Lebanon - How to get there

By Air:

There is just one main international airport in Lebanon; this is located in the country’s capital city – Beirut. All scheduled flights fly in and out of Beirut, with a wide range of European and international airlines flying every day. We start most Lebanon tours in Beirut, though we also combine Syria, Jordan and Egypt or a combination of the four in many itineraries, and there are good options to fly or travel overland between these countries. It is possible to fly from Damascus (Syria) to Beirut with Syrian Airlines however as the journey by road is only approximately 3-4 hours, travelling overland does tend to be the preferred option. Flights between Cairo and Beirut operate daily with Egypt Air and Middle Eastern Airlines (MEA) and flights between Amman and Beirut are also operated daily with Royal Jordanian and Middle Eastern Airlines (MEA).

Flying from the UK:

If you are flying from the UK, then the only direct flights to Beirut are from London Heathrow, with either BMI or MEA. The flight takes around 5 hours. Fares range from around £400 if you book well in advance, but do increase significantly during busy periods. Prices are often cheaper if you choose an indirect flight with a European airline such as Cyprus Airways, Czech Airlines and Turkish Airlines are also a good option when considering flights from regional airports such as Manchester.
In general, the earlier you book the better, as flights tend to get more expensive closer to departure. Flying from regional airports such as Manchester, Newcastle or Glasgow will require a stop-over in London or Europe and normally is a little more expensive than flying from London.

Where to book:

We hold an ATOL, and you are welcome to book your flights with us. Please discuss your ideal dates and departure airport with our sales staff, and we will send you a selection of airlines, flight times, and prices. You can then choose whether to book your flights through us, or to make your own arrangements. If you book your own flights, we will still include both your arrival and departure airport transfers.

By Land:

Jordan

The drive from Amman in Jordan, to Beirut in Lebanon, takes around 6 hours including border crossings and routes via Syria. If you arrive in Jordan from Egypt (via the borders at Taba/Eilat and Eilat/Aqaba) then you will not be able to enter Lebanon or Syria as the authorities will see that you have entered Israel from the entry and exit stamps in Egypt and Jordan (even if you have no Israeli Stamp). If you intend on combining Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon then we will use a ferry to travel from Nuweiba to Aqaba and miss out Israel completely.

Syria

Damascus in Syria has excellent road connections with Beirut via the Damascus-Beirut Highway. The journey by road takes approximately 3-4 hours and your visa can normally be obtained at the border (however this may differ depending on your nationality).

Turkey

For those looking to enter Lebanon from Turkey, your journey will route via Syria. Turkey and Syria share 8 land borders but the most convenient and most popular border is the Cilvegözü/Baba al Hawa border which provides good links between the cities of Antakya in Turkey and Aleppo in the north of Syria. Once in Syria you can then travel south to Homs and onwards across the border to Lebanon (normally Tripoli). The journey from Homs to Tripoli takes 3 – 4 hours including border crossings.