Travel to Lebanon – One Day Schedule
If you have only 1 day to spend in Lebanon, whether you are coming for a one day trip from a surrounding country, or you’re on a business trip to Lebanon, and you have one day left, the following suggestions have been written to guide you in how to plan and spend your day.
Travel to Lebanon – Lady of Light Shrine
Travel to Lebanon Saydit Al Nourieh
Begin your journey early by visiting Deir el Nouriye (Lady of Light), a Marian shrine in Hamat. Apart from the fact that the place and the representation of the Holy Virgin is miraculous and captivating, the location is charming, just above the sea. It is said that in the 4th century, sailors built the original shrine, after an adventure they had on a winter night. They were sailing on a stormy sea, and their life was in peril. Then, they began praying and the Virgin appeared to them as a light guiding them to the shore. The actual Greek Orthodox Monastery was built in the 17th Century and features the miraculous icon of the Theotokos.
Travel to Lebanon – Mussaylha Fort
Travel to Lebanon - Mussaylha Fort
Follow your visit to the Lady of Light by a visit to the Mussaylha fort, 5 minutes from Hamat on your way north. The construction year of the fort is established around 1624 and is attributed to Fakhreddine II.
Travel to Lebanon – Cedars
Travel to Lebanon Cedars
After visiting the fort, head to the Cedars Forest in Bcharreh. The remains of the thousands years old Cedars Trees are impressive in spite of the reduced size of the forest. The size of the trees and the story behind them reflects majesty, and the dry climate is sure to fill you with vigor, especially on a summer day.
Travel to Lebanon – Saints Valley Hike
If you’re the adventurous type, follow your visit to the Cedars, by a hike down the saints Valley, visiting the Holy Mountains where numerous churches still exist today, and end your hike by a walk along the river at the bottom of the valley, while listening to the sound of the water flowing and seeing the extraordinary scenery of the place.
Travel to Lebanon – Baalbeck
Travel to Lebanon - Baalbeck
Continue your day by going to Baalbeck through the mountain, the drive is around 1 hour, but it is worth the effort because the old city of the light has no equal in the world. The wonderful ruins show a mixture of civilizations, and display the wonderful work of Phoenicians in construction, associated with the splendor of the Roman empire, and many other Byzantine features that only an Historian can explain, thus for this visit, you will need a guide.
After Baalbeck, go to Assi River near Hermel for some rest, and maybe a swim in the cold Assi River waters. If you’re the adventurous type, you can even go for a rafting adventure.
Travel to Lebanon – Beirut
Finish your day in the city center of Beirut, and indulge in the lights of the millennium city. Relax on the terrasse of a café there, and begin planning a longer trip to Lebanon, since the day that you just spent is only a small portion of what can be seen in Lebanon.
Travel to Lebanon – Additional Information and Resources
For more information about your travel to Lebanon, visit Things to do in Lebanon
For information about your travel to Lebanon on a summer day, visitThings to do in Lebanon during summer