A trip to the Bentael Nature Reserve should include a couple of days enjoying the sites of the nearby villages. Continuing on the nature theme, the village of Haqel, to the northeast of Bentael, is famous for its collection of fish fossils that are millions of years old. Further east and climbing further into the mountains, the village of Jaj contains a cedar forest which is a remnant of one of the oldest and largest cedar forests in Mount Lebanon during ancient times. Also, the village of Behdaydat is known for its famous Saint Theodore Church, known for its frescoes on the walls. In addition, visitors can see a Phoenician stone sculpture representing sacrifices near the reserve.

Within 5km west of Bentael is the coastal town of Jbail (Byblos), one of the most important archaeological sites in the area. A visit to Jbail (Byblos) is a chance to step foot inside one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world - its excavated ruins date as far back as the Stone Age and extend through the more recent Ottoman era. North of Jbail (Byblos) is Aamchit, known as the “bride of Jbail,” with its lovely seaside climate and interesting architecture.