Lebanon: Saints, Cedars & the Christian Heart of the Middle East
A Catholic Pilgrimage Through St. Charbel, St. Rafqa, the Holy Valley & Our Lady of Lebanon
10 Days / 8 Nights | Beirut · Baalbek · Anjar · Byblos · Tripoli · Wadi Qadisha · Bsharri · Sidon · Tyre · Harissa · Annaya & More
About This Pilgrimage
Lebanon is one of the most fascinating Christian lands of the Middle East: a country where biblical history, ancient monasteries, Eastern Catholic traditions, saints, Marian devotion, Roman cities and the cedars of Scripture coexist within a remarkably small territory.
This pilgrimage has been designed for travelers who want to discover not only Lebanon’s archaeology and culture, but especially its living Christian heritage.
We will encounter the spirituality of the Maronite Church, one of the Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with Rome, and pilgrimage to places associated with some of Lebanon’s most beloved modern saints: St. Charbel Makhlouf, St. Rafqa and St. Nimatullah Al-Hardini.
At Annaya, we will pray at the monastery and tomb of St. Charbel, whose extraordinary life of prayer, silence and Eucharistic devotion has made him one of the most widely venerated saints of the Christian East.
We will journey into the spectacular Qadisha Valley — the Holy Valley —, where monks, hermits and Christian communities found refuge and cultivated a tradition of prayer stretching back many centuries. There we will visit the ancient Monastery of St. Anthony of Qozhaya, surrounded by the dramatic mountains and cedars of northern Lebanon.
Our Marian journey includes Our Lady of Lebanon at Harissa, watching over the Mediterranean coast, as well as the beautiful sanctuary of Our Lady of Nourieh.
But Christian Lebanon cannot be separated from the wider history of the land. We will also discover the ancient cities of Byblos, Sidon and Tyre, the monumental Roman temples of Baalbek, the Umayyad city of Anjar, Beirut’s extraordinary religious diversity and the famous Cedars of Lebanon.
The result is an unusually complete pilgrimage joining Catholic spirituality, the Eastern Churches, biblical history, archaeology, culture and the natural beauty of Lebanon.
t. Charbel & the Spiritual Heart of Lebanon
For a Catholic pilgrimage, St. Charbel should be one of the principal reasons to visit Lebanon.
Born in 1828, Youssef Antoun Makhlouf entered the Lebanese Maronite Order and took the religious name Charbel.
His life was outwardly simple.
Prayer.
Silence.
Work.
Fasting.
The Eucharist.
Eventually, he received permission to live as a hermit, devoting himself even more completely to God.
Yet after his death, devotion to St. Charbel grew dramatically. Christians from Lebanon and throughout the world began traveling to Annaya, and his intercession became associated with numerous testimonies of healing and conversion.
Today, St. Charbel has become one of the most internationally recognized saints of the Eastern Catholic Churches.
For pilgrims, his life poses a powerful question:
How much space do we truly give God in our lives?
Lebanon & the Eastern Catholic Churches
This pilgrimage is also an extraordinary introduction to the Eastern Churches.
Many Catholics from the United States are familiar primarily with the Latin or Roman tradition of Catholicism.
Lebanon reveals another part of the same universal Church.
The Maronite Church has its own ancient liturgy, spirituality and traditions while remaining in full communion with the Pope and the Catholic Church.
Encountering Maronite Christianity allows pilgrims to understand more clearly what we mean when we speak about a truly universal Catholic Church.
Different languages.
Different liturgical traditions.
Different histories.
One faith. One Eucharist. One Church.
The Holy Valley
The Qadisha Valley deserves particular emphasis on the webpage because it distinguishes this program from an ordinary Lebanon sightseeing tour.
Its cliffs, caves and remote monasteries became home to generations of Christian monks and hermits.
Here Christianity was not simply studied.
It was lived through silence, prayer, sacrifice and perseverance.
Walking into the Holy Valley allows modern pilgrims to encounter a form of Christianity rooted in the ancient monastic traditions of the East.
Combined with the Cedars of Lebanon, it is also one of the most visually spectacular days of the entire pilgrimage.
Pilgrimage Highlights
- St. Charbel Makhlouf — pilgrimage to Annaya and one of Lebanon’s greatest Catholic shrines.
- St. Rafqa — discover the extraordinary witness of Lebanon’s beloved Maronite nun and saint.
- St. Nimatullah Al-Hardini — encounter the life of the Maronite monk, teacher and spiritual master.
- Our Lady of Lebanon — Harissa — pray at one of the great Marian landmarks of the Middle East.
