Snowshoeing Tour In Lebanon

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)

A short drive this morning brings us to the northern slopes of Mount Lebanon, a geographic range of mountains that extend across the country for some 160 km. Running parallel to the Mediterranean coast, these high slopes are home to the highest peak in the Near East, the imposing 3088m Qurnat as Sawda’, as well as the last remaining groves of Lebanon’s famous cedars. Snow-shoeing itself is a fairly easily mastered discipline and after some initial instruction our adventures begins. On a clear day these mountain slopes offer some breathtaking views out over the Beqaa Valley and Mount Herman, towards the glittering waters of the Mediterranean, whilst the valleys themselves are peppered with forests of oak, pine and cedar. This timeless setting provides a stunning backdrop to our first day’s trek along the snowy slopes of these ageless ranges and after our day’s activity we head to the town of Bcharre, on the edge of the Qadisha Valley. Our home for the next two nights, Bcharre lies amidst a region that became the spiritual heartland of the Maronite Church following the Arab invasion of the 7th century and tomorrow we will have an opportunity to explore something of its fascinating history.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we take the lift up to the famous heights of Cedar Pass, from where we begin our day’s snow-shoeing, exploring the high mountain slopes and taking in the spectacular views of the Beqaa Valley below. This afternoon we then have an opportunity to take a short hike through the rugged landscapes of the Qadisha Valley, home to one of the most important early Christian settlements in the world. Located at the foot of Mount al-Makmal, the deep valley, with its myriad of caves, has sheltered Christian communities for centuries and even the valley’s name is derived from the Aramaic word for holy. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, today it still shelters a number of monastic retreats and churches, including the impressive 4th century Monastery of Qozhaya and the rock cut walls of the Qannubin Monastery, the oldest of the region’s Maronite enclaves.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

This morning there will be time to enjoy some more of the snowy landscapes of the Cedars Reserve, before heading towards the coast and the bustling streets of Beirut, a city that has reinvented itself as one of the eastern Mediterranean’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities. Before we head for the hotel we will take a tour of the city, taking the opportunity to explore on foot and soak up Beirut’s exhilarating atmosphere. Martyrs Square is home to the bustling market of the Souk el Barghout and presents an ideal spot to take in the city at its most exuberant, whilst the city’s historic downtown has emerged from the destruction of the civil war reborn and been restored to something of its former glory. After dinner this evening there will be an opportunity to reflect on the past few days and enjoy some of Beirut’s famed nightlife.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast