Lebanon Holiday

Given the recent poor publicity Lebanon has received recently, travellers and holiday makers may be forgiven for thinking that this beautiful Middle Eastern country was out of bounds for Westerners.

Yet, despite the deaths of high profile figures in Lebanon during 2005, the country remains predominantly safe and welcoming for tourists. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office only advises that travellers should act responsibly, avoiding border regions, military sites and Palestinian refugee camps.

Otherwise, Lebanon is a treat and an education for all visitors. Located north of Israel and about as small, the country has a deep history rooted as the trading hub of the Middle East.

The region was home to traders of the Phoenician for 2,000 years, who established a strong, enterprising maritime culture across the Middle East from around 2,700 BC to 500 BC.

Lebanon's status as the trade capital of the Arab world continued into the Modern era. Much of this history can be experienced whilst on holiday in Tripoli. As well as being the country's second largest city, it is also its major port – attracting visitors to its Mamluk architecture and medieval history.

Tripoli comes jammed packed with several major attractions. The Burj Es-Sabaa, or Lion Tower, is an excellent example of Mamluk military architecture, built to protect Tripoli's harbours from Ottoman invaders near the 15th century.

The city also features the Great Mosque – built in the 12th century on the site of a destroyed Crusader cathedral, parts of which remain embedded in the building's structure.

But for many people, Lebanon's urban highlight is Beirut. Since the end of the country's civil war, much of Beirut has been restored to its former glory. The city, known for a time as the "Paris of the Middle East", is also thought to be the region's party capital.

Unlike soggy England, Beirut is blessed with wonderful weather all year round. To take advantage of the coast line, it may be worth joining a private beach club – the city has only one public beach. Each private club is equipped well with changing facilities, bars and other amenities.

The city also has its fair share of sites, reflecting the country's history and acting as a looking glass into the different groups who have occupied the small strip of land over thousands of years.

For example, the National Museum of Beirut contains many artefacts from the Roman and Byzantine periods. The American University of Beirut also holds many items from Lebanon's past, including Phoenician glass and even items from the Stone Age.

Many major locations, which were damaged during the civil war, have been restored in Lebanon's recent peaceful history. Restored sites include the Roman Baths, the Parliament Building, the Al-Omari Mosque and the St.George's Maronite Mosque.

But one of the main attractions to Lebanon is the atmosphere. There are few places in the world where one can see and experience so many different cultures in such a small space – a fusion of Christian, Shia Muslim and Druze traditions in a country barely the size of Wales.

Easy to get around and great to visit, Lebanon remains a brilliant attraction for tourists.