Palace of Dreams – Oyoun El Samak – Zahlan Grotto – Jabal El Arbaaine

The Palace of Dreams is the day’s great oddball attraction: part private house, part sculpture garden, part open-air fantasy built by Mohammad Al Hawchar. You’ll also reach quiet mountain country, a Jurassic-era grotto, and a very high swing above the Bqarsouna area. I like the way this trip mixes serious scenery with wonderfully strange local sights.

I especially like two things here. First, you get a broad look at northern Lebanon without arranging several separate rides. Second, the small maximum of 15 people gives the day a more personal feel, while guides such as Mahdi and Robyn have been praised for friendly service and careful driving. The main drawback is the pace: five stops in about eight hours leave limited time at each place, and the tour is non-refundable once booked.

Key points to know

• A homemade palace unlike any standard museum: Expect cedars, swords, thrones, Arab tents, castle models, caves, pitchers, horses, and sparkling local stone.
• A quieter side of northern Lebanon: Oyoun es-Samak brings a mountain lake, greenery, and waterfalls near Wadi Jhannam.
• A geological stop with real age: Zahlan Grotto formed in limestone and dolomite over geological periods reaching back roughly 90 to 120 million years.
• A high-altitude finale: Jabal al-Arba’in offers broad mountain views and a swing set around 1,400 meters above sea level.
• Simple full-day logistics: Pickup and drop-off are offered from Beirut, with air-conditioned transport and a start at 8:30 am.
• Good value for a multi-stop day: At $100 per person, the price makes most sense if you want transport, guiding, and several distant sights in one outing.

Why this northern Lebanon day trip is different

Many day trips from Beirut are built around one famous historical site. This outing takes a more playful route. You move from an eccentric private creation to a mountain lake, then underground rock formations, a lunch stop, and a high mountain viewpoint.

That variety is the reason to book it. You are not spending eight hours at one monument or following only the most polished tourist route. Instead, you see places that feel tied to local people, local geography, and the character of northern Lebanon.

The route reaches areas east of Tripoli, including Bakhoun, Oyoun es-Samak, Serkoutah, the Danniyeh and Hermel road, and Bqarsouna. Distances and mountain roads mean the vehicle matters. The included air conditioning and hotel pickup remove much of the hassle of finding transport between scattered stops.

The group limit is 15 people. That is not a private tour by definition, but it is small enough to avoid the feel of a large coach outing. Past outings have included guides named Mahdi and Robyn. Mahdi has been noted for WhatsApp communication, friendly help, and steady driving, while Robyn has been praised for putting together an unusual route.

The Palace of Dreams in Bakhoun

Start with the most eccentric stop. In Bakhoun, Mohammad Al Hawchar created the Palace of Dreams with his own hands, including the house and garden. This is not a formal royal palace, and you should not arrive expecting polished museum rooms or grand official architecture.

Instead, expect a personal world of objects and symbols. The grounds include cedars, spears, swords, thrones, rifles, Arab tents, horses, caves, pitchers, and models or references to places such as Anjar Castle, Baalbek Castle, and the Raouche Rock.

The appeal is its imagination. You may find yourself looking at a throne beside a cave, a castle reference beside a garden feature, or a collection of arms and decorative pieces arranged in a way that feels more like a personal fantasy than a planned exhibition.

One local stone, called Al-Kak, is used throughout the palace. It comes in different natural colors and catches the sun with a bright, sparkling effect. That detail helps explain why this stop works best as a visual curiosity. Bring your camera, but also give yourself time to look at the handmade details instead of rushing through for a single photograph.

The stop lasts about 45 minutes, and admission is listed as free. That short visit is probably enough for a first look, though people fascinated by folk art, unusual buildings, or personal collections may wish for more time. I would treat it as a compact, memorable introduction to the day rather than a full museum visit.

Oyoun es-Samak, a mountain lake and waterfalls

The next stop shifts the mood completely. Oyoun es-Samak lies in Wadi Jhannam, southwest of Safinet el-Qaiteaa. Here, the focus is open space, water, and greenery rather than architecture.

