Private Tour

Private Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included

Overview

Available languages

Arabic

English

8 hours

Mobile ticket

South Lebanon is the part of the country most first-time visitors skip — and the part that most experienced Lebanon travelers say they wish they had gone to sooner. This private day trip covers three destinations that together span 5,000 years of Phoenician, Crusader, Roman. At your own pace, with an expert local guide at the site where it matters most.

Sidon: a 13th-century Crusader sea castle, the world's only olive oil soap museum, a living medieval souk, and a Silk Road caravanserai. Tyre: a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Al-Bass complex — triumphal arch, colonnaded necropolis street, and a Roman hippodrome built for 20,000 spectators — is explored with an expert local guide who knows every stone. Maghdouché: the hilltop sanctuary where Mantara — "the one who waits" in Arabic — marks where the Virgin Mary is held to have waited while Jesus preached in Sidon below, revered by Christians and Muslims for two millennia. Private vehicle throughout. Tickets payable on site.

Additional Info

Specialized infant seats are available

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

What To Expect

Beirut

9:00 AM — Hotel pickup Your driver meets the group at your Beirut hotel and heads south along the Mediterranean coastal highway toward Sidon.

Admission Not Applicable

Crusaders Sea Castle

Sidon Sea Castle — Crusader fortress on the water A 13th-century Crusader fortress on a small island just off the coast, connected to shore by a narrow stone causeway with open sea on both sides. Phoenician traders were using this harbour 3,000 years before the Crusaders built here. Your driver covers the full layered history from the castle ramparts — Phoenician port to Crusader fortress to Mamluk conquest — at your own pace.

30 minutes • Admission Not Included

What‘s Included

Knowledgeable English-speaking driver

Private air-conditioned vehicle exclusively for your group

Soap Museum — world's only olive oil soap museum

Sidon Sea Castle visit

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Beirut

Expert local guide at Tyre Al-Bass archaeological complex

30-minute walk through Sidon Old Souks

Gratuities (optional)

Lunch in Tyre (optional — at own expense)

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Options

PRIVATE TOUR

Pickup included

Reviews

5.00

7 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

This was a fun, ...
Scott M,Apr 25, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00
This was a fun, memorable and fact-filled day visiting Saida (the sea castle, wandering around the labyrinthine souk, and checking out the Soap Museum), Sour (visiting the 2 main archaeological sites) and Magdouche (a Christian pilgrimage site on a hill overlooking the sea). The guide Hassan was fantastic - always flexible, helpful, informative and easy to chat with about anything. The local guide I had at Sour, Mohammad, was an expert in the area and could easily write a book with all his knowledge of the sites. An amazing day with a highly recommended company.
Fascinating history, great sights, beautiful tour
Joseph S,Mar 3, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00
Out tour guide Hassan is an archeologist and full of enthusiasm and knowledge which he is happy to share. Enjoyed learning about both the ancient and recent history of the area. The Sidon fortress, ancient Orthodox churches and Tyre made for an interesting day.
Beautiful place
Folgore1962,Nov 6, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
You can see the glories of the past in a wonderful setting. The locals are friendly. recommended
Lebanon Travel
FellowTraveler564884,Jul 21, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I traveled alone with my 10 year old son and booked a private tour with Beirut Daily Tours.The driver picked us up on time. He was friendly and very welcoming. The car was comfortable and the tour was amazing. We were taken to the sights and had guided information all the time. I had to pay the entry fees and for our lunch as this was not included in the private tour but overall my experience was amazing. Thanks Beirut Daily Tours
Great private tour to the most interesting places
kategz g,Jan 31, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
we enjoyed the private tour to Sidon Tyre Maghdouche. our tour guide Raihl is great. he is very knowledgeable and accommodating. The company is very reliable and the tour is on time with flexibility to our interests. If we had chance to come back to Beirut again, we'll definitely use Raihl as our tour guide again to see some more places.
You Must See Tyre!
davidwdeeds,Jul 31, 2018
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Raiba (sp?) was a great guide and the expert at Tyre was very knowledgeable. Eat a shwarma (again, sp?) in Sidon and climb the tower at Maghdouche for the view.