Private Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 8 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Private Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included worth booking?
Private Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included is a 8-hour experience in Beirut, Lebanon, from $100 per person. It scores 69 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 5/5 rating across 8 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 69 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (8)
- Duration
- 8 hours
- From
- $100 per person
South Lebanon is the part of the country most first-time visitors skip — and the part that most experienced Lebanon travelers say they wish they had gone to sooner. This private day trip covers three destinations that together span 5,000 years of Phoenician, Crusader, Roman. At your own pace, with an expert local guide at the site where it matters most. Sidon: a 13th-century Crusader sea castle, the world's only olive oil soap museum, a living medieval souk, and a Silk Road caravanserai. Tyre: a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Al-Bass complex — triumphal arch, colonnaded necropolis street, and a Roman hippodrome built for 20,000 spectators — is explored with an expert local guide who knows every stone. Maghdouché: the hilltop sanctuary where Mantara — "the one who waits" in Arabic — marks where the Virgin Mary is held to have waited while Jesus preached in Sidon below, revered by Christians and Muslims for two millennia. Private vehicle throughout. Tickets payable on site.
What you get
About this experience
South Lebanon is the part of the country most first-time visitors skip — and the part that most experienced Lebanon travelers say they wish they had gone to sooner. This private day trip covers three destinations that together span 5,000 years of Phoenician, Crusader, Roman. At your own pace, with an expert local guide at the site where it matters most. Sidon: a 13th-century Crusader sea castle, the world's only olive oil soap museum, a living medieval souk, and a Silk Road caravanserai. Tyre: a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Al-Bass complex — triumphal arch, colonnaded necropolis street, and a Roman hippodrome built for 20,000 spectators — is explored with an expert local guide who knows every stone. Maghdouché: the hilltop sanctuary where Mantara — "the one who waits" in Arabic — marks where the Virgin Mary is held to have waited while Jesus preached in Sidon below, revered by Christians and Muslims for two millennia. Private vehicle throughout. Tickets payable on site.
What's included
Included
- Knowledgeable English-speaking driver
- Private air-conditioned vehicle exclusively for your group
- Soap Museum — world's only olive oil soap museum
- Sidon Sea Castle visit
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Beirut
- Expert local guide at Tyre Al-Bass archaeological complex
- 30-minute walk through Sidon Old Souks
Not included
- Gratuities (optional)
- Lunch in Tyre (optional — at own expense)
What you'll see and do
Beirut
9:00 AM — Hotel pickup Your driver meets the group at your Beirut hotel and heads south along the Mediterranean coastal highway toward Sidon.
Pass by without stopping
Crusaders Sea Castle
Sidon Sea Castle — Crusader fortress on the water A 13th-century Crusader fortress on a small island just off the coast, connected to shore by a narrow 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 — Phoenician port to Crusader fortress to Mamluk conquest — at your own pace.
30 minutes here · Admission not included
Sidon Souks
Sidon Old Souks — the real thing, not renovated for tourism Stone-vaulted alleyways where spice merchants, goldsmiths, and artisan workshops have traded continuously for centuries — not curated, not renovated, just functioning exactly as it always has. Your driver navigates with local knowledge and points out what makes Sidon's market different from every other souk in Lebanon.
60 minutes here
Soap Museum — the only olive oil soap museum on earth Sidon has been producing olive oil soap for over a thousand years — and this museum, the only one of its kind anywhere in the world, tells the complete story from olive grove to finished bar. 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 — where the Silk Road met the Mediterranean A 17th-century caravanserai built by Emir Fakhreddine II for European merchants trading along the Silk Road — arcaded courtyards, vaulted galleries, carved stone facades. One of the finest Ottoman buildings in Lebanon and a fitting close to Sidon before heading south.
15 minutes here
Al-Bass Archaeological Site
Al-Bass Archaeological Complex — expert local guide joins here Arrive in Tyre and meet your expert local guide — someone who has spent years studying this site and who knows its Roman and Phoenician layers at a depth that visiting guides cannot match. Enter through a triumphal arch still standing after two thousand years. Walk a colonnaded street flanked by ancient sarcophagi from the Roman necropolis. Reach the Tyre Hippodrome — one of the largest in the Roman world, built for 20,000 spectators on a 480-metre track, starting gates and turning posts still in place. Your guide places every structure in its full historical context — the kind of visit where you leave knowing what you actually saw.
