Baalbek - Anjar - Ksara Trip From Beirut

Unforgettable great tour

Amazing tour with the breathtaking views of the world heritage

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Extraordinary ruins and professional handling in a complex region

This was an outstanding experience, primarily because of Baalbek itself. The site was effectively empty due to the current regional situation, which allowed unrestricted time and space to properly absorb the scale and detail of the ruins. I have visited Roman sites all over the world over more than 30 years of travelling, and Baalbek stands apart. The Temple of Jupiter in particular is astonishing, both in sheer scale and in the level of detail still visible after nearly 2000 years. It is important to understand that this booking is a trip with a driver, not a guided tour in the traditional sense. I had booked an English speaking driver, however the driver did not speak English. This was initially a shock as the listing wording does suggest a tour rather than transport. That said, the company handled this extremely well. Once contacted, the owner immediately arranged an English speaking guide at no extra cost. This guide was knowledgeable and professional and fully offset the initial issue. At the other locations, including Anjar and Ksara, we simply used ChatGPT on site by photographing points of interest. This worked exceptionally well and provided more detailed historical context than many guided tours I have done elsewhere. Timing and pacing were excellent. We were not rushed at any point and had more than adequate time at each location. The driver was patient and flexible and happy to wait until we were finished. The vehicle was clean, comfortable, and driven safely throughout. Despite the area being designated a do not travel zone due to the conflict, I did not feel unsafe at any time. There were only two travellers on the day, both solo travellers, myself and another Dutch traveller. This small group made the experience even better and added to the overall enjoyment. I would strongly recommend this experience to experienced travellers who are comfortable operating in complex regions and who understand the difference between a driver based trip and a traditional guided tour. For those travellers, Baalbek is unmissable, and this company demonstrated professionalism and good problem solving when it mattered.

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Mainly transport and not a guided tour

This trip is mainly transport, not a guided tour. I was the only participant, so it ended up being just me and the driver, and no information about the sites was provided. Although the company advertises free pickup, this only applies to Inner Beirut. They asked for an extra $20 to pick me up in Greater Beirut (Zalqa). I chose to meet at Martyrs’ Square instead, where the driver still arrived a few minutes late. On the way back I skipped Ksara since I was alone, which saved time and fuel (we arrived back in Beirut around 2:30 pm), but the company still only offered drop-off within Inner Beirut. There are also some souvenir shops in the way where the driver seemed to know the owners. The restaurant stop was good and fairly priced, and Baalbek itself is definitely worth visiting. Overall, Baalbek is very nice, but the service is more like basic transportation with some upselling rather than a guided experience.

Response from the operator: As stated in the inclusions, which you may have overlooked, it clearly mentions an “English / Arabic Speaking Driver”—nowhere does it indicate this is a guided tour. We also specified “Free pickup from your location inside Beirut”. Please note, we pick up from Beirut City only, so locations outside the city, such as Zalqa, are not included. If you preferred not to pay the extra charge, you could have met at the designated pickup point at Martyrs’ Square. Everything was explained clearly in advance, and if the arrangements didn’t suit you, cancellation was an option. You chose to continue with the tour, and we were happy to accommodate you—even as the only participant—whereas some operators might not have. No souvenirs were mandatory, and our driver is familiar with the area and its contacts because he conducts this trip almost daily. There was no upselling involved. We kindly ask that guests review the inclusions carefully to avoid misunderstandings.

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Safe ride, but with additional expenses

While we did safely get to Baalbek and back, every piece of the trip (other than physically driving there) was an additional expense. Lunch, both site admissions, and tour guide were all additional. Plan for at least an additional 50USD. The guide on this trip also had to be convinced to 'let us' see the quarry, just outside of Baalbek. Make sure if you take this tour to specifically ask to go there. If you are going to go all the way to Baalbeck, you might as well also see where the large stones were mined!

Response from the operator: Thank you for your review. I would like to clarify a few points to avoid any misunderstanding. All details were clearly mentioned from the beginning before you completed your booking. Had the “Includes” section been fully read, you would have seen that the entrance fees, guide, and lunch were not listed as included. After you confirmed your booking, we also sent you an email outlining the entrance fee costs, and at no point did you question this, request clarification, or choose to cancel the tour. Regarding the guide: this is an optional service that you personally chose to add. Many guests prefer exploring on their own, which is why we keep it optional. As for the quarry stop, it is a standard part of the itinerary. No tour operator or driver skips the Quarry/Stone of the Pregnant Woman unless a guest specifically requests otherwise. We hope this helps clear up the situation, and we appreciate your feedback.

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Recommended

All good! Very friendly drivers. Also very flexible, you can stay shorter or longer in some spots, change their sequence.

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