8:30 AM — Departure from Beirut Your guide collects you from your Beirut hotel and you head south along the coastal road, with the Mediterranean on one side and the Lebanese mountains rising on the other — a scenic start to the day. ~45 min drive to Sidon

Your first stop is Sidon's most recognisable landmark — a 13th-century Crusader fortress built on a small island just off the coast, connected to the shore by a narrow causeway. As you walk through its towers and vaulted halls, your guide recounts the dramatic history of the Crusader occupation, the Mamluk sieges, and the Phoenician harbour that once made Sidon one of the most powerful trading cities of the ancient world. The sea views from the ramparts are among the best on the Lebanese coast.

Lose yourself in the labyrinthine alleyways of one of Lebanon's most atmospheric traditional markets. Unlike the restored souks of Beirut, Sidon's old market is the real thing — still trading as it has for centuries, with spice vendors, coppersmiths, fabric merchants, and sweet shops spilling out onto the cobblestones. A feast for the senses and a genuine window into daily Levantine life.

Tucked within the old city, this one-of-a-kind museum is housed in a beautifully restored khan and dedicated entirely to Sidon's ancient olive oil soap-making tradition — a craft the city has practiced for over a thousand years. Exhibits walk you through the full production process, from the harvesting of olives to the pressing, cooking, and cutting of soap blocks, many of which were exported across the Mediterranean and as far as Europe.

End your time in Sidon at this grand 17th-century caravanserai commissioned by Emir Fakhreddine II to accommodate European merchants trading along the Silk Road. The wide arcaded courtyard, elegant vaulted galleries, and carved stone facades make Khan el Franj one of the finest pieces of Ottoman-era architecture in all of Lebanon — and one of the most photographed spots in Sidon. ~15 min · ~35 min drive to Tyre

Step into the ancient world at one of the largest and best-preserved Roman hippodromes ever built. At its peak, this vast arena seated up to 20,000 spectators who gathered to watch chariot races thunder around the 480-metre track. Walking the length of the track today — past the original starting gates, turning posts, and spectator terraces — is one of the most immersive Roman experiences in the entire Middle East. Your guide brings the roar of the crowd back to life.

Lunch in Tyre — optional Take a break for lunch at a local restaurant in Tyre, with fresh Lebanese mezze and seafood just steps from the Mediterranean. A relaxed pause before the afternoon's final stop.

The day's final stop is the hilltop village of Maghdouché, where Christian tradition holds that the Virgin Mary waited in a cave while Jesus preached in nearby Sidon. Visit the ancient cave sanctuary and the Church of Our Lady of Mantara — "Our Lady Who Waits" — a site of pilgrimage revered by both Christians and Muslims across Lebanon and the wider region. The panoramic views from the hilltop over the southern Lebanese coast and the mountains of the interior are a fittingly beautiful end to the day.

Return to Beirut — approx. 5:00 PM Drop-off at your Beirut hotel after a full day through three thousand years of Lebanese history — Phoenician, Crusader, Roman, and sacred.