Storytelling Expedition to Lebanon
Storytelling Expedition to Lebanon
Storytelling Expedition to Lebanon
10 Days Starting and ending in Beirut, Lebanon
Visiting: Beirut, Tripoli, Byblos, Baalbek
Tour operator:
Tour code:
se-leb-23
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 12
Physical rating:
Low
Age range:
18-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans, Meat
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Tour Overview
Join the Storytelling Expedition to Lebanon and travel the country as a citizen storyteller. In partnership with TourLeb, we will be exploring the world of peace-building, learning from local changemakers and documenting their stories. Lebanon’s unique position as a multicultural and multi-religious society has made it an ideal place for remarkable peacebuilding initiatives. The country’s history of diverse communities living side by side has fostered a culture of tolerance, respect, and cooperation. Lebanon has long been known as a hub for cultural exchange, and its people have a deep appreciation for the importance of dialogue and understanding between different groups. Furthermore, Lebanon has experienced the devastating effects of conflict firsthand, which has led to a heightened awareness of the need for peacebuilding efforts. Lebanese civil society organizations and grassroots movements have been active in promoting peace and reconciliation, often working across political, religious, and social divides. These efforts have helped to build trust and foster cooperation between different communities, and have laid the groundwork for more peaceful coexistence in the future. On this Storytelling Expedition, we travel around the country meeting with Lebanese changemakers and learning about their peacebuilding work. In solidarity, we will document their stories and the visual evidence of their efforts in order to share their wisdom and amplify their impact.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival + Welcome
Location: Beirut
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Arrival to Beirut, Lebanon. You are met at International Airport transported to the city center to meet up with the rest of our crew. If you land earlier in the day, you can explore Beirut on foot while we await everyones’ arrival. In the late afternoon, we depart for the city of Tripoli, 1.5 hours drive away. Our crew of storytellers gathers together for the first time at a welcome dinner, hosted by your Actuality producer and your Lebanese guide.
Arrival
Private airport transfer
Group transport to Tripoli
Welcome Dinner
Day 2 : Tripoli + "Tri-Pulley" Storytelling Project
Location: Tripoli
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Tripoli is one of the most authentic cities of the country, where the blend of past civilizations is still clear. From the Phoenician/Greek name of the city, to the crusader citadel, the Mameluke souk and the Ottoman buildings, Tripoli is one of those places that has something for everyone.
A 4-hour walking visit of the old city and its crusader citadel with a lot of food tastings, and artisans, and mosques, and much more.
Our first storytelling project will be in collaboration with “Tri-Pulley.”
Since 2020, the non-profit initiative Tri-Pulley has been helping vulnerable unemployed citizens in Tripoli and Beirut by equipping them with professional skills that will allow them to become self-reliant, and giving them monthly cash contributions in exchange for their support of other individuals or families in need.
In the evening, we review the video/photo we documented and discuss next steps with Tri-Pulley’s story.
Breakfast
Tripoli Walking Tour
“Tri-Pulley” Storytelling Project
Footage Review + Feedback
Day 3 : Tripoli + "March" Storytelling Project
Location: Tripoli
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our second storytelling project is in collaboration with nonprofit organization “March.” March believes that arts and culture are powerful catalysts of change helped us develop a unique initiative, Theater for Reconciliation. They used the performing arts to help mend the feuding and war-torn neighborhoods of Beb El Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen. The experience proved to be cathartic and inspired a more holistic rehabilitative program, along with two cultural spaces in Beirut and Tripoli. Today, MARCH utilizes a diverse set of tools to build the capacities of local communities and consolidate social ties.
In the evening, we review the video/photo we documented and discuss next steps with March’s story.
Breakfast
“March” Storytelling Project
Footage Review + Feedback
Day 4 : Byblos Excursion
Location: Byblos
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Taking a break from our storytelling, we travel to Byblos, a popular coastal city located between Tripoli and Beiruit. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and has a rich history that dates back over 7,000 years. Byblos is known for its ancient Phoenician ruins, including the remains of a temple to the god Baalat Gebal, a Roman amphitheater, and the Crusader Castle of Byblos.
