Walking and mountain treks in Lebanon

Walking in Lebanon Itinerary:

Day 1 walk:
Arrive in Lebanon, fly into Beirut Airport and transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 2 walk:
After breakfast drive up to the high tablelands of Mount Lebanon and hike through the Lebanese mountain villages.

The landscape is typical of a limestone region where the underground drainage has dissolved the rock, making cavities and passages. Walk to the 'cirque of Balaa' which are natural limestone bridges of exceptional beauty.

The altitude is 1400/1800m, easy walking, roughly 5 hours and covers 12km

Drive to Bsharreh. Night at Bsharreh.

Day 3 walk and 4 walk:
Enjoy walking the Kadisha Gorge. This area is classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO, and the whole valley affords you a superb rocky landscape. These natural cavities and grottos were occupied by people from different communities who took refuge in these caves, building chapels, monasteries and hermitages, many of which are still in use today.

On both days you are walking between 1300m/800m at an easy to moderate level of walking. The first walk is 5 hours and covers 16 km. The second walk is 4 hours and covers 12km. Night at the hotel in Bsharreh.

Day 5 walk:
After breakfast hike to the top of the Middle East! (3000m) and enjoy the wonderful 'lunar landscapes' and unique views of the Bekaa and the coastline. The altitude is 2700/3074m and this is a moderate walk, taking 5 hours and covering 15km.

In the afternoon drive to Ehden to see this nature reserve located on the north-western face of Mount Makmel.

It has unique natural habitat with rare indigenous Middle Eastern trees and plants. Wild animals in Lebanon are fairly scarce but bird-watchers have a better time of it as golden and imperial eagles can be seen, red kite and Bonelli's eagle.

The altitude is 1650/1850m and it is a moderate level of walking for 1 hour covering 4 km. Night in Bsharreh.

Day 6 walk:
After breakfast hike from Aakkar el Atika to the Mountain of Qamouaa. This is a wild protected area with small hills and cliffs covered by forests. The altitude is 1400/1900 and it is an easy walk of 3 hours.

Then take the bus to Akroum and hike to the Roman temples and a large Byzantyne church. The view of the mountains is superb. Altitude 900m and the walk an easy 1 hour. (You can watch the villagers cooking bread in tannours).

The bus then takes you across the mount-Lebanon range to reach the upper part of the Bekaa valley in the region of Hermel. The Bekaa valley has been known since the times of antiquity as the 'granary' of Lebanon. It is of more importance today in international markets as a wine growing area (see Wine Tasting in Lebanon as you might want to stop at one of the vineyards on your way back to Beirut which can be arranged as an extra excursion). The Roman ruins at Baalbeck are quite stunning. Night in Baalbeck or return to Beirut dependant on flight timings.

Day 7 walk:
Day at leisure until time of transfer to Airport to depart Lebanon.

Cost | Walking | Hiking holiday in Lebanon