You’ll never see anything quite like Lebanon. This guide will help prepare you for your incredible adventure! Please read this carefully, and if there is anything we have not addressed, feel free to reach out at [email protected]. Can’t wait to show you this amazing country!
Things to Expect
Physical level
This trip can be enjoyed by anyone who is reasonably fit.
On day 3, we have a short easy/medium level hike to the top of a beautiful village nestled in the mountains near
Zahle. Between our city walking tours and workshops from dancing to pottery making, the amount of energy you expend is largely up to you. Comfortable walking shoes are always a must.
Inclusions
- Stay in 4* and 5* hand-picked hotels
- Feature stay at a luxury family-owned farm
- All tips for driver, guide, and included activities
- Arrival airport pickup on day 1
- 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches
- All activities listed in the itinerary
- Transportation in a private mini-bus
- Max 14 solo female travelers in your group
- Twin share rooms
- Expert local female guide for the whole tour
- SoFe Travel leader
exclusions
Itinerary
Welcome to the dynamic city of Beirut! This cosmopolitan city is known for its Parisian-style cafes, inspired art scenes and thrumming nightlife. Arrive by 3pm fro make it in plenty of time for our welcome meeting at 6pm. We’ll transfer you to our first hotel, where you’ll meet the rest of your group and your local guide. Tonight we eat at a restaurant of your guide’s choosing and celebrate the start of our journey together with a good meal.
Today is dedicated to exploring Beirut. We begin to understand how civilisations impacted Lebanon’s cultural crossroads at the impressive National Museum, then walk from Barakat house along the boundary line diving Muslim and Christian communities during the civil war. Continuing to downtown Beirut, we visit the spectacular Al-Amin mosque (Blue mosque), St George cathedral, and Martyr’s Square before dipping into east Beirut’s artistic neighborhood for an immersive cooking class with local women from varied regions in Lebanon. You are free to rest this afternoon, and to wander the nearby area at your own pace and maybe catch sunset by the sea. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Today we head to Sidon (meaning ‘fishery’ in Greek), an ancient Phoenician city layered by the influences of great civilisations. We experience Levantine lifestyle, visit the crusader sea fort of Sidon Castle, wander bustling souks and labyrinthine markets. We stop at the Audi Soap Museum, the beautifully preserved 18th Century bathhouse of Hamman Al-Jadeed, and Saint Nicolas church. In the afternoon we drive to the mountainous district of Chouf for a farm lunch and tour the majestic 19th Century Beiteddine Palace before finishing with a genteel, guided walk at our beautiful village for the night, Deir Al-Qamar. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Weaving through Barouk’s historic cedar trees, we cross the western mountains to reach the fertile, mystic valley of Bekaa – one of the oldest winemaking regions in the world and the seat of Lebanon’s modern wine industry. We sample valley’s varietals at a woman owned boutique winery, and do an easy hike to see breath taking views towards the mountains separating Lebanon from Syria. Coffee and Arabic sweets will follow at an old family house, where we chat with the family and have the chance to support women villagers by buying mouneh (traditionally preserved food). We end off the day with a walk through the old town of Zahlé. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Journeying on, we arrive at the roman city of Baalbek which is one of the most celebrated sanctuaries of the ancient world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. We tour this astonishing complex with a local guide before travelling toward northern Mount Lebanon, through the Holy Valley of Kadisha, and past the ancient cedar trees of Besharri (both UNESCO heritage sites). We visit a special place for pilgrims both Christian and Muslim alike: the Monastery of Qozhaya. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Flexing our pottery throwing skills, we join a workshop hosted by women of the nearby Assia village. Pottery is an essential, ancestral craft in Lebanon: Lebanese families cook or preserve food and liquids using pottery pots. After the workshop we’re off to Lebanon’s hippest coastal town surrounded by citrus groves, Batroun. Batroun’s historical sites and beachy atmosphere make it a favourite for international and local visitors alike. We walk through the Old City on a guided tour to see the Phoenician Sea Wall, the Greek Orthodox church, ‘Our Lady of the Sea’ built on Byzantine ruins, the Phoenician castle, and Diaspora house. This afternoon we have time off to enjoy the beach. Kayak or sup if the weather allows or swim in the Mediterranean sea. We draw the day to a close with a seaside sunset yoga class hosted by female instructor. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
After getting our limbs moving in the morning with an ocean-side belly dancing class, we continue to Byblos, arguably the oldest city in the world with remains dating back 7000 years and to the Roman, Phoenician and Persian eras. We learn how to make decadently scented soaps with a female expert in traditional soap making and aromatherapy. We have a last meal together and reminisce over the incredible memories made.