In the afternoon, we travel back to Beirut, settle into the next guesthouse, and have a free evening to explore the city.
Breakfast
Transport to Byblos
Byblos Walking Tour
Transport to Beirut
Footage Review + Feedback
Day 5 : Baalbeck + "Safeside" Storytelling Project
Location: Baalbek
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
One of the 5 UNESCO Heritage sites of the country, Baalbeck has a history that spans 9 millennia, and is the most popular site of the country. Our third storytelling project is in collaborations with “Safeside.” They are dedicated to raising awareness and changing behaviors around the very real dangers of celebratory gunfire, a popular cultural ritual in Lebanon.
In the evening, we review the video/photo we documented and discuss next steps with Safesides’s story.
Breakfast
Transport to Baalback
Baalbeck Walking Tour
“Safeside” Storytelling Project
Transport to Beiruit
Footage Review + Feedback
Day 6 : Beirut + "Heritage Homes" Storytelling Project
Location: Beirut
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Beirut is the beating heart of the country. It is the place where it all meets, unfolds, collides, mixes, blends, and stands out. This city is said to have had 7 lives.
A guided tour of Beirut’s neighborhoods: The Green Line, Martyr’s Square, Gemmayze, the port… This will be essential to understand the history of the city and the focus of our next storytelling project.
Our fourth storytelling project will be in collaboration with Beirut Heritage Initiative. Founded by Lebanese urban activists, they fight to preserve the few heritage houses of the capital, which were even further threatened after the August 4 blast and its aftermath.
In the evening, we review the video/photo we documented and discuss next steps with the Heritage Initative’s story.
Breakfast
Beirut Walking Tour
“Beirut Heritage Initiative” Storytelling Project
Footage Review + Feedback
Day 7 : Beirut Editing Workshop
Location: Beirut
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Working together, with the support and guidance from the Actuality producer, we will edit and deliver the storytelling projects we documenting during the Storytelling Expedition.
We spend half the day editing, and half the day enjoying Beirut on our own.
Breakfast
Editing Workshop
Free Exploration
Day 8 : Beirut Editing Workshop
Location: Beirut
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Working together, with the support and guidance from the Actuality producer, we will edit and deliver the storytelling projects we documenting during the Storytelling Expedition.
We spend half the day editing, and half the day enjoying Beirut on our own.
Breakfast
Editing Workshop
Free Exploration
Day 9 : Beirut Editing Workshop
Location: Beirut
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Working together, with the support and guidance from the Actuality producer, we will edit and deliver the storytelling projects we documenting during the Storytelling Expedition.
We spend half the day editing, and in the evening we share the video and photo stories at a venue in Beirut.
Breakfast
Editing Workshop
Beirut Showcase
Day 10 :
Location: Beirut
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Airport Transfers at Destination
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Fully Guided
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Meals
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Transport
What's Not Included
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Insurance
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International Travel
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Meals
Mode of Transport
Private shuttle van
Accommodation
Boutique hotels
Check out our Q&As
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What about COVID 19 or other health concerns?
Each traveler will need to meet Lebanon’s medical testing and/or vaccination requirements for entry into the country at the time of the trip. As of now, there are no testing or vaccination requirements for US citizens. Additionally, travelers will be required to follow any mandatory medical protocol that exist during their time in-country. As of now, there are no requirements. These rules and requirements will likely evolve between now and our departure date. We will update our travelers as we know more
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What photo/video equipment do I need to bring?
Each storyteller should bring a digital camera they are comfortable using, for photography, videography or both. Any kind of digital camera can be suitable, even most smart phone cameras. The most important thing is that you already know how it use it. If you have additional gear you would like to bring and use, you are welcome to. Actuality Abroad will provide a variety of accessories, including sound recording equipment, to elevate the quality of your own equipment. You can also bring a laptop computer if you want to be involved in editing content on location, but Actuality Abroad will have laptops for downloading, duplicating and processing on site. We highly recommend purchasing personal property travel insurance to cover loss or damage.
