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Faraya Mzaar Ski Resort
Lebanon

Overview of Faraya Mzaar
- The most extensive and modern ski resort in Lebanon.

Lebanon is not yet on the map as an international destination for skiers, but it will not be long! Faraya Mzaar, Lebanon's premiere resort has undergone multi-million dollar investment over the last four years. It has an international standard ski school set up by the French Ski Federation (l'Ecole de Ski Libanaise) which provides the highest level of teaching. There is plenty of off piste, good snow and a wealth of mountainside to choose from for adventurous skiers and snowboarders. In February you can get heavy snow storms coming through but the proximity to the warm waters of the Mediterranean sea means the combination of wind and humid sea air create a sort of compressed powder unlike the icy, rutted, windcrust that can occur in the Alps. Something that European ski resorts can not compare with is that mid week there are no crowds and you feel as if you have the ski slopes to yourself!

Location:

Ouyoune El Simane, Kfardebian, Mount Lebanon Range. A one hour drive from Beirut.

Lifts:

There are 18 lifts in total of which 13 are chairs, 3 are buttons and 2 are hand held pulleys for teaching snow borders.


Click map to see larger version.


Lift Lift length Diff. in height Avg.
gradient
Top
altitude
Level  

REFUGE DOMAIN

Refuge 1200m 210m 26% 2082m Medium  
Refuge Nord 720m 183m 26% 2035m Medium  
               

JONCTION DOMAIN

Baby 1 720m 72m 10% 1946m Beginners  
Baby 2 200m 20m 15% 1913m Beginners  
Jabal Dib 1652m 407m 24% 2296m Medium  
Piste Rouge 1000m 338m 25% 2296m Advanced  
Mzaar 1573m 383m 25% 2465m Advanced  
Jonction 573m 163m 28% 2056m Medium  
Rocher 750m 196m 30% 2296m Advanced  
Ecole 416m 126m 32% 2056m Medium  
Nabil 700m 241m 34% 2240m Advanced  
               

WARDEH DOMAIN

La Cabane - - - 2347m Advanced  
Lac 698m 153m 22% 2173m Medium  
Petite Source 495m 107m 22% 2125m Beginners  
Nord 1435m 317m 25% 2336m Advanced  
Vallon 328m 86m 27% 2176m Medium  
Donald 200m 7m 8% 2041m Beginners  
Mickey 495m 43m 9% 2065m Beginners  

Altitude:

The resort base is at 1850m and stretches up to the Dome de Mzaar at an altitude of 2465m allowing you on a good day to view as far as the Mediterranean sea in one direction and the Bekka Valley and Anti Lebanon Range, in the other

Ski season:

The snow is best from mid January until mid March. Before or after these months it is more of a gamble.

Recommended time to visit:

The end of February and all of March is particularly good as you are still getting fresh snow, but also the better weather. For any non-skiers the beauty of this time of year is that you have all the tourist sites to yourselves! And down by the coast the weather is pleasantly warm. 

Ski standard:

For very advanced skiers Faraya will give you two days interesting skiing. A suggestion is to take a guide for the day if you want to go and find more good off-piste skiing. Intermediates will enjoy Faraya and beginners will be very happy, as there are plenty of gentle, empty slopes to learn on and an excellent ski school.

Ski Pass:

A full pass for all the lifts is currently $33 per day during the week and $ 57 at the weekend. A half day (after 12.00am) is $20 during the week and $33 at the weekend. If you are skiing on consecutive days then this is reduced.

It is advisable to buy tickets on a day by day basis though, as the resort provides insurance for you on these tickets. There are never big queues for purchasing tickets. If there are high winds, some lifts will not operate, but you will be compensated for this in the cost of your ticket which will be reduced. Children under 5 go free. Sixteen year olds and under are $5 less than an adult pass. If purchasing a consecutive day pass, check on the insurance status.

Ski School:

The cost varies with the number in the class. There are 30 instructors available so just turn up and arrange things in the morning. To take individual tuition is around $30 per hour and a second person is an additional $10. You can also ski as a larger group under instruction for the whole morning 09.00 until 13.00 and this is $55 per session (around £34)

Ski Hire:

This is $10 (around £6.50) per day for skis, boots and poles. The equipment is of an international standard and is hired up on the ski slopes. You can also hire snowboards and snowshoes for this price. If you are wanting to hire the top end of the market equipment, then expect to pay a bit more than this.

Nightlife:

During the week this is very quiet, with the advantage that there are no lift queues and you have the slopes to yourself! At the weekend the nightlife is good but you pay the price on the slopes the next day with the queues.

Accommodation:

Depending on your budget, we suggest either the 3 star San Antonio Dallas hotel, or the 5 star Mzaar 2000. This is the first Intercontinental hotel ever to be built outside a city and is located right up by the ski slopes.

The San Antonio is about 10 minutes from the slopes. This hotel is further down the mountain so if the weather is bad, it is quicker to get down the road to go and sightsee, (without getting stuck behind snowploughs).

Food:

As with any ski resort anywhere in the world drinks and food are not cheap. This is compounded by a 16% tax on everything that is going towards the rebuilding of the country.

A local Almaza beer or Fosters is in the region of £1.60. On the slopes you are looking at paying £2.50 for a sandwich and a soft drink. If you go for a pizza and wine it is around £12.00. A good dinner in the evening with alcohol will set you back £20.00 - £25.00.

 

 

 

 

 


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