HIKING & CULTURAL TRIPS

HIKING & CULTURAL TRIPS/OCTOBER 2026

CONTENTS

-A- CALENDAR. Chronological summary of upcoming trips. Close events & beyond.
-B- GENERALITIES. Gathering & other info. Newcomers are urged to read it.

-A- UPCOMING TRIPS
CUSTOMIZED TOURS
We’re available for private requests, any date, to any destination.

SCHEDULED TOURS
Prices are given in USD. Payment in $ or LL (market rate).
Participation + Transportation, minimum 7 hikers
$30- per adult
$20- per child under 12
Participation, excluding transportation

$20- per adult
$10- per child.

OCTOBER 2026

SUNDAY 04

Hiking YAHCHOUCH WATERFALLS (Ftouh Kesrouan) …………………………….. Entrance fee to the falls: 500’000 pp
Bus only. Departure from Hikmeh, Achrafieh, at 8am.
Road to Oqaybeh for a breafast stop then, along Nahr Brahim river valley to the lower Yahchouch, 40km from Beirut.
Yahchouch is an important mountain village scattered on the leftt flanks of the legendary Adonis river.
It has many attractions and is the starting point of great hikes whether to Jabal Moussa or to the dramatic river valley.
Nahr ad-Dahab is a tributary of the main river along which trails were recently opened to 4waterfalls, unaccessible otherwise.
They’re now a major attraction in Yahchouch and we’re inviting you to discover them within a breathtaking hiking itinerary.

HIKING
Starting at 350m, the trail goes down to the river, 50m below, to follow it for a while before joining a road and rock-cut tunnels.
The narrow road leads to a unique subterranean power plant, 350m, the starting point of the footpath up Nahr ad-Dahab valley.
Detours allow to reach the waterfalls, for the view and optional swim in the stream before returning to the main trail.
Possibility to end the climb here and return to the starting point the same way. Total duration 3h, making it a Level 4.
Fit hikers continue by footpath and stairs to end up at Snaoubar hamlet, 700m, or pushing up until “Mar Gerges aj-Jabal”, 920m.
Level 4, 06km Cumulative Ascent: 250m Duration: 3hours
Level 6, 10km Cumulative Ascent: 650m Duration: 5hours

SUNDAY 11
Hiking JABAL JAJ (Jbayl) ……………………………………………………………. Reserve entrance fee: LL.500’000 pp
Bus only. Departure from Hikmeh, Achrafieh, at 8am.
Jaj is a high village of the district of Jbayl at the foot of a mountain range culminating at 2000m and separating it from Laqlouq.
Rare specimen of old cedar trees dot a part of the range which, by itself, is a stand-alone open-air geological museum.
Indeed, formed entirely of karstic rock, it has been shaped like no other place by snow and wind.
Caves, hidden water points and an infinite number of deep sinkholes, some keeping snow until late Summer.
Lately, a “geo-trail” has been designed for hikers, leading them to the area highlights in the maze of this curious terrain.
Road, via Amchit, to Jaj Cedar Reserve, 60km from Beirut. On the way, a stop in Lehfed to enjoy wooden-baked food.

HIKING ITINERARY
A combination of the geo-trail with other spectacular sites, spear-like sinkhole, the oldest tree, the chapel within the grove.
Level 5, 10km Cumulative Ascent: 500m Duration: 5hours

SATURDAY 17 – SUNDAY 18
A 2-day continuous trek ……………………………………. Day hikers may join only on Day1.
Trekking BEQAA – CHOUF Old caravan way
Bus only. Departure from Hikmeh, Achrafieh, at 8am.
Mount Lebanon or the Western Chain is a natural barrier separating the Lebanese coastal strip from the Beqaa and the hinterland.
Passes along the high ridges were, understandibly, chosen, since ancient times, to cross over the chain, to and from the interior lands.
And so existed, for commercial purposes, a long “Caravan Route” linking the once important port of Sidon to the Beqaa and to Syria.
We’ll be following, on Day1, part of this once vital way, starting in Khirbet Qanafar of the Beqaa, endind in Mresti of the Chouf.

Day D1. Saturday 17
Road, via Dahr-el-Beidar, to Jdita in the Beqaa . Stop at Jarjoura before heading South to Khirbet Qanafar, 65km from Beirut.

HIKING ITINERARY
The hike starts at an impressive “Oak Tree”, 1000m, saved from depredation by the contiguous holy “Cheikh Musafer” mausoleum.
It crosses the peaceful village to a famous winery, continuing thru a wooded hilly terrain to “Thoghra” (i.e. breach) pass, 1700m.
Several water springs dot the way to the pass where a good pause and a last look to the Beqaa reward the hikers at end of the climb.
The trail continues downhill along a beautiful footpath until destination, Mresti, the highest village in the Chouf, 1200m.
Level 6, 12km Cumulative Ascent: 700m Duration: 6hours

Dinner & Night in a guesthouse. 5 rooms with 2beds each and bathroom.
Bus & driver go home to return next day, at noon.

Day D2. Sunday 18
Breakfast at accommodation and check-out at 9am.
HIKING ITINERARY
Starting at the guesthouse, the trail makes first an open loop thru Mresti old oak wood before heading North to Maasser-el-Chouf.
It crosses pinewoods and watersprings to normally end at the Chouf Reserve Park House boutique offering high quality local produce.
A short walk to St. Michael winery for wine tasting will be the “cherry on the cake”, closing the 2day-trek.
Level 4, 08km Cumulative Ascent: 400m Duration: 4hours
NOTE
A Roman temple has been recently unearthed on one of the hills surrounding Maasser.
We will arrange for its visit in case its access is not arduous.
The bus and driver go first to Mresti for the luggage then to Maasser.
Return to Beirut, 55km via Sofar.

PER PERSON
$230

SATURDAY 24
Cuttural CHOUF & BEQAA
Programme on request.
SUNDAY 25
Hiking EHDEN (Zgharta) ……………………………………………………………. Reserve entrance fee: LL.500’000 pp
Bus only. Departure from Hikmeh, Achrafieh, at 8am.
Ehden Reserve needs no introduction. One of the most beautiful and, certainly, the most diversified in Lebanon.
Road to “Mazraat Ain Baqra”, in Kfarsghâb, 105km from Beirut, via Chekka, breakfast stop in Torza, and Ehden.

HIKING ITINERARY
Starting at 1450m, a flat trail, 4km long, leads to the abandoned historical hamlet of Bqoufa, in Ehden vicinity.
It continues as a thrilling footpath across the steep mountain flanks to a cliff hermitage and to the wooded Nabhay pass, 1800m.
It then joins Ain al-Beida where it enters the Reserve, crosses thru its major highlights to finally end at Jouit lower entrance, 1400m.
Level 5, 10km Cumulative Ascent: 500m Duration: 5hours