Private Beiteddine, Deir el Qamar & Sidon Tour | From Beirut
Traveler rating
3.0/5
Based on 2 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Private Beiteddine, Deir el Qamar & Sidon Tour | From Beirut worth booking?
Private Beiteddine, Deir el Qamar & Sidon Tour | From Beirut is a 8-hour experience in Beirut, Lebanon, from $100 per person. It scores 57 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3/5 rating across 2 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 57 / 100
- Rating
- 3/5 (2)
- Duration
- 8 hours
- From
- $100 per person
Three destinations that cover Lebanon's mountain and coastal history in a single private day — combining the Chouf Mountains in the morning with Sidon's Phoenician-to-Ottoman layers in the afternoon. The combination is less obvious than the standard Chouf-only or Sidon-only day trip, and that is precisely what makes it worth booking. Beiteddine Palace — the most significant 19th-century palace in Lebanon, today the official summer residence of the Lebanese President, with a Byzantine mosaic museum beneath it that most visitors miss entirely. Deir el Qamar — Lebanon's first capital, a honey-stone Ottoman village where a mosque and a church have shared the same hillside for four centuries. Sidon — a 13th-century Crusader sea castle, a living medieval souk, the world's only olive oil soap museum, and a Silk Road caravanserai. Private vehicle and knowledgeable driver throughout. Your pace, no group schedule. Tickets payable on site.
What you get
About this experience
Three destinations that cover Lebanon's mountain and coastal history in a single private day — combining the Chouf Mountains in the morning with Sidon's Phoenician-to-Ottoman layers in the afternoon. The combination is less obvious than the standard Chouf-only or Sidon-only day trip, and that is precisely what makes it worth booking. Beiteddine Palace — the most significant 19th-century palace in Lebanon, today the official summer residence of the Lebanese President, with a Byzantine mosaic museum beneath it that most visitors miss entirely. Deir el Qamar — Lebanon's first capital, a honey-stone Ottoman village where a mosque and a church have shared the same hillside for four centuries. Sidon — a 13th-century Crusader sea castle, a living medieval souk, the world's only olive oil soap museum, and a Silk Road caravanserai. Private vehicle and knowledgeable driver throughout. Your pace, no group schedule. Tickets payable on site.
What's included
Included
- Beiteddine Palace including Byzantine mosaic museum
- Knowledgeable English-speaking driver
- Private air-conditioned vehicle exclusively for your group
- Soap Museum — world's only olive oil soap museum
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Beirut
- Sidon Old Souks walk
- Deir el Qamar village — mosque, church & historic square
Not included
- Lunch in Deir el Qamar (optional — at own expense)
- Gratuities (optional)
What you'll see and do
Beirut
9:00 AM — Hotel pickup Your driver meets the group at your Beirut hotel and heads southeast into the Chouf Mountains toward Beiteddine.
Pass by without stopping
Beiteddine Palace — the presidential palace of Lebanon Built between 1788 and 1840 by Emir Bashir II — the ruler who unified Lebanon's mountain communities. Three interconnected courtyards with hand-cut geometric tilework and elaborately carved cedar-wood ceilings. Beneath the palace: Lebanon's finest collection of Byzantine mosaics in an underground museum that most visitors walk straight past. Today the official summer residence of the Lebanese President. Your driver covers the full story of Beiteddine and Emir Bashir throughout the visit.
60 minutes here · Admission not included
Deir el Qamar
Deir el Qamar — Lebanon's first capital Meaning "Monastery of the Moon" — a honey-stone Ottoman village that served as Lebanon's first capital under the Ma'an dynasty, one of the most perfectly preserved historic villages in the country. The cobblestone central square is framed by 17th and 18th-century mansions unchanged for centuries. Your driver covers the dynastic and political history of this remarkable village.
30 minutes here
Fakhreddine's Mosque
Fakhreddine Mosque & Saydet el Tallé Church The 17th-century mosque of Emir Fakhreddine II — the Druze ruler who built an empire from the Bekaa to the Sinai — and the hilltop Maronite church with panoramic views over the Chouf valleys. A mosque and a church metres apart, four centuries of coexistence in a single view. The vehicle waits whenever the group is ready to move.
15 minutes here
Deir el Qamar
Lunch in Deir el Qamar — optional Lebanese mountain mezze at a local restaurant — grilled meats, fresh bread, Chouf valley views. Optional and at your own expense. Your driver recommends the best spots. Worth the stop before heading to the coast.
60 minutes here
Crusaders Sea Castle
Sidon Sea Castle — Crusader fortress on the water A 13th-century Crusader fortress on a small island off the coast, connected to shore by a stone causeway with open sea on both sides. Phoenician traders were using this harbour 3,000 years before the Crusaders built here. Your driver covers the full layered history from the castle ramparts.
