Lebanon packs a lot into its modest borders: ancient cities, Roman ruins, luxurious ski resorts, bucolic charm and Islamic architecture are just the start. Lebanon is culturally rich too, with a religious and social diversity that has sometimes led it to trouble.

Lebanon fell off the tourist map when it disintegrated into civil war in 1975. It is now slowly recovering its infrastructure. If you're interested in the history of the region and want to see how Lebanon is striving to rebuild itself (Beirut's Downtown area, in particular, is undergoing major redevelopment), now is a good time to visit.