HIKING & CULTURAL TRIPS

NOVEMBER 2026

SUNDAY 01.11
Hiking DEIR CHEMRA (Metn)
Bus only. Departure from Hikmeh (Achrafieh) at 8am.
Deir Chemra, 30km from Beirut via Jeita, is a small hamlet on the road linking Bikfaya to the Kesrouan district.
The road, from Bikfaya, cuts 3 valleys, the last being Wadi as-Slîb, familiar to hikers. The proposed hike follows the 2nd valley.
ITINERARY: DEIR CHEMRA – WADI an.NAHR – ZERAAYA – ZABBOUGHA – KFARAQÂB.
A recently rehabilitated trail from Deir Chamra, 600m, upriver to Deir Zaraaya old convent and the Zabbougha village, 1000m.
In Zabbougha, an unexpected museum adds to the charm of the trip on its way to Kfaraqâb and the famous “Tanios rock”, 1200m.
Level 5, 09kmCumulative Ascent: 600m Duration: 5hours

SUNDAY 08.11
Hiking KOUSBA (Koura)
Bus only. Departure from Hikmeh (Achrafieh) at 8am.
Kousba, 75km from Beirut via Chekka, is a large town on the left bank of Nahr Abou-Ali, facing the cliff-hanged Hamatoura monastery.
ITINERARY: KOUSBA – TORZA – MAZRAAT an.NAHR – FRADIS – MORBO MONASTERY – MAZRAAT an.NAHR.
The trail follows the water pipeline of the hydraulic power plant dominating the yellow serpentine of the plane trees bordering the river.
It continues to a rock-cut tomb and on to an old watermill where it crosses to the right bank before entering into the Qadicha valley.
A loop in the holy valley will take you to Fradis, to an arched stone bridge, to an abandoned monastery to end at Mazraat an-Nahr hamlet.
Level 5, 11km Cumulative Ascent: 500m Duration: 6hours
Starting in Fradis: Level 3, 05km Cumulative Ascent: 200m Duration: 3hours

SUNDAY 15.11
Hiking KNAYSEH (Baabda)
Bus only. Departure from Hikmeh (Achrafieh) at 8am
A small village, 25km from Beiirut via Monteverde, known for its monastery dedicated to Mar Elias. Starting point, altiktude 650m.
ITINERARY: KNAYSEH – ARBANIYEH – DLAYBEH – SALIMA – NAHR BEIRUT – ZAHRIYEH.
A trail in pinewoods, via an old mill and stone bridges, leads to Arbaniyeh, to Dlaybeh and the French dirt road up to Salima, 800m.
Crossing the Medieval feudal town, we reach an ancient chapel and on to a major footpath leading to “Nahr Beirut”, 550m.
A nice stone bridge by a renovated mill and we’re now in the Metn district climbing towards the “Zahrieh” hamlet.
A rather stiff uphill to reach “Chîr ar-Râheb”, 750m, an old hermitage in the cliff, before returning to Zahrieh where the hike ends.
Level 5, 10km Cumulative Ascent: 500m Duration: 5hours
Starting in Salima: Level 3, 05km Cumulative Ascent: 200m Duration: 3hours

SATURDAY 21 – MONDAY 23.11 … THE INDEPENDENCE TREK …. PLEASE ANSWER ASAP
Trekking A 3-day continuous trek in the Chouf district. Average difficulty.
DAY1: NÎHA – JBAA – MRESTI. Overnight ……………………………………………….. Day hikers may join.
DAY2: MRESTI – BAADARANE – MAASSER. Overnight…………………………….. No day hikers.
DAY3: MAASSER – CEDARS OF MAASSER – BAROUK. Return to Beirut ….. Day hikers may join.

