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Expedition to Antiquity: Lebanon with "Calypso Ukraine" (+2 days Damascus)

Expedition to Antiquity: Lebanon with "Calypso Ukraine" (+2 days Damascus)

Expedition to Antiquity: Lebanon with "Calypso Ukraine" + 2 days Damascus, Syria

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Duration: 7 days / 6 nights

Tour date:

27.04 — 3.05.2024,

17.09.2023 — 23.09.2024

+ 2 days for a tour to Syria optional

Itinerary: Beirut - Jaita cave - Byblos - Tire - Cana - Makdushi - Anjar - Baalbek - cedar grove - Baatara waterfall - Hezbollah Museum - Belfort Crusader fortress in Nabatieh

Our Telegram channel with all the news and updates on Expeditions

https://t.me/KalipsoUkraine

Telegram channel Calypso

Tour program

1 day.

Arrival to Beirut of the participants of the tour of Lebanon. Transfers, accommodation, rest.

suitcases

Day 2 

Today we have a tour of Beirut, Jaita Cave with a small boat ride on the underground river, panoramic views from Mount Harisa and statues of the Virgin Mary. LebanonAnd here is the most famous place in Lebanon - Byblos, the oldest of the continuously inhabited cities in the world, the cradle of alphabetic writing.

Lebanon

Oddly enough, the name of the city "Byblos" was not recognized by the early inhabitants of the city. For several millennia it was called "Gubla" and later "Jebel". The historical part of the city is a vast area of archaeological excavations, through which you can trace the entire centuries-old history of the city from 7000 BC to the Crusaders, it was here that the first alphabet, the progenitor of the modern one, was created, it is surrounded by numerous shops where everyone can find something interesting for yourself.

Levan

Day 3 Today our path lies to the south of Lebanon to the ancient and most famous of the Phoenician cities - Tire. "Rock" - translated from Phoenician. Tyr has always fought desperately for its freedom. Even the great Alexander the Great took 7 months to take it. and Attractions are impressive. A huge hippodrome for 20,000 spectators, a necropolis with hundreds of sarcophagi, a triumphal arch almost the same as that which was in Palmyra and today, unfortunately, has already been lost for us ... All this reveals to us ancient Tire.

Tour to Lebanon

And if you go back to the time of the birth of Christianity, it is very interesting to visit Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water into wine at the wedding, as well as climb Mount Makdushi, where the virgin Mary was waiting for her son in a cave, who preached at that time in Sayda and Sarepte. Saida (Sidon) is a city mentioned in the Bible. And in this city we will visit the fortress of the Crusaders of the 13th century, the medieval bazaar, the caravanserai, and the temple dedicated to the god-healer Eshmun, very revered by the Phoenicians.

Lebanon

Dinner at a traditional restaurant.

Day 4 

Our path today lies east to the picturesque Bekaa Valley, which is essentially a mountain plateau and is located at an altitude of 900 m above sea level. Anjar is one of the residences of the great Caliph of the Omayid Empire. Its columns and palaces , baths and streets speak of the wealth of a once prosperous dynasty .

Further, our path lies in the small village of Niha, located at the foot of the Lebanese mountains. Here we admire the temples of the Roman period, the architecture of which is consonant with the temples of Baalbek. And, of course, the pearl of our journey is the ancient Baalbek or, if you like, Heliopolis, as the Greeks called it.

Lebanon

The scale is hard to imagine! 300 stones from 300 to 750 tons are at its core. The Romans were the last to build a temple on it. And this is far from the only thing they have built. The small temple of Bacchus is not much smaller, but much better preserved. The Temple of Venus is very small, but the most elegant of them. And in order to better feel the grandeur of the structure, we visit the quarry, where lies the largest stone processed, but never delivered to the construction site, weighing about 1200 tons. Baalbek is famous not only for its temples, but also for its wonderful cuisine. Some dishes can only be tasted here and they are incredibly tasty. Next - a short rest in the oldest winery Ksara, where we will walk through the cave - storage and taste the best varieties of Lebanese wines.

Lebanon

Day 5

Today we are going to the north of the country to the Cedar Grove, then the house of St. Charbel, the Baatar waterfall, the Kadisha valley. 

Lebanon

Day 6 

Another day in Lebanon and we head south to the mountainous region of Shuf to the ancient capital of Lebanon, Deir Amar. There we are waiting for the palace of Emir Bashir and the Hezbollah military museum in Mlita (a special place, a monument to the modern history of Lebanon, you can shoot on a simulator with different types of weapons) and at the end of the day - the Crusader fortress Belfort in Nabatieh.

Lebanon

We return to Beirut, farewell dinner and we fly home tomorrow.

Day 7 

Flight from Beirut to Istanbul (or continuation of the tour to Syria for 2 days).

Lebanon

Lebanon tour cost: 1525 $ per person in a double room

 

2 day tour to Damascus from Beirut

1 day. 

We will get up early and go to the border with Syria, go through all the visa formalities (our driver-guide will help us in everything) and after only 1 hour we will arrive in the capital of Syria - Damascus. Today we are waiting for the oldest and largest mosque in the world, the Great Umayyad Grand Mosque, the eastern markets, which are incomparable in Syria, the streets and architecture of ancient Damascus.  

Lebanon and Syria from Calypso

 

Day 2 

Today we will go to Mount Kasiun to the shrine of Arbain, where, according to legend, Cain killed Abel. Views of Damascus from the mountain. Next, the National Museum of Damascus and departure to Beirut. 

Syria from Calypso

Cost of a 2-day tour to Syria: 430 $ per person in a double room + visa about 85 dollars visa

Our Telegram channel with all the news and updates on Expeditions

https://t.me/KalipsoUkraine

Telegram channel Calypso

Hotel according to the program – Radisson Blu Martinez Beirut 5*

The cost of the tour in Lebanon includes:

  • accommodation in a 5* hotel in the center of Beirut;
  • breakfast at the hotel;
  • all transfers according to the program;
  • all transfers;
  • guide services;
  • all entrance tickets according to the tour program.

The cost of the tour in Syria includes:

  • accommodation in a 4-5 * hotel in Damascus;
  • Breakfast in the hotel;
  • all transfers according to the program;
  • all transfers from Beirut and back to Beirut;
  • guide services;
  • visa support and security package at the border 
  • all entrance tickets according to the tour program.

The price does NOT include:

  • air travel;
  • visa fees
  • personal expenses and medical insurance.

For travel lovers: School of tourism online
Author's project of non-standard tours: Expeditions with Calypso
For coffee lovers: Gorilla's coffee

Anastasia Yakovenko

Anastasia Yakovenko

+38 (095) 238-08-08

  

  office@kalipsoua.com