Marhaba Lebanon! – Solo Trip to Beirut and Beyond…

The tail end of my trip to Cairo coincided with a one-week country-wide public holiday. Naturally, I began looking for where to spend this time before returning to Nairobi. Having visited a few other cities in Egypt in my previous travels, I began to look outward.

In the end, visiting Lebanon was my overall best choice. Reachable by only a short one-hour flight from Cairo and being fairly accessible to Nigerians due to its conditional visa-on-arrival policy, it seemed like the perfect option.

Our Lady of Lebanon Harissa

And I am so glad I got the chance to visit! I spent seven days in the country and had a fantastic time. Planning this trip was quite easy too, once I found out how relatively close all the main attractions were.

At first, I was quite overwhelmed trying to figure out the best places to go and to set up my base. Eventually, I chose to spend three days in Batroun and four in Beirut. From Beirut, I was able to take day trips easily to other parts of the country.

Visiting Lebanon from Nigeria – Getting There and Travel Requirements…

I made this trip from Cairo but travelling from Nigeria to Lebanon is relatively easy as well. Several airlines make the trip to the country with stops at their various hubs. Only Middle East Airlines (MEA) flies directly from Lagos to Beirut.

At the time of this writing, Nigerian travellers are required to hold $2,000 in cash, in addition to paid accommodation in a 3-5 star hotel or private residence and a return flight ticket to get a visa on arrival.

visiting Lebanon as a Nigerian

Visiting Lebanon – Cash is King!

Due to an ongoing economic crisis, Lebanon is a heavily cash-dependent country. Many establishments do not even accept card payments and it would not be in your best interest to use your card there anyway. This is because the official exchange rate and the black market rate differ widely.

Therefore it is imperative to hold enough money in cash to last your entire stay. Otherwise, you may have to rely on receiving money via Western Union if you run out.

I Love Beirut Sign

I had prepaid for my all accommodation in advance and had documents to show for it, so I did not travel with $2,000 in cash. Luckily, no one bothered me to show how much I had. My entry was smooth and hassle-free.

Visiting Lebanon – Getting Around…

For travellers on a budget, public transportation in Lebanon is quite affordable. Although, what you gain in cost savings, you may lose in time and comfort – as expected. Several buses, called “services”, ply the routes to all the main tourist cities and towns and it is possible to use a combination of buses, Ubers, local taxis and private or shared tours to get around.

Martyr's Square Beirut

Private tours or renting a car (if you’re comfortable driving around yourself) are probably the best ways to explore Lebanon but they do not come cheap for solo travellers. Most tours have a base price for two people and discounted pricing for more travellers.

Visiting Lebanon – Is Lebanon Cheap for Solo Travellers?

As a solo traveller, you bear the costs for at least two travellers. Unfortunately, there are no single supplements or discounted pricing in many cases. Shared tours and public transportation are the best options to save some money on day trips, while Uber rides within Beirut are generally affordable.

To save money on accommodation, consider booking an apartment on Airbnb or Couchsurfing (carefully), if you do not have a host.

The best guesthouse in Batroun Lebanon

How Many Days Are Ideal for Visiting Lebanon?

Technically, you can spend months travelling slowly within the country, but if you are pressed for time, I think you can visit the main attractions within 5-7 days. Lebanon is pretty small and many tourist sites are situated within a 2-3 hour drive from Beirut, making them easy day trips from the capital city.

I spent seven days in the country and was able to visit a few places comfortably. I scheduled an adequate amount of downtime into my itinerary and the trip did not feel rushed or tiring.

Is Lebanon Safe for Solo (Black) Female Travellers?

I felt safe throughout my time visiting Lebanon and had no safety-related incidents. For the most part, people were kind, pleasant and welcoming. My hosts in Batroun would not stop feeding me, the staff at the hotel in Beirut let me check in 11 hours before check-in time without extra fees and a family even invited me to spend the rest of my stay in their home.