The area includes a mountain lake and waterfalls. The surrounding green setting is suitable for a short walk or picnic, though the scheduled visit is about 45 minutes. That gives you enough time to enjoy the setting and take photographs, but not enough for a long hike.

This is one of the most useful contrasts in the itinerary. After the busy visual clutter of the Palace of Dreams, the lake gives you a calmer pause. You can listen to the water, take in the mountain setting, and reset before the next stop.

The exact amount of walking you do will depend on the conditions and the guide’s timing. The information provided confirms the lake, waterfalls, and green area, but not a fixed hiking route. If you want a serious walk, ask before setting out. The scheduled stop is better understood as a scenic break than as a dedicated trek.

Comfortable shoes are sensible because the stop is outdoors and near water. There is no need to pack as if you are climbing a mountain, but this is not a purely vehicle-based viewpoint either.

Zahlan Grotto and its ancient rock layers

At Serkoutah, the route continues to Zahlan Grotto. This cave formed in layers of calcium and dolomite and belongs to the late Jurassic epoch. Its geological story is the main reason to pay attention here.

The cave developed in two main periods. During the first, the land was under the sea for roughly 90 to 120 million years. That gives the formations a scale of time far beyond the human stories represented at the Palace of Dreams.

Inside, you can expect stalactite formations and rock surfaces shaped by water over immense periods. The cave is described as containing million-year-old formations, so this is not simply a dark underground stop. It is a chance to see how slowly natural features form and how much of Lebanon’s past is written in its rock.

The visit lasts about one hour, making it the longest sightseeing stop before lunch. That extra time matters. Caves can feel rushed when a group is pushed through in 20 minutes, but an hour allows you to look carefully and take in the setting.

The cave is also a useful reminder that this tour is not only a collection of scenic photo stops. You get a basic lesson in geology without needing to plan a separate natural-history excursion. The provided details do not specify the cave’s lighting, temperature, or walking surface, so ask the guide if you need exact conditions before entering.

Lunch along the Danniyeh and Hermel road

The midday stop is at a local restaurant along the Danniyeh and Hermel road. Lunch lasts about one hour, and the meal is not described in detail, so you should confirm what is included and what you will pay before ordering.

That uncertainty is worth noting because the $100 price should be judged mainly on the transport, guiding, and route rather than on a promised meal. The lunch stop gives you a proper break between the grotto and the mountain viewpoint, which is important on an eight-hour outing.

A local restaurant can also make the day feel less packaged than a quick roadside snack, but the exact menu and standard are not provided. I would keep expectations practical. This is a convenient pause built into a long day, not a dedicated food tour.

The road itself connects a string of mountain and inland areas, so lunch also serves a useful purpose: you can sit down, eat, and prepare for the final outdoor stop instead of staying in the vehicle continuously.

Jabal al-Arba’in and the high swing

The final stop is at Jabal al-Arba’in in the Bqarsouna area. The viewpoint reaches around 1,400 meters above sea level on the Makmal mountain chain, giving you broad views across the surrounding mountains.

The main attraction is the swing. It is described as the highest swing in the Middle East, built on top of Jabal al-Arba’in. The experience is simple, but the setting makes it memorable. You sit high above the mountain country and swing out over the view, which is a very different way to finish a sightseeing day.

You do not have to ride it to enjoy the stop. If heights make you uneasy, the viewpoint still gives you the main reason to visit. If you like unusual activities, this is likely to become the day’s favorite moment.

The stop lasts about 45 minutes. That should allow time for the view and the swing, but busy conditions could affect how long you wait. The supplied details do not specify age, weight, or safety restrictions for the swing, so ask the guide or local staff before committing to the ride.

This is also the most weather-sensitive part of the day. Mountain views can change with cloud, wind, or visibility. The tour remains worthwhile for the setting, but the famous wide view cannot be guaranteed on every departure.

