Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Small Group Tour with Lunch from Beirut
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 2 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Discover South Lebanon's most iconic cities in one expertly guided day from Beirut. Journey through 3,000 years of history — Crusader castles, Phoenician souks, Roman ruins, and a sacred hilltop sanctuary revered by Christians and Muslims alike. Visit Sidon's Sea Castle, the world's only Soap Museum, and the grand Khan el Franj. Continue to Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to walk the ancient Roman Hippodrome before a seaside lunch. End the day at Maghdouché, where the Virgin Mary is believed to have rested — with sweeping views over the southern Lebanese coast. Small group. Local expert guide. Hotel pickup included.
Inclusions
What's included
- Entry/Admission to Tyre Hippodrome ( if option selected )
- Entry/Admission to Sidon Castle (if option selected)
- Lunch in a local restaurant (if option selected)
- Small group sizes
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Entry/Admission to Sidon Soap Museum ( if option selected )
- Professional, knowledgeable guides
What's not
- Gratuities
- Food or drinks unless specified
Itinerary
8:30 AM — Hotel pickup, Your guide meets you at your Beirut hotel lobby. Depart south along the coastal highway toward Sidon.
9.15 am Begin at the magnificent Sidon Sea Castle, built by the Crusaders in the 13th century on a small island connected to the shore. Your guide brings the fortress to life with stories of Crusader rule, Arab sieges, and Phoenician legacy beneath its foundations.
9.45 am Stroll through one of the most authentic traditional markets in Lebanon. The narrow alleyways are lined with spice merchants, goldsmiths, and artisan workshops — a living tableau of Middle Eastern commerce unchanged for centuries.
10.15 am Visit the world's only museum dedicated to the ancient art of olive oil soap-making — a Sidonian craft that dates back over a millennium. The beautifully restored khan houses exhibits tracing the full journey from olive grove to finished soap cake.
10.45 am Conclude your time in Sidon at this magnificent 17th-century caravanserai, built by Fakhreddine II as a staging point for Silk Road merchants. The arcaded courtyard and vaulted galleries are among the finest Ottoman-era architecture in Lebanon.
12.00 pm Arrive in ancient Tyre and step into the Roman world at one of the largest and best-preserved hippodromes of antiquity. Chariot races once drew crowds of 20,000 here. Your guide explains how this Phoenician city became a Roman showpiece.
️ 1.30 pm - Lunch Stop in Tyre Enjoy a relaxed midday break at a local Tyre restaurant. Savor fresh Lebanese mezze and seafood with views of the Mediterranean — a well-deserved pause before the afternoon.
3.30 pm 3️⃣ Maghdouche – Our Lady of Mantara (Approx. 30 minutes) Make your way to this hilltop village where tradition holds that the Virgin Mary waited while Jesus preached in Sidon. Visit the ancient cave sanctuary and the Church of Our Lady of Mantara, and take in sweeping views over the southern Lebanese coast and mountains.
Return to Beirut — approx. 5:00–6:00 PM Drop-off at your Beirut hotel, completing a full day through the heart of South Lebanon's ancient history.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 52
- 40
- 30
- 20
- 10
Ratings come from 2 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Pickup
- Pickup is included for everyone.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 15 travellers
- Operated by
- Beirut Airport Transfer
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Beirut
- Its from-price is 45% below the median of the 442 experiences we list in Beirut.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 159 of 442.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Beirut
Beirut is Lebanon's capital on a Mediterranean headland, a Phoenician port city with Roman remains and mountains rising close behind.
Beirut juts into the Mediterranean on a rocky headland, with the snow-streaked peaks of Mount Lebanon rising behind. Founded by the Phoenicians, it became the Roman city of Berytus, famed for its school of law, and the remains of Roman baths lie in the city centre. The Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, with its blue domes, and the nearby churches of St George show the mix of faiths.
Top-ranked sights in Beirut: Jeita Grotto, Our Lady of Lebanon (Notre Dame du Liban), Byblos (Jbeil).
Special offers in Beirut
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