30 minutes here · Admission not included
Sidon Souks
Sidon Old Souks — not renovated, not curated, just real Stone-vaulted alleyways where spice merchants, goldsmiths, and artisan workshops have traded continuously for centuries. Your driver points out what makes Sidon's market different from every other souk in Lebanon. At your own pace — the vehicle is waiting.
60 minutes here
Soap Museum — the only olive oil soap museum on earth The world's only museum dedicated to olive oil soap — telling the complete story of a craft Sidon has practiced for over a thousand years. Housed in a beautifully restored khan in the old city. A stop that most travelers did not know they wanted until they are inside it.
30 minutes here · Admission not included
Khan al-Franj
Khan el Franj — the Silk Road caravanserai A 17th-century caravanserai built by Emir Fakhreddine II for European Silk Road merchants — arcaded courtyards, vaulted galleries, carved stone facades. One of the finest Ottoman buildings in Lebanon and a fitting close to a day that covered Lebanese mountain and coastal history from the same century.
15 minutes here
Beirut
Return to Beirut — approx. 6:00–7:00 PM Drop-off at your Beirut hotel. A presidential palace, Lebanon's first capital, and Sidon's Phoenician-to-Ottoman layers — mountain and coast covered privately in a single day. Done properly.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 15 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- ar, en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
- Group size
- Up to 9 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Beirut Daily Tours
Know before you go
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
Traveler reviews
2 verified traveler reviews for Private Beiteddine, Deir el Qamar & Sidon Tour | From Beirut. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Amazing tour
Our tours with Beirut daily tours are excellent from Begining to end. Our driver Moe was very friendly and with very good knowledge. And he was doing his best to ensure that we were very happy and satisfied.
via Tripadvisor
The Worst Tour Guide
This is the first time to come across a Viator tour that the guide is not performing as a tour guide. He is just a driver. No explanation of the tour sites at all. He simply dropped us off and let us walk alone in the tour sites. Apparently we know the places more than him. The only time he led us to walk through the Saida’s old souk but without any explanation. And that’s all this guide had done for the whole day tour!!!!!!! We don’t know whether Viator has ever scrutinized the quality of the local operator. It’s a total disappointment!!!!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
- Price range
- $100 to $200
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 1
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Beirut Daily Tours, who run 21 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 59.3.
See everything Beirut Daily Tours runsWhy this scores 57
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Private Beiteddine, Deir el Qamar & Sidon Tour | From Beirut: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Beirut.
How much does Private Beiteddine, Deir el Qamar & Sidon Tour | From Beirut cost?
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Prices start at $100 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Beirut usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Private Beiteddine, Deir el Qamar & Sidon Tour | From Beirut take?
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Plan for about 8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Beirut is not rushed.
Is Private Beiteddine, Deir el Qamar & Sidon Tour | From Beirut worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 57 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3/5 across 2 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Beirut, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Private Beiteddine, Deir el Qamar & Sidon Tour | From Beirut?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Private Beiteddine, Deir el Qamar & Sidon Tour | From Beirut suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 8-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Private Beiteddine, Deir el Qamar & Sidon Tour | From Beirut?
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Around 1 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Beirut can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Beirut and add a light layer if any part of the 8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Private Beiteddine, Deir el Qamar & Sidon Tour | From Beirut start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Beirut within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Beirut?
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On Outty we rank every Beirut experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Guided Small-Group Tour to Baalbek, Anjar and Ksara with Lunch, Guided Small-Group Tour to Jeita, Harissa, Byblos with Lunch, Jeita Grotto, Harisa & Byblos: Small Group Tour with Hotel pickup. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Beirut?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Beirut?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Private Beiteddine, Deir el Qamar & Sidon Tour | From Beirut?
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Included: Beiteddine Palace including Byzantine mosaic museum; Knowledgeable English-speaking driver; Private air-conditioned vehicle exclusively for your group; Soap Museum — world's only olive oil soap museum; and Hotel pickup and drop-off in Beirut. Not included: Lunch in Deir el Qamar (optional — at own expense); and Gratuities (optional). Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Private Beiteddine, Deir el Qamar & Sidon Tour | From Beirut include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 175 listed pickup locations in and around Beirut. Be ready about 15 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Private Beiteddine, Deir el Qamar & Sidon Tour | From Beirut offered in?
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It is offered in Arabic and English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Private Beiteddine, Deir el Qamar & Sidon Tour | From Beirut?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Private Beiteddine, Deir el Qamar & Sidon Tour | From Beirut wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Specialized infant seats are available. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Private Beiteddine, Deir el Qamar & Sidon Tour | From Beirut if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Beirut. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
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