- Our Lady of Nourieh — visit the beautiful Marian sanctuary overlooking the Mediterranean.
- Wadi Qadisha — the Holy Valley — discover one of the historic centers of Maronite monasticism.
- Monastery of St. Anthony of Qozhaya — encounter centuries of Christian prayer in the mountains.
- Cedars of Lebanon — experience one of the great biblical symbols of the country.
- Bsharri — discover the mountain homeland of Khalil Gibran.
- Byblos — walk through one of the world’s great ancient Mediterranean cities.
- Tyre and Sidon — visit cities repeatedly encountered in biblical and early Christian history.
- Baalbek — experience one of the most monumental Roman archaeological complexes in the Middle East.
- Beirut — discover a capital shaped by Maronite, Orthodox, Catholic, Muslim and other religious traditions.
- Full board and private transportation throughout the pilgrimage.
- Opportunities for Holy Mass and spiritual activities can be incorporated for Catholic parish groups.
Important Information and Terms and Conditions
The published program is a general description and may be adjusted due to availability, operational requirements, local conditions, or the group’s needs.
By registering, each traveler confirms that they have reviewed and accepted our Terms and Conditions.
Confirmed trip details, payment information, official meetings and presentations, updates, and final travel documentation will be provided through the official WeTravel page, the final itinerary, and other communications from Pilgrim Groups Travel. Travelers are responsible for reviewing all documents, insurance provisions, entry requirements, and travel instructions provided.
Proposed Itinerary
Day 1 — USA – Beirut
Departure for Lebanon
Departure from your selected U.S. airport for our international journey to Beirut, Lebanon, with connection according to the selected airline.
Our pilgrimage to the Christian heart of the Middle East begins.
Overnight flight.
Day 2 — Arrival in Beirut
Welcome to Lebanon
Upon arrival at Beirut International Airport, we will complete immigration and baggage procedures before meeting our local representative and accompanying guide.
Transfer to our hotel and time to rest following the international journey.
Depending on arrival schedules, an introductory prayer, Holy Mass or short orientation may be arranged.
Dinner and overnight in Beirut.
Day 3 — Beirut – Baalbek – Ksara – Anjar – Beirut
Roman Lebanon & the Bekaa Valley
After breakfast, we travel across Mount Lebanon toward the fertile Bekaa Valley.
Our first major destination will be Baalbek, home to one of the most spectacular Roman archaeological complexes in the world.
We will explore the monumental temples traditionally associated with Jupiter, Bacchus and Venus, discovering the extraordinary scale of Roman architecture in ancient Phoenicia.
We then continue to the historic Ksara area, where an optional cultural experience may include a visit to its famous wine cellars and tasting for interested groups.
Later, we visit Anjar, the remarkable remains of an Umayyad city whose urban plan, palaces, baths and commercial streets provide a fascinating glimpse into another chapter of Lebanon’s history.
Return to Beirut.
Full board. Overnight in Beirut.
Day 4 — Beirut – Deir el-Qamar – Beiteddine – Beirut
Beirut & the Religious Mosaic of Lebanon
Today we begin with the National Museum of Beirut, whose collections tell the extraordinary story of the civilizations that have inhabited Lebanon from antiquity through later periods.
We then explore central Beirut, discovering a city where different religious traditions have lived side by side.
Our panoramic and walking tour may include Martyrs’ Square, St. George Maronite Cathedral, St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Parliament Square, Roman remains, mosques and other important landmarks.
Later, we travel into the Chouf Mountains.
We visit Deir el-Qamar — the Monastery of the Moon —, once an important political center of Mount Lebanon, before continuing to the magnificent Beiteddine Palace.
The day offers a fascinating introduction to Lebanon’s complex religious, cultural and political history.
Full board. Overnight in Beirut.
Day 5 — Beirut – Byblos – Tripoli – Beirut
Ancient Phoenicia & Northern Lebanon
After breakfast, we travel north toward Byblos, one of the most celebrated ancient cities of the Mediterranean.
Its history stretches back thousands of years, and its relationship with ancient trade, writing and the Phoenician world makes it one of Lebanon’s most important archaeological destinations.
We will explore the old harbor, archaeological areas, historic souks and the Crusader Castle, together with churches and other monuments according to the final program.
We then continue north to Tripoli, Lebanon’s second-largest city.
Its extraordinary historic center preserves mosques, madrasas, caravanserais, hammams and traditional souks dating principally from the Mamluk and Ottoman periods.
Return to Beirut.
