HIGHLIGHTS

Our PhotoQuest to Lebanon, lead by PQA founder Najat Naba, a fluent Arabic speaker and native,  allows you to discover and photograph hidden towns and Druze villages, ancient ruins, lush nature reserves and dynamic cities. Lebanon remains one of the Arab world's most charming destinations.
We will be based in Beirut, the country's capital and largest city which has plenty of appeal itself.  One of our highlights will be a visit to the Baalbek’s ruins, to photograph the most impressive and best preserved ancient Roman ruins in the world. Photograph the historical city of Byblos, a picturesque seaside city with a great beach. Byblos is believed to be one of the oldest cities in the world as it was founded in 7000BC and continuously inhabited since 5000BC until today.

All throughout our journey, you will enjoy top-level photographic instruction. From an abundance of opportunities for travel, portrait and landscape images that will captivate your mind and entice your senses to create once-in-a lifetime  photos as we take you back in time to the ancient world of Lebanon.

December 4 - Arrive Beirut, Lebanon

Transfer directly to your hotel in Beirut.  You will have a welcome dinner where you will enjoy the delicious traditional Lebanese food. Overnight at the Four Seasons Hotel, Beirut for the next 7 nights.(D)

December 5 - Beiteddine – Deir El Qamar – Beirut city tour

After breakfast Drive to the Chouf Mountains to visit Deir El Qamar translates literally as “monastery of the moon”; this charming village was choosing by Fakherddine as the capital of Lebanon in the 17th century. 

Continue to Beiteddine Palace built in the 19th century over a period of 30 years by Emir Bechir II Chehabi around a former Druze hermitage. Today the palace is considered as the great surviving achievement of the Lebanese architecture. Photograph the city of Beirut, a city of contrasts. Beautiful architecture, small houses nestle in the shadow of tall modern buildings. You will visit downtown, the corniche, the pigeon grotto and Souks. Photograph sunset of the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, a Sunni place of worship and a major architectural landmark of Beirut. Completed in 2008, the imposing structure is designed in a grandiose Ottoman style and boasts towering 213 ft tall minarets. (B,L,D)

December 6 - Beirut, Byblos - Harissa by Cable car

After breakfast visit Byblos the world’s oldest continually inhabited city; nowadays its charming harbor and the rich archaeological and historical heritage makes Byblos the most enchanting place to visit in Lebanon. Discover Harissa by cable car and photograph from the top of the Basilica to capture the most beautiful bay in the Middle East. (B,L,D)

December 7- Cedars - Qadisha Valley - Bekaakafra Village

After breakfast  visit  Cedars, the Ski resort and the small grove of trees, which stand at an altitude of 2000m. Today a few of the original groves are the remnant of an extensive forest which once covered the Mount- Lebanon range. The Lebanese Cedars (Cedrus Libani) the most famous Cedars species, mentioned in the Old Testament is the country’s national symbol.

Proceed to visit the Qadisha Valley also known as the Holy valley where the early Maronite community established itself. The valley, classified, as world heritage site by UNESCO, is steep-sided with springs, waterfalls and dotted with ancient monasteries and churches all that makes it an ideal place for photography. In the afternoon, visit Bekaakafra the most traditional village in the highest mountain of Bcharri district. This village that failed to acknowledge urban life is a breath of fresh air, a haven of peace, of quiet and safety still preserves its authenticity due to its ancient and modest architecture. Customs, traditions and ancient folklore hang around in this village with an exhibition of homemade products prepared by the locals taking place along the street leading to the house of the Saint. (B,L,D)

December 8 - Baalback - Ksara - Anjar

Drive to Baalbeck, also called Heliopolis or “the City of the Sun” by the Greeks and Romans, who dedicated the main temple to Jupiter the god of the sun and two other temples to Venus and Mercure, Jupiter’s partners in the triad of god. This site is  the best preserved of any temple complex in the Middle East. It’s building still largely intact and survived wars, earthquakes and ravages of the time. Baalbeck is undoubtedly one of the greatest places to photograph in Lebanon.

Proceed to Ksara caves dated from the Roman period. The Jesuits enlarge the domain in the beginning of the 20th century. 

Continue to visit Anjar the only significant Umayyad site in Lebanon, founded in the 8th century by the Caliph Walid after a Roman city- plan.  Its palaces, baths and mosques make us believe that it was an Imperial residence. (B,L,D)

December 9- Tripoli – Batroun Village

After breakfast drive to Tripoli, the old labyrinthine city with its beautiful architecture from the Mamluk era; the impressive, large Crusader Castle; the traditional souqs full of artisans, factories and workshops; and the amazing food make a day in Tripoli definitely worth the experience. Don’t forget to dress appropriately - women should be sure to cover their arms, legs and hair when entering a mosque.

Proceed to visit Batroun, a small coastal town mentioned in the tablets of Tell Al-Amarna as a dependency of the king of Byblos. Today the remains of a Phoenician harbor are visible at the small fishing port. And its two churches of St. Stephano and St. Georges. (B,L,D)

December 10 - Tyr – Sidon

After breakfast, spend a full day in South Lebanon, to photograph Tyre, 85 km from Beirut, the greatest of the Phoenician city-states, its golden age came during the reign of Hiram, the most famous Tyrian kings who cultivated close ties with the Hebrew kings Solomon and David and contribute on the construction of the temple of Solomon by sending cedars wood and skilled workers. Today UNESCO lists Tyre as world heritage site. 

 Drive back to Sidon or Saida where wealth came from the murex trade and glass manufacturing, which was the best in the world at the time. Today Saida is a rapidlygrowing town, the administrative and commercial capital of the south, where you can have a stroll in the old souks and visit the Crusader Sea castle, Khan El Franj, the Great mosque and many other interested places.  (B,L,D)

December 11 - Departure from Beirut, Lebanon

Transfer to the airport for your flights back.

Beirut

Four Seasons Hotel Beirut

At Four Seasons Hotel Beirut, we can’t wait to introduce you to the people and places that make the stylish and friendly city tick. From the Hotel’s downtown location, you can set out to explore the capital’s bustling markets, admire ancient ruins, bask in the sun along our Mediterranean coastline and discover the natural wonders that lie within the snow-capped Lebanese Mountains just a short drive away. Or, simply take it all in at once from our 26th-floor rooftop, offering one of the best views of Beirut.

Najat Naba

Born in Brazil, Najat grew up in between the mountains of Lebanon and the skyscrapers of New York. Her diverse upbringing helped shape her desire to travel the world. Leading workshops, she has introduced many groups to photography while still exploring the cultures and diversity of the more than 40 countries she's visited. Her gift for languages (she speaks Arabic, Spanish and English fluently and a bit of Dutch and Portuguese) has enabled her to put people at ease through out her travels. She enjoys the opportunity that workshops give her to meet different types of people and introduce them to the beauty and marvel of the world. A huge believer in giving back, she is dedicated to supporting local charities throughout her travels. Her work has appeared in NY Times Magazine, American Photo, Financial Times, Interior Design, Popular Photography, The Editor at Large, HGTC.com, Trail of Inspiration.com, mocoloco.com and Oprah.com.

Najat's website