depart the Qadisha Valley and begin our journey toward the coastal town of Batroun. Along the way, we stop at several significant monastic sites connected to the great saints of Lebanon.

Our first visit is to the Monastery of St. Hardini (1808–1858), a Maronite monk, priest, and scholar best known as the spiritual master and teacher of St. Charbel. His life of simplicity, devotion, and deep learning shaped the spirituality of many who followed him.

We continue to the Monastery of St. Rafka (1832–1914), the site associated with this beloved Maronite nun who was canonized in 2001 by St. John Paul II. St. Rafka is known for offering her profound suffering—including blindness and paralysis—to Christ, uniting herself completely with His Passion.

We then continue to Batroun for lunch, a golf cart tour, and an evening at leisure. Dinner will be on your own in Batroun’s Old Souk, known for its artisan boutiques, cafés, and traditional Lebanese craftsmanship.

Overnight in Batroun.

Breakfast and Lunch are included.

We begin the day with a private Mass at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a beautiful church overlooking the harbor of Batroun. After Mass, we enjoy a guided golf cart tour of Batroun, one of Lebanon’s oldest coastal cities, taking in its seaside charm and historic neighborhoods.

Late morning and early afternoon are free for lunch on your own (OYO) and time to explore and shop in Batroun’s Old Souk, known for its artisan boutiques, cafés, and traditional Lebanese craftsmanship.

In the afternoon, we depart for the ancient seaside city of Byblos, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited towns. Here, we take a golf cart tour and explore its historic port, stone streets, and archaeological sites.

The name Byblos is Greek; papyrus received its early Greek name (byblos, byblinos) because it was exported to the Aegean world through this coastal city. The English word Bible is derived from byblos meaning “the (papyrus) book.”

After exploring Byblos, we depart in the late afternoon for Beirut and check in once again at the Hilton Grand Hotel.

Tonight, we gather for dinner on the 32nd floor of the Hilton, with sweeping views over Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea.

Overnight in Beirut.

Breakfast and Dinner are included.

This morning begins with breakfast on the 32nd floor of the Hilton, overlooking Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea—a relaxing and unhurried start to the day.

After breakfast, we transfer to downtown Beirut for a private Mass.

The rest of the day is dedicated to exploring the rich layers of downtown Beirut, a district where ancient history, modern architecture, and Lebanon’s resilience story all converge.

Our tour includes:

• Nejmeh Square, the central plaza known for its iconic Ottoman-era clock tower

• Martyr’s Square, a place of deep national memory, home to the bullet-scarred martyrs’ statue and, on many days, rotating art exhibits

• The Solidere District, once devastated during the civil war and now restored under the French Mandate plan into a beautiful quarter of cafés, elegant shops, and pedestrian streets

• Three of Beirut’s prominent cathedrals:

  • St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral

  • St. George Maronite Cathedral

  • St. Elias Melkite Greek Catholic Cathedral

• A visit to the Beirut Port, the site of the August 4, 2020, explosion, a place that stands as a testimony to both tragedy and recovery

We enjoy lunch in the old city of Beirut, followed—time permitting—by a boat tour of the famous Jeita Grotto, a spectacular natural wonder known for its dramatic limestone formations and underground waterways.

Dinner this evening is at the Hilton (OYO – on your own).

Overnight in Beirut.

Breakfast and Lunch are included.

We begin the day with breakfast on the 32nd floor of the Hilton, overlooking Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea.

This morning, we travel a short distance up the mountain to Harissa, a beautiful hilltop overlooking Beirut and the coastline below. Here we will visit three significant sites of the Maronite and Melkite traditions:

• St. Paul’s Greek Melkite Basilica, with its striking architecture and sweeping views

• Our Lady of Lebanon, one of the most beloved Marian shrines in the Middle East

• The Monastery of Our Lady of Bkerké, the See of the Maronite Patriarchate—often called the Vatican of Lebanon
  

At Bkerké, we will pray the rosary with Patriarch Rai, the Patriarch of the Maronite Catholics, followed by a personal meeting with him if his schedule allows. Time permitting, we will also visit the Patriarchs’ private museum.

We will have a private Mass at Our Lady of Lebanon, a beautiful setting high above the Bay of Jounieh.

This evening, we gather for a very special dinner at Mounir, an iconic open-air restaurant nestled in the hills overlooking Beirut. Surrounded by lush gardens, stone terraces, and panoramic views of the city lights, Mounir is considered by many to be the finest Lebanese restaurant in all of Lebanon. It is renowned for its traditional mezze, wood-grilled specialties, and warm hospitality—an unforgettable dining experience.

Overnight in Beirut.

Breakfast and Dinner are included.

This morning begins with breakfast on the 32nd floor of the Hilton, overlooking Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea. After breakfast, we travel north for a private Mass at the Monastery of St. Maroun, near the tomb of St. Charbel.

After Mass, we remain at the Monastery of St. Maroun to spend time in prayer at the tomb of St. Charbel (1828–1898), one of Lebanon’s most beloved miracle-working saints. Here, we will also meet Father Louis, who has documented St. Charbel’s miracles for more than 30 years. He will share remarkable stories and testimonies of the saint’s intercession that he has personally witnessed over the decades.

We then continue up the mountain to visit the Hermitage of St. Charbel, where the saint lived in solitude and prayer. Overlooking a beautiful valley, the hermitage includes his simple cell and the quiet surroundings that shaped his life of deep devotion.

For lunch, we enjoy a delicious Lebanese meal at St. Maroun, prepared with ingredients from the monastery’s own garden.

Dinner this evening is on your own (OYO) at the Hilton, once again on the 32nd floor with views of Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea.

Overnight in Beirut.

Breakfast and Lunch are included.

After breakfast, private transfers to the airport will be arranged according to your individual departure times.

Breakfast is included.