Southern Lebanon Day Trip: Exploring Sidon, Maghdouche and Tyre

Embark on a full-day budget trip from Beirut and explore the southern highlights of Lebanon. Visit Sidon’s main attractions, Maghdouche’s shrine and church, and the Roman ruins of Tyre.

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Crusaders Sea Castle - The Sidon Sea Castle was built by the crusaders in the thirteenth century on a small island, connected to the mainland by a causeway, as a fortress of the holy land. It is one of the most prominent historical sites in the port city of Sidon, Lebanon. The castle was largely destroyed by the Mamluks in 1291 and was later restored by Fakhr el-Dine Maan II in the early 17th century.
    Old prints of the fortress show it to be one of great beauty, but little remains of the embellishments that once decorated its ramparts.

  • Khan al-Franj - Khan al-Franj is one of Sidon’s main attractions. It was built in the beginning of the 17th century by Emir Fakhreddine II to be a hotel for ambassadors and a center for commercial exchange between Lebanon and France.
    The hotel soon became a center for literature, religion, history, industry and diplomacy. It became a home for culture and civilization.
    This is a typical khan with a large rectangular courtyard and a central fountain surrounded by covered galleries.

  • Soap Museum - Saida - The Soap Museum is a museum in Sidon specialized in Levantine soaps
    The soap workshop was originally built in Sidon by the Hammoud family in the 17th century.
    The Soap Museum traces the history of soap making in the region, its development and manufacturing techniques. Visitors can see a demonstration of how traditional olive oil soaps are made and learn about the history of the “hammam” (bath) traditions.
    A historical section of the museum introduces artifacts which were found during onsite excavation and which include remains of clay pipe heads dating from the 17th to 19th century as well as pottery fragments. The Museum building is an old soap factory built in the 17th century, although containing parts thought to date back to the 13th century.

  • Sidon Souks - The souk of Sidon is the center of all the commercial activities of retail, as well as craft industry.
    The souk is a maze of narrow alleyways with small kiosks, shops and cafes, street merchant, butchers, grocers, shoe-makers, tailors and jewelers.

  • Basilica of Our Lady of Mantara - بازيليك سيدة المنطرة - Our Lady of Awaiting, also known as Our Lady of Mantara, is a Melkite Greek Catholic shrine in Maghdouché, Lebanon, discovered on 8 September 1721 by a young shepherd. The shrine consists of a tower crowned with the statue of the Virgin and Child, a cathedral, a cemetery and a sacred cave believed to be the one where the Virgin Mary rested while she waited for Jesus.

  • Al-Bass Archaeological Site - Al Bass Archaeological Site is the largest and the best-preserved example of a Roman Hippodrome. The sector of Tyre El Bass, constituting the principal entrance of the town in antique times, comprises the remains of the necropolis, on either side of a wide monumental causeway dominated by a Roman triumphal arch dating from the 2nd century AD. Among the other vestiges are an aqueduct and the hippodrome of the 2nd century, one of the largest of the Roman world. site contain a Necropolis with several hundred well-preserved sarcophagi, an intact Roman road, an aqueduct and a monumental arch.

What's Included
  • Tour Leader
  • Hotel Pick up & Drop off
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Brief explanation about each site
What's Not Included
  • Meals
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Avoid the hassle of renting a car and choose a day trip from Beirut to discover the enchanting highlights of southern Lebanon. Start your adventure in Sidon, where you can explore its famous sites like the sea castle, soap museum, khan el franj, Debbane palace, and wander through the historic souks. Next, head to Maghdouche to visit the shrine and church of Our Lady of Awaiting (Mantara). Finally, immerse yourself in the ancient marvels of Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and be amazed by the Roman Hippodrome, Necropolis, Egyptian port, and more.

Location
Crusaders Sea Castle
Sidon Sea Boulevard
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(3 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Samirbu1236xr
Mar 17, 2024
Nice trip, good guide - Nice trip in the South of Lebanon with a very helpful and professional guide. Given the situation, I was alone with him as most tourists avoid the area, which made it even better as we could tailor the tour towards what I was more interested in. The guide took the time to walk me through Tyre and Saida and on top of the sites to visit there.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bayernhamburgex615yx
Jul 27, 2023
Excellent!!! - A day trip I will never forget. Everything was perfect. Pick up from the hotel, then Sidon with the fascinating souk, followed by Tyros with the excavations and the harbour. It is said that this is the oldest city in the world, which has always been inhabited without interruption since its foundation. Then we went on to the historic Maghdouché. My guide was Susan, my driver Nasser, with both I had already completed the previous day the Beirut City Tour. Thank you both, you were great! The organization was first class. The price for the day tour was really okay. I will be back again and book some other tours with this company, thank you very much!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sarahfn539sv
Oct 18, 2021
Wonderful Tour - Excellent and very efficient way to visit south Lebanon. Lot of history and it is worth all the money and I highly recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 9 guests
1
Adult
September 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today