Lebanon is a land full of charm and contradictions. Since the end of a devastating 16-year civil war, Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding the nation. Beirut, the capital city that never sleeps, claims to be the party capital of the Middle East. Downtown Beirut rose from the ashes to become a booming commercial district. Renovated and new buildings retain the charm of the old city, and there is an endless selection of restaurants and cafes.

Lebanese cuisine enjoys a world-wide reputation for its diversity and sophistication. For those itching to get out of the city, Lebanon offers historic coastal towns and lovely mountain villages easily accessible from Beirut. In Jbail you can walk among the remains of several civilizations, and in Bcharre you can hike in a deep gorge or relax in a grove of graceful cedars. When it comes to skiing, you have your choice of water or snow, depending on the season. Alternatively, get stuck into the slot machines of Casino du Liban over-looking the magnificent bay of Jounieh.

The ancient city of Baalbeck in the Beqaa valley is a UNESCO's world cultural heritage site. This city is set in a magnificent landscape. Its ancient splendour has been influenced successively by the greatest civilizations of the Middle East. Each has left relics that rival each other with their splendour.

Lebanon has been entrancing people since biblical times. In the words of the poets: "To what shall I compare your greatness? Surely, to a cedar of Lebanon with noble branches, thickset needles and lofty trunk...It was the envy of every tree in Eden, in the garden of God" (Ezekiel XXXI)