• Beirut - 9:00 AM — Departure from Beirut
  Your driver will pick you up from your hotel in Beirut and head southeast into the Chouf Mountains. These pine-covered ridges rise steeply above the coastal plain as you make your way towards Beiteddine.
• Beiteddine Palace - Beiteddine Palace — the presidential residence
  Constructed between 1788 and 1840 by Emir Bashir II, who unified Lebanon’s mountain communities under one rule, Beiteddine now serves as the official summer residence of the Lebanese President. It is the most magnificent palace in the Chouf and one of the finest in the Arab world. Three grand interconnected courtyards, adorned with hand-cut geometric tilework and carved cedar-wood ceilings, await your exploration. Beneath the palace, an underground museum houses Lebanon’s finest collection of Byzantine mosaics — vibrant floor panels that many visitors overlook. Your driver knows the highlights and will guide you directly to them.
• Barouk Cedar - Barouk Cedar Forest — ancient trees, peaceful surroundings
  Following the splendor of Beiteddine, the Barouk Cedar Forest offers a refreshing change. As part of Lebanon’s largest nature reserve and a UNESCO-recognized biosphere, the Barouk grove protects ancient cedar trees, descendants of the forests that built Phoenician ships, Solomon’s Temple, and Egyptian palaces. Spend an hour walking the marked paths at your own pace — massive ancient trunks, mountain vistas through the canopy, and a serene mountain silence that is rare near Beirut. The terrain is gentle, with no technical challenges — just ancient trees, fresh air, and the satisfaction of being in a place most tourists overlook.
• Deir el Qamar - Deir el Qamar — Lebanon’s first capital, thriving
  Travel down to Deir el Qamar, meaning “Monastery of the Moon,” one of the best-preserved Ottoman villages in Lebanon and the country’s first capital under the Ma’an dynasty. The central square is surrounded by honey-stone mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries, a Druze palace, and public buildings that have remained unchanged for 300 years. After the grandeur of Beiteddine and the solitude of Barouk, Deir el Qamar offers a more intimate experience — cobblestone streets, mountain air, and a village that has quietly thrived since the 16th century.
• Fakhreddine’s Mosque - Fakhreddine Mosque & Saydet el Tallé Church
  Take a brief visit to the 17th-century mosque built by Fakhreddine II, the Druze emir who established an empire from the Bekaa to the Sinai and is regarded as one of Lebanon’s founding fathers. Also, visit the hilltop Maronite church with sweeping views of the Chouf valley. A mosque and a church have shared this hillside for 400 years, a common sight in Deir el Qamar.
• Deir el Qamar - Lunch in Deir el Qamar — optional
  Enjoy a traditional Lebanese mountain lunch at one of Deir el Qamar’s stone-vaulted restaurants — mezze spreads, grilled meats, fresh bread, and views of the Chouf valley. After visiting a presidential palace, an ancient cedar forest, and Lebanon’s first capital, dining in a 300-year-old village feels like the perfect conclusion.
• Beirut - Return to Beirut — approx. 5:30–6:00 PM
  Enjoy a scenic drive back to Beirut with a drop-off at your hotel, completing a full day in the Chouf that included a presidential palace, ancient cedar trees, and Lebanon’s first capital, all within the same mountain range.

• Walk through Barouk Cedar Forest — Shouf Biosphere Reserve
• Knowledgeable English-speaking driver
• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Beirut
• Private air-conditioned vehicle

• Lunch in Deir el Qamar (optional — at own expense)
• Gratuities (optional)

The Chouf Mountains excel in three areas: grand palaces, ancient cedar forests, and impeccably preserved Ottoman villages. This private day trip from Beirut encompasses all three. Experience one mountain range in a single day, offering three distinct experiences that are surprisingly exceptional and conveniently close.

Beiteddine Palace is the highlight — a stunning 19th-century palace, renowned as one of the Arab world’s most magnificent, built by the leader who unified Lebanon’s mountain factions. It now serves as the Lebanese President’s summer residence. The Barouk Cedar Forest offers a serene escape — featuring ancient trees, fresh mountain air, and the tranquility of a UNESCO-protected biosphere, often missed by many visitors to Lebanon. Deir el Qamar provides the perfect conclusion — a charming honey-stone village, once Lebanon’s first capital, that retains its timeless charm as if untouched by the modern world.

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