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.
