Paris & Beirut

(8 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Paris, Beirut, Byblos, Beiteddine Palace, Baalbek

This private tour of Paris and Beirut is a wonderful combination of incredible cultural and culinary experiences.

Begin in Paris. With your own private guide and driver—sophisticated experts who will share the very best of Paris with you—explore Paris according to your interests. Tour the city's most interesting neighborhoods, markets, boutiques, specialty food shops, gardens, museums and other cultural attractions. A few of our favorites: Walk among centuries-old mansions on exclusive Ile Saint-Louis. See the stained glass windows of exquisite Sainte-Chapelle, and see iconic Notre Dame. Visit the backstreets of Montmartre. Climb the steps to the Sacre Coeur Basilica for panoramic views. Explore Le Marais, whose private homes once belonged to kings, noblemen and courtesans. Wander the old Jewish quarter to the Place des Vosges, the city's oldest and one of its most beautiful squares. See the art treasures of museums such as the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, l'Orangerie, Centre Pompidou, Fondation Louis Vuitton and other major museums. Or visit smaller specialty museums off the beaten track. If desired, enjoy reservations at one of the restaurants atop the Eiffel Tower. Stroll the Latin Quarter, and relax in the Luxembourg Gardens. Shop exclusive boutiques along Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore and Rue Royale. Take a break at Left Bank cafes made famous by poets and philosophers, and stop in the church of Saint-Germain-des-Pres. Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can arrange personalized shopping (antiques, flea markets, haute couture, tea, copperware and cooking utensils, chocolate, fashion and more). Perhaps spend hours enjoying a degustation gastronomique at a leading restaurant.

Next, fly to Beirut, Lebanon, one of the most exciting and sophisticated cities in the Middle East. During flexible private touring with your expert guide and driver, visit Beirut’s most interesting neighborhoods, museums and monuments. Tour the superb National Museum of Beirut, which has an impressive collection of archaeological artifacts, and the Sursock Museum, which exhibits modern and contemporary art in a beautiful historic villa. Explore the revitalized Beirut Central District, to see local landmarks such as the clock tower, Art Deco-style buildings, the Lebanese Parliament, Maronite and Greek Orthodox cathedrals, and the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque. Visit top boutiques in Saifi Village and other neighborhoods to browse for local handicrafts such as carpets, jewelry, kaftans, slippers and housewares. See additional city highlights such as iconic Pigeon Rocks and the leafy campus of the American University of Beirut according to your interests. Also, enjoy reservations at the top restaurants in Beirut.

One night, enjoy private dinner transfers to and from the fashionable and ancient port city of Byblos. Stroll the town’s bougainvillea-lined streets, perhaps browse shops in the souk, and enjoy reservations at a top restaurant on the picturesque harbor.

One day, enjoy a private excursion into the beautiful Chouf Mountains. Pass Druze villages and terraced farms en route to iconic Beiteddine Palace, an 18th-century complex built on a hillside overlooking a rural valley. Inside the palace—the summer residence of the Lebanese president—see spectacular decor such as stained-glass windows, Byzantine mosaics, and intricately carved wooden walls and ceilings. Perhaps have lunch at another historic hillside palace nearby. Also visit Deir al-Qamar, a centuries-old traditional hill town with mosques, palaces and a historical synagogue. Then, continue higher into the mountains to see the centuries-old trees in the Barouk Cedar Forest, part of the Al-Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Another day, enjoy a private excursion to the Bekaa Valley to see the impressive Roman ruins of Baalbek, the most important archaeological site in Lebanon and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk through the remains of the colossal Temple of Jupiter and the well-preserved Temple of Bacchus, and explore the various courtyards and other architectural elements. En route back to Beirut, stop at Chateau Ksara, Lebanon’s best-known winery, to taste some of the acclaimed red and white wines they produce in the Bekaa Valley.

Itinerary Overview

Day 1 Arrive Paris, France Arrival private transfer to hotel for 3 nights Day 2 Paris Half-day private city tour Day 3 Paris Half-day private city tour Day 4 Paris – Beirut, Lebanon Private transfer and flight (not included in tour cost) to Beirut. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 4 nights Day 5 Beirut & Byblos Full-day private city tour. Private dinner transfers to and from Byblos Day 6 Beirut & Baalbek Private excursion to Baalbek and wine tasting in Ksara, if desired Day 7 Beirut & Chouf Mountains Full-day private excursion Day 8 Depart Beirut Private airport transfer

Hotels

Paris: Ritz Paris or Four Seasons Hotel George V Beirut: Four Seasons Hotel Beirut or Le Gray

Cost

Upon request