As your tour comes to a close, ask your guide to help arrange transportation to the airport. Check out by 10am. Enjoy breakfast, and if you’re like us, start dreaming about your next adventure! Meals included: breakfast
Itinerary Disclaimer
Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Lebanon Traveler Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It is important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary seasonally to ensure our travelers have the best experience. Your tour leader will keep you up to date with any such changes once on tour.
Joining Point
Saifi Suites
VGV5+RX8, Maroun Naccache Ave – Saifi, Beirut, Lebanon
Joining Description
Fly into Lebanon’s main international airport, Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (code BEY).
We will arrange an airport transfer for you according to your arrival time on Day 1. Look for your driver holding a sign with the SoFe logo on it in the arrivals hall. We recommend arriving anytime before 3pm so that you’ll have plenty of time to get settled and refreshed before your welcome meeting around 6pm that evening.
If you arrive a day or two early, the airport transfer is not included. Please email us directly if you’d like us to arrange a transfer and an early night in the hotel for you.
Finishing Point
7M45+HFW, Batroun, Lebanon
Finishing Point description
Fly out of Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (code BEY). You can leave anytime on our last day, but we recommend staying for breakfast and departing around checkout time.
Departure transfer is not included. Your guide can help you arrange transportation to the airport as needed.
Note that the airport is an hour away from our last hotel, maybe longer depending on traffic.
Problems and emergency contact
While we always endeavor to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or our local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognize that there may be times when your group leader/local partner may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction – if this is the case, please ask the leader to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still traveling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.
For general contact details please use the following page: https://thesolofemaletravelernetwork.com/contact-us
In case of any issues upon arrival, please use your emergency contact number: +961 76 622 208
Payment schedule
You are required to pay a non-refundable $550 deposit at the time of reservation. This non-refundable deposit confirms your Meetup Tour booking and you will receive a confirmation email detailing the terms of your reservation. Once the confirmation email has been sent to you, a contract will exist between us from the date we issue the confirmation invoice.
Please refer to your booking confirmation for specific dates, deadlines and details regarding final payments for your Meetup Tour. For standard Meetup Tours, the program fee balance payment is due 60 days before the departure date. SoFe’s payment system allows you to input the dollar amount for each payment you submit, so you are welcome to make as many payments in any dollar amount as you prefer before the final payment is due.
The final payment deadline is 60 days before the Meetup Tour start date, with the exception of Antarctica and Polar destinations.
If you have not paid the full balance, requested a cancellation and/or transfer by the final payment deadline, your credit card on file will be automatically charged the remaining balance of the Meetup Tour program cost. A $100 late payment fee will also be levied. Additionally, SoFe reserves the right to treat your booking as cancelled.
Feedback
Can’t stop thinking about your adventure? Tell us all about it! We read each piece of feedback carefully and use it to make improvements for travelers like you. Share your experience with us by emailing [email protected]!
Before you leave
Important notes
Food and dietary information
While traveling with us you’ll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other’s company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let us know prior to departure.
Though veganism and vegetarianism are still growing movements in Lebanon, many foods that are incorporated into the traditional Lebanese diet and lifestyle are naturally vegan such as hummus, lentil soups, and salads. You will be able to find many traditional vegan dishes in restaurants and should find it easy to shop in grocery stores as well.
Vegetarian and vegan options can be offered for all included meals, provided we are notified at time of booking. For those suffering from particular food allergies, your group leader will endeavor to disclose to their fullest knowledge the main ingredients in dishes being consumed. It is, however, still your personal responsibility to ensure that you do not ingest any foods to which you are allergic.