Full board. Overnight in Beirut.
Day 6 — Beirut – Cedars of Lebanon – Qozhaya – Bsharri – Beirut
The Holy Valley & the Maronite Monastic Tradition
Today is one of the spiritual highlights of the pilgrimage.
We travel into the mountains of northern Lebanon toward the celebrated Cedars of Lebanon, trees that have become inseparable from the country’s identity and appear repeatedly throughout the imagery of the Bible.
We then enter the extraordinary region of the Qadisha Valley — the Holy Valley.
For centuries, this remote landscape became a refuge for monks, hermits and Christian communities seeking a life of prayer.
Here we visit the historic Monastery of St. Anthony of Qozhaya, one of the great centers of Maronite monastic tradition.
This is an ideal place for parish groups to incorporate Holy Mass, silence and spiritual reflection.
We then continue to Bsharri, birthplace of the Lebanese poet and artist Khalil Gibran, where we may visit the museum dedicated to his life and work.
Return to Beirut.
Full board. Overnight in Beirut.
Day 7 — Beirut – Sidon – Tyre – Beirut
Biblical Cities of the Phoenician Coast
After breakfast, we travel south along the Mediterranean toward two cities whose names appear throughout ancient and biblical history.
Our first stop is Sidon, one of the great cities of ancient Phoenicia.
We will visit its historic center and Sea Castle, built during the Crusader period, together with other monuments from the medieval and Ottoman eras.
We then continue to Tyre, one of the most famous cities of the ancient Mediterranean.
Tyre is particularly fascinating for Christian pilgrims because the cities of Tyre and Sidon appear repeatedly in Scripture, including in the ministry of Jesus and the journeys of the early Christian community.
We will visit the important archaeological area of Al-Bass, with its ancient necropolis, monumental arch and impressive Roman hippodrome.
Return to Beirut.
Full board. Overnight in Beirut.
Day 8 — Beirut – Harissa – Jeita – Annaya
Our Lady of Lebanon & St. Charbel
Today is the principal devotional day of our pilgrimage.
We begin at Harissa, where the great white statue of Our Lady of Lebanon extends her arms over the Mediterranean.
The sanctuary has become one of the most recognizable Catholic landmarks in Lebanon and an important gathering place for Christians from throughout the country.
There will be time for prayer and, subject to arrangements, the celebration of Holy Mass.
We then continue to the spectacular Jeita Grotto, one of Lebanon’s great natural wonders, with its underground caves, stalactites and subterranean waterways.
In the afternoon, we travel to Annaya, one of Lebanon’s most important pilgrimage destinations.
Here we enter the world of St. Charbel Makhlouf.
A Maronite monk, priest and hermit, St. Charbel dedicated his life to prayer, asceticism and the Eucharist. After his death, devotion to him spread far beyond Lebanon, and countless pilgrims continue to come to Annaya seeking his intercession.
We will visit the monastery and places associated with his life and burial, with substantial time for prayer and personal devotion.
Return to Beirut.
Full board. Overnight in Beirut.
Day 9 — St. Rafqa – St. Nimatullah Al-Hardini – Our Lady of Nourieh
The Saints of Lebanon
Our final full pilgrimage day is dedicated to three powerful expressions of Lebanese Catholic spirituality.
We begin with St. Rafqa, one of the most beloved female saints of the Maronite Church.
Her life was marked by profound faith, religious consecration and extraordinary acceptance of suffering united with Christ.
We then continue to places associated with St. Nimatullah Kassab Al-Hardini, Maronite monk, theologian and spiritual teacher who profoundly influenced the monastic tradition in which St. Charbel was formed.
Finally, we visit the beautiful Marian sanctuary of Our Lady of Nourieh — Saydet El Nourieh.
The name is associated with light, and the sanctuary occupies a spectacular position above the Mediterranean coast.
It provides a fitting place to conclude our pilgrimage with prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary and thanksgiving for the Christian witness we have encountered throughout Lebanon.
According to flight schedules, return to Beirut and transfer to the airport later in the evening.
Full board through dinner.
Day 10 — Beirut – USA
Return Home
International departure from Beirut and connection for our return flight to the United States.
We return home after encountering a Christianity that may be unfamiliar to many Western pilgrims but whose roots reach back to the earliest centuries of the Church.
We have prayed with the Maronite saints, entered ancient monasteries, stood before Our Lady of Lebanon, traveled through biblical cities and discovered how Christianity continues to live in one of the most fascinating lands of the Middle East.
Arrival and end of our pilgrimage services.
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