Private Jeita Grotto, Dog River Inscriptions & Byblos Tour
Overview
Available languages
6 hours
Mobile ticket
Lebanon compresses thousands of years of history into a remarkably small stretch of coastline north of Beirut. This private day tour captures three of the most remarkable stops on that stretch — each one completely different, each one extraordinary in its own right.
Begin at Nahr el Kalb — the Dog River canyon — where the limestone walls have served as the world's oldest billboard for over 3,000 years. Egyptian pharaohs, Assyrian kings, Roman emperors, and French generals all carved victory inscriptions into these cliffs as they passed through on their conquests — creating an open-air archive of ancient military history that is unlike anything else on earth. Then descend into Jeita Grotto — one of the most spectacular cave systems in the world and a finalist in the New 7 Wonders of Nature. End the day in Byblos — one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth, where a Crusader castle, Phoenician royal tombs, and an ancient fishing port sit within a single walk.
Additional Info
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Beirut
9:00 AM — Departure from Beirut Your private English-speaking driver collects you from your Beirut hotel and heads north — the first stop is just 20 minutes up the coast at the Dog River canyon.
Stand before one of the most remarkable open-air archives of ancient history anywhere in the world. The limestone walls of the Nahr el Kalb canyon — where the coastal road narrows to a bottleneck between the cliffs and the sea — have been carved with victory inscriptions by every major power that passed through Lebanon over three millennia. Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II left his mark here in 1274 BC after the Battle of Kadesh. Assyrian King Esarhaddon carved his campaign into the rock in 671 BC. Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius recorded his passage. Napoleon's French army added their own inscription in the 19th century — and remarkably, the Lebanese Republic continued the tradition with inscriptions marking independence and the withdrawal of foreign forces. No single stretch of rock in the world records the passage of so many civilisations across so many centuries. Your driver brings each inscription to life with the story behind it.
Options
PRIVATE TOUR
Lunch & Tickets not included: Please note this option does not include the Lunch and tickets. This cost goes on your own. Pickup included
What‘s Included
Knowledgeable English-speaking driver
Hotel pickup and drop-off in Beirut
Private air-conditioned vehicle
Visit to Nahr el Kalb — ancient victory inscriptions from 1274 BC
Lunch in Byblos (optional — at own expense)
Gratuities (optional)
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Related Experiences
Operated by Beirut Airport Transfer