9:00 AM — Departure from Beirut Your driver meets the group at your hotel and heads north along the Mediterranean coastal highway toward Tripoli.

Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gilles — nine centuries above Tripoli The 12th-century Crusader citadel that has commanded Tripoli's skyline for nine centuries — built by Raymond de Saint-Gilles during the First Crusade, expanded by the Mamluks, further modified by the Ottomans. From the ramparts: panoramic views over the old city's minarets and rooftops, the port of El Mina, and the Lebanese mountains beyond. Your driver covers the full arc of Crusader, Mamluk, and Ottoman history that converges in these walls.

Al-Mansouri Great Mosque & Taynal Mosque Al-Mansouri — built in the 14th century on the site of a Crusader cathedral, with the original Gothic portal still visible in the stonework. Taynal — two connected prayer halls where Gothic arches and Mamluk stonework exist side by side in the same building. Two mosques, two examples of how Tripoli's history layers civilisation upon civilisation in the most architecturally compelling way.

Souk Al-Harajb & Khan el Masriyin soap factory Half an hour in one of the most authentically preserved medieval markets in the Arab world — stone-vaulted alleyways where gold merchants, spice vendors, and artisan workshops have traded continuously for centuries. Then a brief stop at the historic Egyptian merchants' khan — home to a traditional olive oil soap factory that has been operating here for generations.

Hallab 1881 — Lebanon's most celebrated pastry institution Founded in 1881 during the Ottoman era — the most celebrated dining and pastry institution in Lebanon. Knefeh, baklava, and mamoul made to recipes unchanged for over 140 years. A quick stop rather than a full lunch — optional and at your own expense but worth every minute.

El Mina Port — Tripoli's ancient waterfront A brief stroll along El Mina — Tripoli's historic fishing port with colourful boats, Ottoman-era mansions, and a palm-lined corniche. A natural transition between medieval Tripoli and the Phoenician coast ahead.

Byblos — specialist local guide joins the group Arrive in Byblos and meet your specialist local guide — someone who has spent years studying and interpreting the layers of this extraordinary site. The guided visit covers the full 7,000-year span of Byblos in a single walk — from Neolithic foundations of 5000 BC through Bronze Age temples and Phoenician royal tombs to Roman streets and the 12th-century Crusader castle built from recycled Phoenician and Roman stones. Byblos gave the world its alphabet and its name gave us the word Bible. A local guide makes the difference between a great archaeological site and a genuinely revelatory experience.

Byblos Castle & Old Souk Your local guide leads you through the Crusader castle — built from the stones of civilisations it replaced — then into the stone-paved old souk with its jewellery workshops, antique dealers, and cafés opening onto the ancient fishing harbour. The most photogenic corner of Byblos and the natural close to the day.

Return to Beirut — approx. 5:30–6:30 PM Drop-off at your Beirut hotel — Tripoli's medieval layers and Byblos's 7,000 years covered in a single private day, with specialist local expertise where it matters most.