Small Group Tours - Sidon, Tyre & Magdouche Day trip from Beirut

Discover diverse main sites in Lebanon, visit Sidon, the third largest city in Lebanon, discover the Sea Castle, Khan El Franj and Soap museum in Sidon, continue to the ancient Phoenician city of Tyre , explore the Roman Hippodrome and the Necropolis, one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, discover the ancient harbor in Tyr and the sea archaeological site and end the tour in Maghdouche, visit the shrine and the cave where Virgin Mary used to wait for Jesus while preaching.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Crusaders Sea Castle, Sidon Sea Boulevard, Sidon Lebanon

Sidon's Sea Castle was built by the Crusaders in the thirteenth century as a fortress of the holy land. It is one of the most prominent historical sites in the port city of Sidon. The city of Sidon is located on the Mediterranean coast of Lebanon. This ancient Phoenician city has been of great religious, political and commercial value; it is said to be inhabited since 4000 B.C. During the 13th century, the Crusaders built Sidon's Sea Castle as a fortress on a small island connected to the mainland by a narrow 80m long roadway. The island was formerly the site of a temple to Melqart, the Phoenician version of Heracles. The beauty of the Castle can be seen in old illustrations of it; however, after bearing several wars, it has been damaged and renovated several times. It was partially destroyed by the Mamluks when they took over the city from the Crusaders, but they subsequently rebuilt it and added the long causeway. The castle later fell into disuse but was again restored in the 17th century by Emir Fakhreddine II, only to suffer great damage.

There is a possibility that the island on which the castle is built was, in fact, the location of the Phoenician King's palace and several other Phoenician monuments which were destroyed by Esarhaddon and then by natural earthquakes. This island has also served as a shelter from inside attacks on the city. Great Sidon, Little Sidon, powerful fortresses, pastures, cisterns and fortifications are all mentioned in the Assyrian king Sennacherib's recordings of his attacks on Sidon and nearby cities.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Sidon Souks, Old City, Sidon Lebanon

Saida’s old souks are exactly what you might imagine an Arabian bazaar to look like, complete with old-fashioned blacksmiths, cobblers, butchers, and bakers shops. The marketplace is made of stone archways and wedged into each niche is a different shop selling everything from fruits to souvenirs to meats. Every turn reveals a new corner of the souk, where colours, smells and sounds blend to make an enchanting marketplace.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Al-Bass Archaeological Site, Byzantine Road, Sur Lebanon

Al Bass Archaeological Site is by far the most famous attraction, boasting the largest and best-preserved example of a Roman Hippodrome. The impressive site is huge and also encapsulates a large Necropolis (with several hundred well-preserved sarcophagi), an intact Roman road and aqueduct, and a monumental arch.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Maghdouche Catholic Church, Maghdoucheh, Lebanon

Maghdouché is a town in the South Governorate of Lebanon. It is located 50 km south of Beirut and 8 km southeast of Sidon. The village lies 3 km inland from the Mediterranean, occupying a hill with elevation ranging between 200 and 229 meters above sea level. It is believed that the Virgin Mary used to wait for Jesus while he was preaching in Sidon.

Duration: 30 minutes