Money Matters
Spending money is a personal choice, and everyone will have different spending habits and needs. It is best to budget a reasonable amount for things like meals not included, drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry. It’s always better to bring a little more than you think you’ll need. Please have a thorough look at the itinerary and at what is included so you will be prepared for what isn’t included. Our Meetup Tour is very inclusive, however some meals and extras are not included. This guide should make budgeting a little clearer.
Currency in Lebanon is made a bit tricky by it’s evolving political situation. When you travel with us, we explain this detail and how to best to pay for things to be the most equitable.
Cash in USD and EUR are widely accepted, but USD is preferable over EUR. We strongly recommend arriving to Lebanon with ALL the cash you will need in USD or EUR, as you will not be able to use an ATM. If you need to withdraw more cash during the tour, it is possible to do this with a Western Union, but this is not ideal.
Credit cards are normally the last preferred or accepted method of payment. We strongly recommend arriving to Lebanon with all the cash you will need in USD or EUR. If you need to withdraw more cash during the tour, it is possible to do this with a Western Union – however, this is not ideal, as it will take time away from the tour.
You will need to bring cash from home to exchange into local currently. We strongly advise that you bring enough cash for the entirety of the tour in USD or EUR. USD and EUR are both widely accepted, but USD is most preferable. We recommend that you DO NOT exchange money at the airport. You should wait until you are with your tour guide, who can show you the best way to exchange currency and will help you get the fairest rates for exchange into Lebanese currency.
All tips for drivers, guides, and all relevant activities are included in this trip!
However, there may be times when you find yourself exploring solo. If you’re happy with the services provided, a tip – though not compulsory – is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it is of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many SoFe destinations.
Restaurants: – The usual recommendation is to pay 10-15% of the bill.
The Lebanese Pound is the official currency of Lebanon, signified by £ or L£. The Pound is also known as the Lira, and all notes and coins are written and referred to in both languages. US dollars and European Euros are also widely accepted in the country.
Bringing USD cash is preferable over Euro, as you can pay directly with cash USD at most restaurants and stores. Money will be returned in either dollars or in Lebanese pound market rate.
Climate information
Lebanon has a Mediterranean-type climate characterized by hot and dry summers (June to September) and cool and rainy winters (December to mid-March), with an average annual temperature of 60˚ F/15˚C.
passports, visas, and entry requirements
Most nationalities including (but not limited to) those from Canada, Australia, the UK, and the USA can easily receive a 30 day free visa upon arrival.
If you are from one of the countries eligible for a Lebanon Visa on Arrival, you can obtain one at the Beirut Airport. You need the following documents:
A valid phone number
Proof of a valid address in Lebanon (proof of accommodation)
A return-flight ticket (must be non-refundable)
Your passport which does not have any seals, stamps or visas from Israel.
If you are not from one of the countries eligible for the Visa on Arrival, then you have to apply for your Lebanon visa at the nearest Embassy or Consulate.
You need a valid passport to travel internationally. Most countries require that your passport does not expire for at least 6 months after the date you enter. We require your passport details 45 days before departure. When booking your Meetup Tour, please enter your name as it appears on your passport and contact us immediately if there are any errors.
We recommend taking copies of the main passport pages and other important documents with you as well as leaving copies at home with family or friends.
Due to the constantly evolving Covid – 19 situation and frequent changes to rules and regulations, you will need to check your government’s foreign travel advisory.
Packing
Our tours are comfortable and very inclusive with premium accommodations. This means you can pack a little lighter since the hotel will have a wide range of amenities. Since you will be carrying your own bags to the lobby or at the airport, we suggest packing in a way that is manageable for solo travel. You’ll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc. for day trips.
The following is a general list to be used as a guideline. If you think you need more items, pack them.
Essential:
– Clothing: a mixture of lightweight and dry fast clothing and warm layers are recommended essential for travelling in this region. -Long shirts, pants, scarves are useful for covering shoulders & knees when visiting religious sites.
