Lebanon Mountain Trail Hiking

Itinerary

• Day01

  Arrive in Beirut

  Welcome to Lebanon! Upon arrival at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, meet an MT Sobek representative and transfer to the hotel. Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner with the group.

  • Accommodation: Le Commodore Hotel
  • Meals: Dinner
• Day02

  Walk the Baskinta Literary Trail & Transfer to Byblos

  After breakfast at the hotel, receive a briefing for the day. Then depart for Baskinta, where you take a short guided walk on the Baskinta Literary Trail, part of the Lebanon Mountain Trail, which invites you to discover landmarks associated several acclaimed writers and poets from the region. Lunch at a local guesthouse, then transfer to Byblos and spend the afternoon exploring this medieval UNESCO-listed city.

  • Accommodation: Byblos Sur Mer
  • Activity: 2 hours/3 miles hiking with 660' elevation gain & 985' elevation loss
  • Transportation: 1-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day03

  Tour Medieval Sights in Byblos & Tripoli

  Wake for a visit to Byblos Crusader Castle, built in the 12th century from limestone and remains of Roman structures. Then drive to Tripoli - founded around 800 BC and inhabited by Greeks, Phoenicians, and Romans - and visit the old souk, port, and fortress, all of which date from medieval times. Continue on to Ehden and dine at the lodge tonight.

  • Accommodation: Qozhaya Lodge
  • Transportation: 45-minute private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day04

  Follow the Lebanon Mountain Trail in Ehden Cedars Nature Reserve

  After breakfast, tour the old town's Midane Square, Mar Mema Church (one of the oldest Maronite churches in Lebanon, dating back to the ninth century), and St. Georges Cathedral. Then, take a hike on the Lebanon Mountain Trail to Qozhaya Monastery, also known as the Monastery of St. Anthony. In continual use since its founding in the eighth century, the monastery has been printing texts since the 16th century - including texts in Syriac, a language that the Maronites still use in their services.

  • Accommodation: Qozhaya Lodge
  • Activity: 3 hours/6 miles hiking with 660' elevation gain & 1,300' elevation loss
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day05

  Hike into Holy Qadicha Valley

  Today is spent hiking along the Lebanon Mountain Trail from Qozhaya to Qadicha. Ouadi Qadicha, also known as Holy Valley, is one of the most important settlement sites of the first Christian monasteries in the world. Its monasteries, many of which are very old, are set in an extraordinarily rugged, beautiful landscape. We will pass by troglodotique constructions, old monasteries and visit the old village of Qanoubine.

  • Accommodation: Auberge Hadath el Jebbeh
  • Activity: 3-4 hours/7 miles hiking with 600' elevation gain & 530' elevation loss
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day06

  See the Cedars of Tannourine

  Your hike today takes you from Hadath el Jebbeh to the Tannourine Cedar Forest Nature Reserve. Established in 1999, the reserve protects Lebanon's largest and densest cedar forest, and comprises over 2.5 million trees. The scenery is beautiful, the air is clean, and the birds are plentiful. Enjoy a packed lunch during the hike.

  • Accommodation: Auberge Hadath el Jebbeh
  • Activity: 3-4 hours/ 6-7 miles hiking with 1,650' elevation gain & loss
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day07

  Head to Baalbek and Taanayel Domaine

  Today, head to Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley, one of Rome's breadbaskets - Roman sites and ruins dot the area. Visit the city's temple, Turkish school, and recent archaeological discoveries. Enjoy lunch in a small restaurant in town, and then transfer to Taanayel Domaine for a free afternoon around the lake, followed by wine tasting at Chateau Ksara.

  • Accommodation: Taanayel Ecolodge
  • Transportation: 3-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day08

  Visit Ancient Anjar

  After breakfast, travel to Anjar and visit the UNESCO-listed Ummayyad city, founded in the eighth century and today home to outstanding ruins. Later transfer to Tyre, a once-great Phoenician city where, legend has it, purple dye was invented.

  • Accommodation: Dar Alma Tyre
  • Transportation: 2.5-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day09

  Explore UNESCO-Listed Tyre and ancient Sidon

  After breakfast at the hotel, tour the souk, the 12th-century Crusader Cathedral, and the Roman hippodrome before transferring to Sidon, an important Phoenician city that was settled as early as 4,000 BC. Sidon is home to the Sidon Sea Castle, built by the Crusaders in AD 1228; a thriving souk; Phoenician temples; and an ancient church converted into the Great Mosque after the Crusaders were driven out before returning to Beirut. This evening, enjoy a festive farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

  • Accommodation: Le Commodore Hotel
  • Transportation: 1.5-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day10

  Depart from Beirut

  Transfer to the airport for your homebound flight.

  • Meals: Breakfast