9:00 AM — Departure from Beirut Your driver picks you up from your Beirut hotel and heads north along the Mediterranean coastal highway — Chateau Musar is just 30 minutes away in Ghazir, sitting in a 17th-century castle above the sea

Chateau Musar is not just a great winery — it is one of the most extraordinary wine stories in the world. Founded in 1930 and brought to international fame by the legendary Serge Hochar, who famously continued making wine throughout the Lebanese Civil War — crossing militia checkpoints with harvested grapes, at one point held at gunpoint — Musar produces wines of extraordinary complexity from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, and Carignan grapes grown in the Bekaa Valley. The guided cellar tour takes you through the historic stone cellars of the 17th-century castle where the wine ages for seven years before release. The tasting that follows is unlike any other wine experience in Lebanon — structured, educational, and deeply personal. If you have ever opened a bottle of Musar and wondered where it came from, this is your answer.

Drive north to Ixsir — and prepare to be stopped in your tracks before you even taste anything. Built into 400-year-old stone terraces above the Mediterranean near Batroun, Ixsir's award-winning architecture is one of the most striking modern buildings in Lebanon — a seamless marriage of ancient hillside farming and contemporary design with views over the coastline that are genuinely spectacular. The name comes from the Arabic word for elixir, and the wines live up to it — internationally awarded, produced from grapes grown at multiple altitudes across Lebanon. The cellar tour reveals the meticulous craft behind wines that have earned medals at Decanter and the International Wine Challenge. The tasting showcases their Grande Réserve red, aromatic whites, and celebrated rosé.

Two hours to do exactly what you want in one of Lebanon's most beloved coastal towns. Grab lunch at a waterfront restaurant — fresh mezze, grilled fish, and cold white wine with the Mediterranean in front of you. Walk the old town's stone streets and discover the 3,000-year-old Phoenician sea wall still standing on the beach. Try one of Batroun's famous craft beers — the town is Lebanon's microbrewery capital and the perfect place to switch from wine to something colder. Or just sit by the sea and watch the boats. Two hours, no agenda, Batroun — you will figure it out.