What $100 gets you

At $100 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see rural northern Lebanon. Its value comes from combining several separate locations that would be difficult to connect without a vehicle and a driver.

You are paying for roughly eight hours, Beirut pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transport, a guide, and access to a route that includes five distinct parts: the Palace of Dreams, Oyoun es-Samak, Zahlan Grotto, lunch, and Jabal al-Arba’in.

The admission cost for the listed stops is shown as free, so the price is mainly for the service and the distance covered. That can be good value if you are short on time, do not want to negotiate several local rides, or prefer someone else to handle the mountain route.

The value is weaker if you want long visits at each location. With 45 minutes at the palace, 45 minutes at the lake, one hour in the grotto, one hour for lunch, and 45 minutes at the mountain, much of the day is naturally taken up by driving between places.

For a group of two or more, compare the cost with hiring private transport for the same route. The shared tour gives you a clearer structure and a maximum group size of 15. A private tour may offer more control, but the price could differ.

Practical details before you go

The tour begins at 8:30 am in Beirut and ends back at the meeting point. Pickup is offered, so confirm the exact pickup arrangement when booking. The full day is scheduled for about eight hours, though road conditions and stop timing can affect the return.

Communication before departure can be useful. Mahdi has contacted people through WhatsApp, which helps with meeting details and last-minute coordination. The guiding team has also been praised for checking that people were comfortable during the day.

Wear shoes suitable for outdoor ground and a cave visit. You will want clothing that works for both a mountain lake and a high viewpoint, since the route changes from low, wet areas to elevated mountain terrain. The tour data does not give a detailed accessibility description, but it says most people can participate.

The tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed after booking. That is important because the route includes outdoor stops and a mountain viewpoint, where conditions may affect the day. Make sure your date and plans are firm before paying.

Who should book this outing

I would choose this tour if you want variety more than depth. It suits you if a handmade palace, a lake and waterfalls, a geological cave, a local lunch, and a high swing all sound better than spending the day at one major monument.

It is also a strong choice for first-time visitors who want to get beyond Beirut but do not want to arrange rural transport themselves. The air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup, and compact group make the logistics much simpler.

You may want another tour if your main interest is archaeology, food, serious hiking, or long photography sessions. The stops are varied, but the schedule is fixed and each visit is relatively short. You should also think carefully before booking if you dislike heights, since the final attraction centers on a mountain swing, even though riding it is optional.

Should you book the Palace of Dreams and Jabal al-Arba’in tour?

Book it if you enjoy unusual places, changing scenery, and a day that feels more like a local road adventure than a standard sightseeing circuit. The Palace of Dreams and the high swing give the outing its personality, while Oyoun es-Samak and Zahlan Grotto add calm and geological interest.

At $100, the tour is fairly priced for a full day of transport and guiding across several northern locations, especially if you would otherwise need to arrange separate rides. Just keep your expectations realistic: this is a broad sample of the region, not an in-depth visit to each stop.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts in Beirut, Lebanon, at 8:30 am. Pickup is offered, and the activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum of 15 people.

Is transportation provided?

Yes. The tour includes pickup and drop-off, with travel in air-conditioned vehicles.

Is the Palace of Dreams in Bakhoun included?

Yes. The first stop is Mohammad Al Hawchar’s Palace of Dreams in Bakhoun, with about 45 minutes scheduled there. Admission is listed as free.

What is included at Oyoun es-Samak?

The stop includes time near a mountain lake and waterfalls in Wadi Jhannam. The area is also suitable for hiking or a picnic, with about 45 minutes scheduled.

How long is the visit to Zahlan Grotto?

The visit to Zahlan Grotto lasts about one hour. The cave contains formations in calcium and dolomite strata dating to geological periods reaching roughly 90 to 120 million years ago.

Is the mountain swing included?

The final stop is Jabal al-Arba’in, where you can see the high swing and the mountain views. The scheduled visit lasts about 45 minutes. The provided tour information does not specify separate swing fees or restrictions, so confirm those details locally.