Travel to Lebanon with travel insurance from Essential Travel

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Information on Lebanon with travel insurance from Essential Travel

Travel to Lebanon

Not often thought of as a holiday destination, Lebanon will surprise you with its ancient cities, Roman ruins, good ski resorts and impressive Islamic architecture. After a lengthy civil war, this Mediterranean delight is now on the rise, attracting travellers with its superb trekking through landscape encrusted with mountains and gorges.

It may come as a surprise to many, but the capital, Beirut, was once known as the ‘Paris of the Middle East’. The city suffered immensely during the country’s long civil war but has gone through an impressive transformation giving it a new and vibrant aura. You’ll still find lots of contrasts here though, with lovely architecture sprinkled in among concrete disasters.

Just 86kms from the capital is the more charming town of Baalbek, named after the Phoenician god Baal. During the Roman era, Baalbek was the premier city in Roman Syria, and the Roman ruins here are arguably the best archaeological site in the country.

The journey to Bcharré, inland from Tripoli, takes you by some of the most breathtaking scenery in Lebanon. Main attractions of the town itself include the Gibran Museum. Also of interest is Byblos, 40kms from Beirut and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

No trip to Lebanon would be complete without a stop in Tripoli, 85kms north of Beirut. This is Lebanons second-largest city and the main port and trading centre for northern Lebanon. Tripoli is the nation’s most modern city, but retains attractions from its medieval history, along with some good examples of Mamluk architecture. Forty-five buildings in the city, many dating from the 14th century, are registered historical sites. The Citadel of Tripoli (known as Qal’at Sinjil or Saint Gilles) is the number one sight here, closely followed by the Church of St John of the Pilgrims Mount and the Great Mosque.

Just offshore from Tripoli, you will find a string of small islands. Rabbits Island is now a nature reserve for green turtles and rare birds and was pronounced a protected area by UNESCO in 1992. Another worthwhile place to visit, Tyre, lies on the coast in the south of Lebanon and was founded by the Phoenicians in the third millennium BC.

Beiteddine (House of Faith) is a village known for the grand palace complex of the same name that is housed here. Another reason to visit is to see the village’s Byzantine mosaics, many of which were excavated from the ancient city of Porphyrion. Zahlé is inland from Beirut and is a pretty resort town next to the Birdawni (Bardouni) River.

Lebanon’s border with Israel remains a highly volatile area and tourists should avoid travelling here. Additionally, permission from the army is required to visit areas such as Beaufort Castle and Al-Khiam Museum. During 2005 Lebanon’s political situation has been experiencing upheavals and visitors are advised to check with the British Foreign Office Website for accurate details on developments.

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