Nidal Majdalani – Travelling Lebanon

Published in Lebanon Traveler | September 2026

Always on the road, whatever the season, I find myself returning to familiar places and seeing them differently each time. Part of my mission has always been to make these journeys easier for others to follow, encouraging people to explore beyond the usual stops and, in doing so, support the rural communities that give Lebanon so much of its character. That latest journey became my Lebanon Traveler feature,  A Journey Across Lebanon: What to See in One or Two Days.

The route is more than a sequence of stops. Designed for international visitors with limited time, it offers a way to understand Lebanon beyond Beirut by moving through different regions, landscapes and layers of history. Along the way, villages, mountain roads, historic sites and everyday life begin to connect, revealing how much of the country can be understood simply by travelling through it and paying closer attention.

The photographs, videos and notes were all created during this trip, capturing the route as it looked and felt this summer.

If You Have One Day in Lebanon

The first day begins at Jeita before reaching the Mediterranean coast, then climbs into the high mountains, crosses to the Bekaa and eventually turns back toward Beirut. Rather than repeat the full itinerary here, I am sharing some of the moments I captured along the way; the complete route, stops and practical details are in my Lebanon Traveler feature.

At Jeita Grotto, the change in atmosphere is immediate. The air turns cool as you enter, and the scale of the chambers and limestone formations makes it an unexpected way to begin the day before continuing north toward the coast.

In Byblos, history unfolds within a compact walk, from the archaeological site and old streets to the harbor overlooking the Mediterranean.

In Batroun, the pace feels lighter, with its old streets, historic harbor and seafront making it easy to linger. I usually make time for coffee and a sandwich, or a brioche when I want something sweet, before turning inland toward the mountains.

Leaving the Coast Behind

From Chekka, the road begins to climb and the change is immediate. The sea falls away, the air turns cooler and the landscape grows quieter and more rugged as I head toward Bsharri and the Cedars of God. Beyond the cedars, the road rises even higher toward Oyoun Orghosh, opening onto wide mountain views and, on this summer 2026 journey, lingering patches of snow that made the drive feel even more extraordinary.

After Oyoun Orghosh, the road toward the Bekaa becomes rougher in places, with short stretches that could use some maintenance, though on this trip I found the short rough stretches straightforward in a 4×4.. Then the mountains begin to fall away and the view suddenly opens onto the wide Bekaa plain, a striking change after the tighter, rockier landscape above. From there, I continued toward Baalbek, where the scale of the ruins brings an entirely different energy to the journey.

After Baalbek, the route turns back across the mountains toward Bhamdoun el Dayaa. By then, after hours on the road, I was ready for a pause, some cooler air and a short walk through the village before the final descent to Beirut. It is a simple stop, but one that breaks up the drive and gives the journey a gentler ending before returning to the city.

If You Have a Second Day

When I turn the journey into two days, I stay overnight in Zahle rather than head straight back to Beirut. It gives me time to enjoy the city properly, then continue the next morning to Anjar and on toward the Shouf, where I would not want a visitor to miss either the cedar trails of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve or the region’s heritage, from the stone alleys of Deir el Qamar to the palaces and historic landmarks along the way.

The Full Journey

I have kept this post as a glimpse behind the journey rather than repeating the itinerary. For the complete route, suggested stops, timings and practical details, read my full feature in Lebanon Traveler.

A Journey Across Lebanon: What to See in One or Two Days

For current access, transport and practical travel updates, see Lebanon Today.

For travelers looking to go further, I also develop tailored itineraries across Lebanon, combining carefully researched routes with distinctive places to stay, authentic local food, meaningful experiences and lesser-known stops shaped around individual interests and pace.

Beyond the article

The journey also continued on Instagram, where Lebanon Traveler shared the road trip through my photography and video in a collaborative post.

More than fifteen years into Travelling Lebanon, I still find reasons to return to familiar roads, take another turn and look again. Sometimes I simply miss a place and want to see how it is doing, how the landscape has changed with the season, and how the people and small businesses I have come to know are getting on. There is always something I missed the first time, or another story waiting further along the road. Many of those stories remain unpublished, waiting for the right moment and opportunity to be shared.

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© 2026 Nidal Majdalani. All original text, photography, video, maps, route notes, field research and editorial material are protected and may not be reproduced, adapted, republished, redistributed or used commercially without prior written permission.

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