-Swimwear
– Shoes: sturdy and comfortable shoes for walking
– Personal travel documents inc. your passport (visa), travel insurance, flight tickets and trip notes. Photocopies of your passport and visa, passport size photos and travel insurance will be handy. While not valid, a photocopy makes it very much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.
– small first aid kit including items such as mild pain killers, electrolytes, Band-Aids and insect repellent, and essential medicine depending on your doctors advice.
– Money: cash/credit card/money belt
– Sun protection like a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
Recommended:
– Refillable water bottle
– Cell phone, camera with spare batteries, charger, and adapter plug
– Hand wash, travel wipes, toiletries and a small towel
– Watch/alarm clock and torch/flashlight (and spare batteries)
Other things to consider:
– Check weather in Lebanon online a few days before you go to make sure you pack appropriate clothing
– Laundry facilities may not be available everywhere, so make sure you have a few cycles of clothes to tide you over until your next chance to wash
For Lebanon there are three associated plug types C, D and G. Plug type C has two round pins, plug type D is the plug which has three round pins in a triangular pattern and type G is the plug with three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. Lebanon operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.
In general, there are no laws requiring specific dress, although it is always respectful to cover your knees and shoulders when visiting religious sites.
What to wear during your trip to Lebanon largely depends on the season you are traveling in. Please check the weather forecast a week before your trip begins in order to better help you decide.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is mandatory on all our Meetup Tours. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are traveling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travelers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company’s 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your leader.
If you have credit card insurance your group leader will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank’s name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country.
We recommend that you check your government’s advice in relation to the areas you will be visiting for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas your itinerary covers.
on the road
Group Guide
All tours with The Solo Female Traveler Network are accompanied by a guide who is with the group for the whole trip. The guide’s role is to be the local expert of the destination and coordinate a lot of the on the ground logistics. Premium leaders are SoFe’s most experienced, with in-depth knowledge and extensive local networks to make it a trip of a lifetime. Your guide will provide information on the places you are traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. You can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At SoFe, we aim to support local guides who have specialized knowledge of the regions we visit. When not already included in your trip, your leader will be able to recommend a local guide service who can share more detailed or specialized information at specific sites should you be interested in delving deeper.
Sofe leader
For any Meetup Tour with 6 or more travelers, we will always include a SoFe leader, who helps in communications and marketing, in addition to our local guide. Our leaders are well traveled, quickly adapt to the local culture, love snapping photos, and are there to lend a hand when needed. For a clearer idea of what her role is, here are some things she will and won’t do.
Our SoFe Tour Leader…
✅ captures the best moments in photos, videos, or content writing
✅ helps clear up any misunderstandings due to cultural differences
✅ steps in to help the guide communicate important information
✅ lends a hand in emergency runs to a pharmacy
She is not…
❌ a guide expected to have local knowledge
❌ in charge of the program, schedule, or accommodation
❌ to be treated as anyone’s personal assistant
Aside from helping make communication clearer and being there for the group as extra support, a large part of her role is to assist in our marketing efforts, depending on her talent. She may capture the best moments of the tour in photos, videos, or content writing. To make her job a little easier and to ensure the best quality content she can deliver, she will only use her own devices to capture content. Depending on her skill set, she will be more than happy to help you snap the perfect photo, but she will take it on her camera. All content that turned out nicely will be shared at the end of the trip, if not sooner. All content she captures could appear on our social accounts, website, or marketing efforts. If you would like to be credited and tagged, we will be happy to include your handles where possible, just send a message!
Accomodation
We use a range of accommodation that we choose based on season, group size, and availability and because of this, we can not provide a confirmed list of hotels before the tour. However, here is a list of the accommodation we are most likely to use. Feel free to request a confirmed list of all accommodation from your guide on Day 1.
Beirut: Saifi Suites
Deir el Qamar: Mir Amin Palace Hotel
Zahle: Al Haush
Ehden: Mist Hotel & Spa by Warwick
Batroun: Villa Paradisio
7 nights from our favorite collection of 4 and 5 star hotels, including a feature stay at a luxury family-owned farm.