Oaxaca Centro Colourful buildings

stay safe while you travel

Protect yourself from the unexpected while you travel by purchasing insurance coverage. I use SafetyWing, which is affordable and covers several travel-related risks, such as unexpected illness or injury, eligible hospital expenses, lost luggage and more. Click here to purchase a cover for your travel and visa application needs.

On the flip side, I had to deal with unwanted propositions from some men I encountered. I will recommend visiting Lebanon as a solo female traveller if you already have some solo destinations under your belt and also investing in travel insurance to cover the duration of your stay.

Visiting Lebanon – The Sum Up…

That being said, the positives from this trip greatly outweighed the negative encounters I mentioned above. I want to say that Lebanon was a surprisingly pleasant destination for me but it really wasn’t. I actually expected to have a good time, thanks to trip reports shared by Naija Nomads and Travelletters when they visited.

solo female traveller in Lebanon

Luckily, I had a wonderful stay and it is a country that I look forward to revisiting sometime in the future!

Let me know; have you visited or considered visiting Lebanon? Please share your experiences or thoughts in the comment section below! Also, feel free to ask me anything you’d like to know about the country. I’ll be sure to include it in my upcoming posts!

I love to hear from you, Leave a comment here!

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Aesthetically pleasing spaces in Kenya 🍂🦒
Aesthetically pleasing spaces in Kenya 🍂🦒
18 hours ago
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1/9
Kenya had dropped the paid ETA requirement for most Africans, including Nigerians. 💃🏾🎉

And in celebration of that, I'm sharing some of my favourite places to include in your Kenyan holiday itinerary!

Will you be visiting or have you been to any of these places?
Kenya had dropped the paid ETA requirement for most Africans, including Nigerians. 💃🏾🎉 And in celebration of that, I'm sharing some of my favourite places to include in your Kenyan holiday itinerary! Will you be visiting or have you been to any of these places?
1 day ago
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This lodge in Taita-Taveta was such a great last-minute find for me!
___________________

I needed a quick break from Nairobi and thought to visit Diani and Tsavo. While finding accommodation in Diani was fairly easy, I struggled to find a place that fit my schedule, budget, and preference in the Voi/Tsavo area.

When I stumbled upon The Hildana Lodge, I couldn't be happier. Luckily, they had availability for the exact dates I wanted, a resident's rate, and no single supplement!

I stayed here for 2 nights but could have easily stayed longer! This place is magical, and I can't wait to return! ✨️
This lodge in Taita-Taveta was such a great last-minute find for me! ___________________ I needed a quick break from Nairobi and thought to visit Diani and Tsavo. While finding accommodation in Diani was fairly easy, I struggled to find a place that fit my schedule, budget, and preference in the Voi/Tsavo area. When I stumbled upon The Hildana Lodge, I couldn't be happier. Luckily, they had availability for the exact dates I wanted, a resident's rate, and no single supplement! I stayed here for 2 nights but could have easily stayed longer! This place is magical, and I can't wait to return! ✨️
2 days ago
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As someone who enjoys travelling and pursuing a fulfilling career, I don't believe that you have to give up one for the other. ✈️🍂✨️

You can maintain a healthy travel life without forfeiting a career you love, and here's one of the best ways to do so ⤵️

Taking advantage of public holidays, combined with your vacation days. For example, there's a public holiday coming up next month.

It'll be a 2-day holiday, and if you take only 2 days off work, you'll get 6 vacation days! - perfect for this "Beach and Bush" holiday in Kenya! 🐚🐘🌊

Work-life balance is key, so find ways to do the things that are important to you now that you can!💙
As someone who enjoys travelling and pursuing a fulfilling career, I don't believe that you have to give up one for the other. ✈️🍂✨️ You can maintain a healthy travel life without forfeiting a career you love, and here's one of the best ways to do so ⤵️ Taking advantage of public holidays, combined with your vacation days. For example, there's a public holiday coming up next month. It'll be a 2-day holiday, and if you take only 2 days off work, you'll get 6 vacation days! - perfect for this "Beach and Bush" holiday in Kenya! 🐚🐘🌊 Work-life balance is key, so find ways to do the things that are important to you now that you can!💙
4 days ago
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Weekends in Kenya that look like this! 🐘💙🦒

