Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included
Description
South Lebanon is the part of the country most visitors skip — and it is the part that consistently surprises them most when they actually go. This guided small-group day trip from Beirut covers three destinations that together span 5,000 years of Phoenician, Crusader, Roman, and sacred history — with a guide who makes every stop make sense and lunch fully included. Sidon: a 13th-century Crusader sea castle built on an island off the coast, a medieval souk that actually still functions, the world's only olive oil soap museum, and a Silk Road caravanserai. Tyre: a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Al-Bass archaeological complex — triumphal arch, colonnaded street, Roman hippodrome seating 20,000 — is one of the most complete Roman urban landscapes anywhere in the Mediterranean. Maghdouché: a hilltop sanctuary where the Virgin Mary is held to have waited while Jesus preached in Sidon — revered by Christians and Muslims for two millennia. Three stops, one guide, one included lunch.
Tour Options
Itinerary
8:30 AM — Hotel pickup Your guide meets the group at your Beirut hotel and heads south along the Mediterranean coastal highway. Sidon is 45 minutes away.
Sidon Sea Castle — Crusader fortress on a Mediterranean island A 13th-century Crusader fortress on a small island just 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 guide covers the full layered history — Phoenician port to Crusader fortress to Mamluk conquest — from the castle ramparts.
Sidon Old Souks — the real thing Stone-vaulted alleyways where spice merchants, goldsmiths, and artisan workshops have traded continuously for centuries. Not renovated for tourism — actually functioning, actually unchanged. Your guide points out what makes Sidon's market different from every other souk in Lebanon.
Soap Museum — the only one of its kind on earth. Sidon has been producing olive oil soap for over a thousand years — and this museum, the only one dedicated to the craft anywhere in the world, tells the complete story. Housed in a restored khan in the old city. A genuinely surprising and informative stop that most travelers did not know they wanted until they are inside it.
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 final image of Sidon before heading south.
Al-Bass Archaeological Complex — Roman Tyre at full scale 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 Roman and Phoenician context — this is the kind of site where having the right guide is the difference between a good visit and an unforgettable one.
Lunch in Tyre — included Fresh Lebanese mezze and seafood at a local Tyre restaurant — Mediterranean right there, ancient city as backdrop. Fully included.
Basilica of Our Lady of Mantara — Mantara means "the one who waits" Christian tradition holds that the Virgin Mary waited in a cave here while Jesus preached in Sidon below. The Arabic name — Mantara, "the one who waits" — has been attached to this place for two millennia. Revered by Christians and Muslims alike. The Basilica stands above the ancient cave, panoramic views over the southern Lebanese coast below. A quiet, unexpected close to a day that started at a Crusader sea castle and covered 5,000 years of history along the way.
Return to Beirut — approx. 5:30–6:30 PM Drop-off at your Beirut hotel. South Lebanon done properly — Phoenician, Crusader, Roman, and sacred, all in one day.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We offer free pickup services from any hotel, Airbnb, or residence in Beirut.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(11)
This trip I found personally very interesting, since it includes a part of South Lebanon. Our tour guide, Albert, was helpful and even adjusted the trip to my needs, allowing me to visit a mosque. Highly recommended. For a Russian-speaking audience. I can recommend this tour and especially guide Albert. The tour offers an opportunity to see southern Lebanon. Albert can also tailor the tour to individual requests. The girls who were travelling with me, he gave me time to walk by the sea, and at the same time he took me to the mosque, as I asked. Recommended to all
Thank you for your kind review! We're glad you found the trip meaningful and appreciated Albert's flexibility and guidance. Exploring South Lebanon is always a special experience—hope to see you again soon!
Visited Sidon and Tyre today! And Albert was an amazing tour guide as ever! Making us laugh the entire journey! Definitely request this man for a fun trip! So much history explored with him! We visited the hippodrome the seaside and put our feet in the Mediterranean, walked the roads kings and rulers of the ancient past walked!
Thank you for the fantastic review! We're so happy you enjoyed discovering the rich history of Sidon and Tyre with Albert—he truly brings the past to life with fun and laughter. Looking forward to your next adventure with us!
I took a trip to Sidon and Tyre with the guide Alain and driver Mustafa. They were both very nice, friendly and respectful. Alain told us a lot of interesting facts about the history of Lebanon. He also took us, upon my request, to Dar Debbané in Sidon, which was a beautiful addition to our program.
Another excellent tour with Hassane. With only two of us in tow the day was engaging and indulgent particularly Sidon. Tyre on the sea was picturesque.
Dear Guest: Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with Hassane! We're delighted to hear that your tour was engaging and indulgent, especially during your visit to Sidon. The picturesque setting of Tyre on the sea must have been truly memorable. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back for more amazing tours in the future!
A wonderful one to one tour of coastal southern Lebanon. My driver and guide, Albert, was exceptionally interesting and great company. They were 8 of the best hours I spent in Lebanon. The tour included a visit to the Crusader Castle and the souk in Sidon, the wonderful Roman remains in Tyre, and the beautiful church in Maghdouche. All washed down with one of the best meals I had while in Lebanon. The tour is excellent value for money compared to other similar offers, since it includes the cost of entry and lunch. I really would recommend it.
Driver and tourguide picked me up at my hotel in the morning and provided fresh water for the journey. Our tourguide Paula told interesting information about the sights we were visiting and was always down for some chatting about different aspects of Lebanon and life in general. Sidon and Tyre met us with beautiful views and its exciting history. We had lunch in a very good seafood restaurant. What I enjoyed the most was seeing that much of Lebanon in such a short time. A great experience!
Beautiful tour I really enjoyed it and excellent customer service very pleasant the tour guide very knowledgeable friendly thank you 🙏🏼💕
Thank you for your feedback on our tour! We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your time with us. We look forward to seeing you on one of our Tours again soon. Kind Regards, Beirut Daily Tours
Hassam is a great driver and tour guide with a huge knowledge of Lebanon and Middle East culture and History he speak semana languages , very kind, friendly, love his job. We had an amazing tour, we ask if we can get some fruits and Lebanon desserts he took us to the best place for desserts 😀😀👍🏼👍🏼. He is the best of Lebanon 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
The tour was amazing and a great introduction on my first day in Lebanon. My driver/guide Hassane was knowledgeable and interesting. He also arranged for an archeologist to meet us at the sites in Tyre, who was fantastic and provided great professional and personal insight to the sites. The tour was so good, I booked another with Hassane to Baalbek the following day. Highly recommend!
Fadi (not sure if spelled correctly) was very knowledgeable of Lebanon's history. He was accommodating, relaxed& easy going. It was pouring rain and ocean waves were high, so we couldn't visit inside the crusaders castle (Sidon). Overall the highlight of this tour was the old souk (soap museum, church, old hotel, alleys) and Tyre (Roman ruins)
