Our travelers experience legendary, re-energized Beirut— from its sociable waterfront promenade with sweeping views of the deeply turquoise Mediterranean to its brilliant dining and nightlife. We explore Tripoli’s medieval suqs, wending among exquisite Mamluke-era buildings. Deep within the labyrinth, we savor the aromas of spice stalls and the city’s famed sweet shops. We wander in and around the great Phoenician cities of Sidon and Tyre, exploring the remains of civilizations that have left their mark on this crossroads: a Phoenician temple, Crusader fortresses, and the largest Roman hippodrome in the world. We journey through Qadisha Valley, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site both for its historic treasures and its natural beauty; the valley’s craggy hillsides have sheltered Christian monasteries since the faith’s earliest years. (Ancient builders highly prized its famous cedars.) And we investigate Baalbek, considered the most important Roman site in the Middle East. Founded by Julius Caesar, the colony here flourished and became the region’s main city. Later emperors expanded Baalbek’s temples until they became monuments to imperial extravagance.