60 minutes here · Admission not included
Tyre
Lunch in Tyre — optional Fresh Lebanese mezze and seafood at a local Tyre restaurant — Mediterranean right there, ancient city as backdrop. Optional and at your own expense. Your driver recommends the best local spots.
60 minutes here
Basilica of Our Lady of Mantara — where she waited Mantara means "the one who waits" in Arabic. Christian tradition holds that the Virgin Mary waited in a cave on this hilltop while Jesus preached in Sidon below — a place of pilgrimage for two millennia, revered equally by Christians and Muslims. The Basilica stands above the ancient cave. Panoramic views over the southern Lebanese coast. A quiet, unexpected close to a day that covered 5,000 years of history along the way.
15 minutes here
Beirut
Return to Beirut — approx. 5:30–6:30 PM Drop-off at your Beirut hotel. Sidon's Phoenician-to-Ottoman layers, the Roman world of Tyre with a local expert, and the pilgrimage sanctuary of Maghdouché — south Lebanon 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
- Every day
- 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
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 7 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
5 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
4 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Small groups
2 mentionsThe group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.
Traveler reviews
7 verified traveler reviews for Private Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
This was a fun, ...
This was a fun, memorable and fact-filled day visiting Saida (the sea castle, wandering around the labyrinthine souk, and checking out the Soap Museum), Sour (visiting the 2 main archaeological sites) and Magdouche (a Christian pilgrimage site on a hill overlooking the sea). The guide Hassan was fantastic - always flexible, helpful, informative and easy to chat with about anything. The local guide I had at Sour, Mohammad, was an expert in the area and could easily write a book with all his knowledge of the sites. An amazing day with a highly recommended company.
Response from the operator: Hi Scott: Thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a fun and memorable day exploring Saida, Sour, and Magdouche. It's wonderful that you enjoyed visiting the sea castle, exploring the souk, and checking out the Soap Museum. We're delighted to hear that our guide, Hassan, was fantastic and provided a flexible, helpful, and informative experience. It's great to know that the local guide, Mohammad, was an expert in the area and enriched your visit with his extensive knowledge. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to creating more amazing experiences for you in the future.
via Viator
Fascinating history, great sights, beautiful tour
Out tour guide Hassan is an archeologist and full of enthusiasm and knowledge which he is happy to share. Enjoyed learning about both the ancient and recent history of the area. The Sidon fortress, ancient Orthodox churches and Tyre made for an interesting day.
Response from the operator: Hi Joseph: Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had an enjoyable day with our tour guide Hassan, who impressed you with his enthusiasm and extensive knowledge as an archaeologist. It's fantastic that you appreciated learning about both ancient and recent history in the area. The Sidon fortress, ancient Orthodox churches, and Tyre indeed offer a fascinating glimpse into the region's rich heritage. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for more engaging experiences in the future.
via Viator
Beautiful place
You can see the glories of the past in a wonderful setting. The locals are friendly. recommended
via Tripadvisor (translated)
Lebanon Travel
I traveled alone with my 10 year old son and booked a private tour with Beirut Daily Tours.The driver picked us up on time. He was friendly and very welcoming. The car was comfortable and the tour was amazing. We were taken to the sights and had guided information all the time. I had to pay the entry fees and for our lunch as this was not included in the private tour but overall my experience was amazing. Thanks Beirut Daily Tours
via Tripadvisor
Great private tour to the most interesting places
we enjoyed the private tour to Sidon Tyre Maghdouche. our tour guide Raihl is great. he is very knowledgeable and accommodating. The company is very reliable and the tour is on time with flexibility to our interests. If we had chance to come back to Beirut again, we'll definitely use Raihl as our tour guide again to see some more places.
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
- Every day
- Price range
- $100 to $200
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 3
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
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 69
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Private Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Beirut.
How much does Private Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included 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 Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included 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 Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 69 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 8 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 Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included?
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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 Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included 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 Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included?
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Around 3 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 Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included 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 Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included?
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Included: Knowledgeable English-speaking driver; Private air-conditioned vehicle exclusively for your group; Soap Museum — world's only olive oil soap museum; Sidon Sea Castle visit; and Hotel pickup and drop-off in Beirut. Not included: Gratuities (optional); and Lunch in Tyre (optional — at own expense). Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Private Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included 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 Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included 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 Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included?
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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 Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included 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 Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included 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.
What do travelers say about Private Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Tour | Local Tyre Guide Included?
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Across 8 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, organization. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
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