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Who can join a Storytelling Expedition?
The Storytelling Expedition is designed for experienced media-makers who seek a purposeful travel experience. If you have an interest in photography, videography, blogging, podcasting, or any other kind of digital storytelling, you’d be a great fit. Professional storytellers are welcome, but you do not have to be a professional to be able to contribute.
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Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. Each traveler is required to purchase a travel insurance policy for the duration of the Expedition that includes medical coverage. We highly recommend that you also purchase trip cancellation and personal property protection as well. We recommend World Nomads, Safety Wing or Genki.
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Do I need to speak the local language(s)?
No. We will have English guides and translators provided.
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Is the lodging shared and can I get a private room?
The accommodations are semi-private bedrooms. You will share with 1-2 other crew members of the same gender, depending on the lodging. If you prefer to have a private bedroom, you can upgrade for an additional cost.
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Where/how do we meet up in country?
On the first day of the trip you will be met at the international airport and driven by private transport to our guesthouse to meet up with your Actuality Producer and the rest of the crew members. If you are arriving early, or traveling overland, you can make your way to our guesthouse on the day of arrivals, or we can help you book with them directly for additional nights before the start of the program.
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What kind of stories will we be telling?
We focus on solutions oriented human interest stories, that bring increased awareness to the work of social impact organizations in the communities we visit. These could take the form of micro-documentaries, photography essays, interviews in a variety of styles, portrait photography, audio recordings and more. The exact stories that we document in each community will be determined when we arrive there on the day. Only after we meet our collaborators in person and establish a connection, do we decide what kinds of stories we are interested in creating.
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Will there be any free time for other activities or excursions?
During our travels into communities, there may be down time to rest or reflect, but not enough to plan any additional excursions. During the editing workshop, it is intended that each person works on post production for half the day, and uses the other half of the day as they wish. You could make time to plan other activities or some shorter excursions.
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What meals are included?
Breakfast is provided each day at the guesthouse. We will also share a celebratory group meal at the beginning and end of the trip. Lunch and most dinners are on your own, enabling you to have some independence around meals times if you wish.
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What 'role' will I have on our crew?
You determine how you want to participate and contribute on the Storytelling Expedition. Every crew member joins us with different experiences, interests and priorities. There are no rigid roles and each day of documenting may lead to different folks teaming up on a storytelling project. In each community, you can either identify a story you are interested in documenting or you can collaborate with someone else who has a compelling idea.
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What happens to the content we create?
The Storytelling Expedition ends with an editing workshop on location where you can begin creating deliverables. The stories that are not delivered in country can be completed once you return home, or you can allow the our team at Actuality Abroad to handle the post production. Either way, we will work together to make sure that the stories we documented are finished, approved by all stakeholders, shared with everyone who wants access to the finished content and also distributed online to mutually agreed upon platforms. What these platforms are will be discussed between everyone involved in producing the story.
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Do I need to speak the local language?
No. We arrange English translators and translating technology as part of the course.
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What kind of media production experience is required?
The Storytelling Expedition is designed for aspiring or established media-makers who seek a purposeful travel experience. If you have an interest in photography, videography, blogging, podcasting, or any other kind of digital storytelling, you’d be a great fit. Professional storytellers are welcome, but you do not have to be a professional to be able to contribute.
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What equipment do I need to bring?
You need to bring any camera equipment that you would like to utilize, a laptop computer IF you would like to participate in editing and a hard drive (4TB+) for storing data. Actuality Abroad will bring several sets of sound recording equipment for crew use as well as computers for downloading and backing up media each day. If you would like to borrow a video camera from the Actuality Abroad equipment library, let us know and we can discuss how that works.
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Free Date Changes
Actuality Abroad allows you to make 5 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 90 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Actuality Abroad allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform actuality abroad, 90 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Actuality Abroad requires a minimum deposit of 250 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of actuality abroad charges.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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