On the old paths of Lebanon

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrival in Beirut

  

  Arrival at Beirut airport. Visit of the city center, this dynamic heart of Beirut, witness to the long history of this Phoenician city which was once a Roman colony. The various squares, monuments, and archaeological remains reflect the stages of the city's development through the ages: Martyrs' Square, Mohammad el Amin Mosque, Saint George Cathedral, the archaeological tell, the Roman baths, Place de l’Étoile, and many others. Check-in at the hotel and overnight in Beirut.

• day 2

  The Chouf

  

  Route to the Chouf mountain. The Chouf Cedars Biosphere Reserve is the largest natural reserve in Lebanon (550 km2) and the Barouk reserve is part of it, covering 400 hectares and offering wonderful landscapes with its centuries-old and millennia-old cedars. Hike on a trail that features a number of fascinating characteristics, such as a viewpoint and a hill lake. Distance: 13 km / Altitude: 1340 m – 1850 m / Elevation gain: 500 m / Walking time: 3 to 4 hours. Continue to Beiteddine and visit the palace of Bechir II Chehab, which dates from the 19th century, with its Ottoman-style ornaments and woodwork. At the end of the day, a stroll through the picturesque streets of Deir el Kamar, the city of the emirs. Overnight in a guesthouse in the Chouf.

• day 3

  Ammiq, Kab Elias, Baalbeck

  

  Route to West Bekaa. The village of Ammiq offers a unique landscape, dominated by fertile lands that contain the last large marshes of Lebanon (100 hectares) and have been recognized as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO for the exceptional fauna and flora they shelter. This natural site remains an important resting and wintering area for migratory water birds traveling between Europe and Africa. Hike starting from the oak and pine forest of Ammiq, under the Barouk nature reserve, and the fertile Bekaa valley, continuing to the Ammiq wetlands. Distance: 10 km / Altitude: 1050 m – 870 m / Elevation gain: 150 m / Walking time: 3 to 4 hours Wine tasting at Clos Saint Thomas in Kab Elias. Route to Baalbeck. The site is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site; its majestic temples, dedicated to the Heliopolitan triad, are also among the best preserved in the Roman world. Night in Byblos.

• day 4

  Jabal Moussa and Byblos

  

  Route to Jabal Moussa, recognized by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve. The hike starts at Mchati, along Hadrian's slope, passing by the inscriptions of Emperor Hadrian and up to the Byut site. The ascent to the Cross of Yahchouch offers a magnificent view of the historic Adonis valley, then return to the Byut site by the same trail. This hike allows you to get away from civilization and gradually enter the wild forest of Jabal Moussa, while observing Roman inscriptions of Emperor Hadrian (117 AD), known for being one of the first to engage in forest management. The Byut site is not to be missed, where stands a small abandoned village, a vestige of the traditional way of life and the vernacular architecture of our ancestors. Distance: 4 Kms / Altitude: 1350 m – 1050 m / Elevation gain: 150 m / Walking time: 2 1/2 to 3 hours Route to Byblos, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the medieval castle, archaeological remains, and the Crusader Saint John-Marc church. Stroll through the 18th-century souks and the old port. Night in Byblos.

• day 5

  The Qadicha

  

  Route to Northern Lebanon. The Qadicha, or the Holy Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a small paradise for hikers. It shelters, in its rocky cliffs, places of worship that bear witness to the settlement of Christian communities in this natural refuge for centuries. The hike begins in the village of Hawqa, heading towards the Monastery of Our Lady of Hawqa, where the Colombian hermit has lived since the year 2000. Continue towards the Church of Saint Marina, where 18 patriarchs of the Maronite Church are buried. Visit the Monastery of Our Lady of Qannoubine, which was a Maronite patriarchal seat between the 15th and 19th centuries, as well as the church decorated with 17th-century frescoes. Continue the hike towards the Monastery of Saint Elisha, the cradle of Maronite religious orders. Overnight in Byblos. Distance: 9 km / Altitude: 1300 m – 950 m / Elevation gain: 300 m / Walking time: 3 to 4 hours

• day 6

  Departure

  

  Transfer to Beirut airport for departure.