How wonderful!
Weekends in Kenya that look like this! 🐘💙🦒 How wonderful!
4 days ago
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Here's what you can expect when you ride the premium class train from Nairobi to Mombasa and vice versa 🚅

It's a slow but scenic ride to the coast, but I love it and rather prefer it to flying. ✨️

PS: If you want great views of Tsavo National Park as you pass through (Nairobi > Mombasa), sit on the left side of the train (i.e., even numbered seats)

But be aware that some seats have partial window views. Seats 26, 21, 25, 15, and 6 are great!(Nairobi > Mombasa)

Seat on the opposite side on the Mombasa > Nairobi train. I couldn't keep track of all the good seats on this train 🥹.

The train also has a first and economy class coach, which are significantly cheaper than premium class. And once you're back in Nairobi, all "premium services end" 🤭😋

Have you gone on this train before? What was your experience like? 💬

Are team train 🚆 or flight ✈️?
Here's what you can expect when you ride the premium class train from Nairobi to Mombasa and vice versa 🚅 It's a slow but scenic ride to the coast, but I love it and rather prefer it to flying. ✨️ PS: If you want great views of Tsavo National Park as you pass through (Nairobi > Mombasa), sit on the left side of the train (i.e., even numbered seats) But be aware that some seats have partial window views. Seats 26, 21, 25, 15, and 6 are great!(Nairobi > Mombasa) Seat on the opposite side on the Mombasa > Nairobi train. I couldn't keep track of all the good seats on this train 🥹. The train also has a first and economy class coach, which are significantly cheaper than premium class. And once you're back in Nairobi, all "premium services end" 🤭😋 Have you gone on this train before? What was your experience like? 💬 Are team train 🚆 or flight ✈️?
6 days ago
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The most relaxing staycation ever! Coastal vibes in Diani Beach and a wonderful safari in Taita-Taveta county! 🐚🐘

This trip was so easy to plan and embark upon from Nairobi. I travelled by rail from Nairobi to Mombasa and then to Diani. 🌊

On my return leg, I stopped in Voi and transferred to a super gorgeous lodge, where I spent the weekend enjoying massages, spotting elephants 🐘 and giraffes 🦒, and just having a swell and relaxing time!

Sharing details on my blog and IG stories!✨️
The most relaxing staycation ever! Coastal vibes in Diani Beach and a wonderful safari in Taita-Taveta county! 🐚🐘 This trip was so easy to plan and embark upon from Nairobi. I travelled by rail from Nairobi to Mombasa and then to Diani. 🌊 On my return leg, I stopped in Voi and transferred to a super gorgeous lodge, where I spent the weekend enjoying massages, spotting elephants 🐘 and giraffes 🦒, and just having a swell and relaxing time! Sharing details on my blog and IG stories!✨️
6 days ago
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The Best of Both Worlds! 🥰

Just took the SGR again, and I got to try out the Premium Class coach - I loved the experience!

I'll be sharing all about this experience in my next blog post on www.travelwithapen.com -  what to expect from this train ride, the best seats for unobstructed views and elephant sightings in Tsavo National Park, and notable changes in the journey from Nairobi to Mombasa and Diani!

#diani #dianibeachkenya #sgr #railtravel #tsavo #tembeakenya
The Best of Both Worlds! 🥰 Just took the SGR again, and I got to try out the Premium Class coach - I loved the experience! I'll be sharing all about this experience in my next blog post on www.travelwithapen.com - what to expect from this train ride, the best seats for unobstructed views and elephant sightings in Tsavo National Park, and notable changes in the journey from Nairobi to Mombasa and Diani! #diani #dianibeachkenya #sgr #railtravel #tsavo #tembeakenya
2 weeks ago
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Bougainvillea in full bloom in Nairobi 🌸, always a highlight of our strolls!
Bougainvillea in full bloom in Nairobi 🌸, always a highlight of our strolls!
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