Festival weekend planner
Bekaa Valley Harvest Festival — a 3-day weekend in Bekaa Valley
September. Zahlé, Lebanon. 60 min from the airport.
The weekend, day by day
- Day 1
Arrive in Zahlé
Land at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY), settle in and walk the old town in the afternoon. Light dinner near your accommodation — save your appetite for the festival day.
- Day 2
Bekaa Valley Harvest Festival
Festival day — arrive early to avoid the lunchtime crowd. Pace yourself across the tastings and break for a long lunch mid-afternoon.
- Day 3
Wine country day in Bekaa Valley
Use the third day for a single winery visit (booked ahead) and a long lunch before heading home.
Where to stay
- Hotels in Zahlé
Live availability around the festival dates. Festival hotels book out 6+ months ahead, so check early.
We may earn a commission on hotel links.
One winery worth a detour
Château Musar
WTG pickWine made through decades of war and hardship in Lebanon — Château Musar is not just a winery but a testament to the unbreakable spirit of winemaking.
- Address
- Ghazir, Keserwan, Lebanon
- Appointment
- by-arrangement
- Tasting price
- USD 20 · Tour and tasting of 4 wines
- Website
- Visit
Where to eat
Restaurant Shalimar — Zahle
$$Riverside restaurant in Zahle on the Bardawni River, famous for traditional Lebanese food and arak
Must try: Meze platters (hummus, tabbouleh, kibbeh)
More dining picks in Bekaa Valley →Practical
- Nearest airport
- Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY)
Insider tip
Skip the main estates and head to Domaine Wardy or Chateau Heritage's harvest picnics instead—smaller crowds, more authentic grape-picking participation, and access to en-primeur barrel tastings unavailable anywhere else. Mid-September timing coincides with peak harvest when fermentation tanks are most active.
Want a longer trip than the festival weekend?
The milestone-trip planner builds a 3–10 day Bekaa Valley itinerary with accommodation, tours, and pacing options.
Plan a Bekaa Valley trip →