Rooms are twin share with an ensuite unless you upgrade to a private room, based on availability.
The accommodation indicated on the webpage is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to lack of availability. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
In the base cost of the tour, a shared room is included. You may choose to upgrade to a private room for an extra charge as long as there is availability.
Upgrading to a private room once in Lebanon is more difficult and may result in a higher cost than advertised on the webpage.
Our Lebanon tour is considered premium accommodation. All of our accommodation is 4 and 5 star with many beautiful views in prime locations. When we stay in 4 and 5 star hotels, the standard may be less than what you are used to in terms of design, facilities, and inclusions. If there is a problem with your accommodation, always alert your tour leader so it can be remedied if possible.
Sometimes it is not possible to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels, especially if you arrive before check in time. We can store your luggage and you can explore the surrounding area. Standard check in time is 4:00pm.
Standard check out is around 10:00am on the last day.
If you are arriving early or staying late, ask us about extra nights accommodation, based on availability. You may have to switch rooms at the beginning or end of the tour and extra nights are always single rooms unless you are traveling with a friend or family member.
All of our accommodations have air conditioning. Should it not work, we will attempt to replace your room or the unit, dependent upon availability. Bedding is always provided, however if you are extra sensitive to the cold, please be prepared with extra layers.
Optional Activities
For this tour, we may offer a selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travelers. All activities are subject to availability, and may be on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities offered in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. For most, they can either be organized independently on the day, or let your leader know you are interested in the Group Meeting and they can assist.
Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities that are not offered by us have not been assessed by us, and as such our staff and leaders are unable to assist you with organizing these activities. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not operated by us is at your own discretion and risk.
Transportation
On this tour, your transportation is in a private mini-bus.
a few rules
Safety
Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government’s advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip.
We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while traveling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewelry at home – you won’t need it while traveling. Some of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.
Your leader will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you’ll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your leader will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your SoFe itinerary, and SoFe makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your Leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it’s deemed necessary due to safety concerns.
Please be aware that local laws governing transportation safety may differ from those in your home country. Driving in Lebanon can be difficult and chaotic. Drivers of our private vehicles are experienced and well trained. Please be sure that you wear a seat belt at all times.
While most of the tour, especially in major cities, will be with your guide and the group, petty theft is common in any tourist area. Do not walk around alone at night if it can be avoided and hold your belongings close on public transportation. Your local guide will give you some safety tips throughout your tour, and we suggest heeding this advice.
As suggested earlier, please do not bring valuables. Use a TSA approved luggage lock to secure your luggage and belongings throughout trip.
We suggest checking your government’s advice in relation to the areas you will be visiting for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas your itinerary covers.
Lebanon is relatively safe for a solo female traveler, with no laws requiring specific dress (although it is always respectful to cover your knees and shoulders when visiting religious sites). Traveling around Lebanon requires a driver and is much better experienced with a guide for at least part of your trip. As you travel south, some places may feel a little more chaotic and dangerous. Practice normal caution and do not change money in the street.
phone and internet access
There is wifi available in most of our accommodations, but it is not always the most reliable. We suggest purchasing a prepaid sim card at the International airport in Beirut. Getting your SIM here is easy, although you will likely find it to be cheaper in stores outside of the airport. The most popular mobile phone providers are Touch or Alfa. Your phone must be unlocked in order to use a local SIM.
Plans and prices can vary a lot but expect to pay between $5-$15 USD for a plan that will provide you around 5GB of data. Your passport may be required for you to purchase and register your new sim.
Alternatively, ask your home service provider for international plans.
medical and health
All travelers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to manage and enjoy our style of travel. Please note that if in the opinion of our group leader or local guide any traveler is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, we reserve the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund.
You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations before departure. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements as they may not easily be obtained while traveling.
We do not recommend drinking the tap water, even in the hotels. All accommodations will have drinkable water, sometimes for purchase and sometimes provided with your room.
As of January 1, 2023, we have updated our policies to require all travelers to show one of the following upon meeting the group on day 1: Proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or proof of negative COVID-19 test conducted no more than 72 hours before day 1 of your trip.