Day D1. Saturday 21
Bus only. Departure from Hikmeh (Achrafieh) at 8am.
Road, via Baaqlîne, to Mokhtara (stop for manaqich) continuing to Qalaat Nîha, 70km from Beirut.
Visit the impressive cliff site and start hiking.
HIKING ITINERARY
From Qalaat Nîha to the legendary Ain al-Halqoûm and on to Nîha valley and the Chaachou’ spring in Jbaa.
The trail continues to cross the old oak tree forest before ending in Mresti
Level 5, 10km Cumulative Ascent: 500m Duration: 5hours
Dinner & Night in a guesthouse. 5 rooms with 2beds each and bathroom.
Bus & driver go home to return on Monday.

Day D2. Sunday 22 Independence day
No departure from Beirut.
Breakfast at accommodation and check-out at 9am.
HIKING ITINERARY
Starting at the guesthouse, the trail crosses over an old stone bridge on its way to Baadarane.
Visit Baadarane; Ain as-Sayfiyeh (on an ancient caravan trail), Blaytat al-Hawa (panoramic site), Museum, …
Continue hiking, via a wooded trail, to Maasser.
Level 6, 12km Cumulative Ascent: 650m Duration: 6hours
Dinner at restaurant & Night in a small hotel.
Luggage is transferred locally.

Day D3. Monday 23
Bus only. Departure from Hikmeh (Achrafieh) at 8am.
Road, via Mdayrej, to Maasser, 55km from Beirut. Manaqih quick stop on the way.
Breakfast at accommodation and check-out at 9:30am. Day hikers merge wiith the overnighters.
HIKING ITINERARY
Starting at the hotel, the trail climbs up to the Cedars of Maasser where rare specimen of majestic trees can be seen.
Continue hiking to the Barouk large forest and the panoramic trail to end at the famous “Khitiara” cedar tree.
Level 6, 11km Cumulative Ascent: 600m Duration: 6hours
Return to Beiirut, 50km via Mdayrej.

PER PERSON, for a minimum of 5trekkers
$50 for day hikers
$200 for the 2-day trek, D1-D2, transfer from Maasser to Beirut, on Day2, not included
$230 for the 2-day trek, D2-D3, transfer from Beirut to Maasser, on Day2, not included
$380 for the 3-day trek, D1-D3..
Individual rooms at hotel will be subject to an extra charge.

• WE COVER,
  . Transportation in a 14-seater van
  . Professional guiding
  . Entrance fees to the Chouf Reserve, $5pp, per day
  . Full-Board accommodation, tips included.

SUNDAY 29
Hiking NÎHA (Beqaa) …………………………………………………………… Add $25pp, for lunch
Bus only. Departure from Hikmeh (Achrafieh) at 8am.
Road, via Dahr el-Beidar, to Nîha Roman temples, 60km from Beirut. Short stop on the way, at Jarjoura.
Visit the site and continue, +3km, to Hosn Nîha, 1350m, an upper temple and starting point of our classical itineraries.
Parenthesis: 5 localities in Lebanon are named Nîha. The present one is usually scheduled during the cherry blossoming period.
HIKING ITINERARY, the classical easy one.
Starting with the visit of Hosn Nîha, a trail mildly goes up to a curious Orthodox monastery, built on top of a hill, 1540m.
It follows down, along a nice cliff wall, to Besta, 1300m, where it meets the dirt road leading to Nabaa al-Habîs, in Ferzol, 1100m.
On its way, an ancient quarry and a stele, representing a couple, perhaps of Hittite origin, locally named “the priest & priestess”.
The hike ends at Nabaa al-Habîs where man-made caves are cut into the dominating rocks, said to be of Phoenician origin.
Level 3, 05km Cumulative Ascent: 200m Duration: 3hours
NOTES
. Nabaa al-Habîs (the hermit’s spring) was chosen on purpose. Lunch at the excellent restaurant there, a highlight of the day.
. All the way down, from the monastery, to Besta, to the dirt road, is delicate terrain, not recommended to unexperienced hikers.
. For those who wish it, we’ll arrange for a short local transfer, 9km, from the monastery to the restaurant.