Lebanon from A to Z

Lebanon in numbers:

• 8 Governorates – or Mohafazat. Each of which is subdivided into many districts, or caza, also divided into municipalities.
• 1300+ villages and towns.
• 2 Mountain ranges & 1 plain of approx. 200 Kms long.
• 2 main agriculture plains
• 1 coast on the Mediterranean, approx. 250 kms long.

All of this makes a small country, infinite in landscapes and villages and towns, where there is a wealth of things to see, discover, taste and visit.

We like slow travel, or travels that are as slow as possible within the frame of your timing. We can mix and match destinations of course. But if you have the time and the will, then we suggest spending at least 1 day in these places, breaking away from the classic circuits offered, in order to truly uncover everything these places have to offer.

Index

The below list only names some of the town and villages we cover, and is definitely not an exhaustive one. Also, in most cases, we name one town but we cover the surrounding area too. So if there’s a place you want to go to that’s not listed, please simply ask us about it.

In each of these towns you will uncover something. Whether it is meeting some of the people, or uncovering crafts, or some food produce, or a guesthouse, or a Palace or ancient tombs, or roman temples, or artisans’ workshops… the list goes on and on and on.

• Abey – A small village above Beirut where you can visit a museum of hand carved wooden motorcycles, a Druze sacred site, and a very old palace turned private residence.
• Akroum – a breathtaking location for roman temples – the 2^nd biggest in stone sizes along with Niha and after Baalbeck
• Akoura – A village built at the foot of a huge cliff of the Mount Lebanon range, with some absolutely breathtaking views.
• Amchit – a charming undervalued and definitely off-the-beaten track town with palaces that rival those of Beirut.
• Amioun – in the Koura Caza, this off-the-beaten path town will amaze you with its byzantine churches, charming little streets and a church that stands atop a cliff with “mysterious” openings.
• Ammiq – among the last marshes of the Bekaa, Ammiq offers beautiful trails as well as amazing photography opportunities, a horse ranch, a Druze sacred site, and a famous restaurant.
• Anjar and surrounding area – the town of the past and the present, this is the 2^nd most important Armenian town of the country. Surrounded by fruit orchards, located at the foot of the anti-Lebanon mountain range, Anjar is the place to go to enjoy a relaxing day and good food and to meet artists and artisans. And to add a cherry on top, a stop at the neighboring town of Majdel Anjar will give the traveler some historical context and perspective with a very interesting roman temple.
• Bourj Hammoud – the bustling Armenian neighborhood with a flavor of its own where delicious food, artisans and shopkeepers – and an accordionist – all collide.
• Baalbeck – The country’s most famous site with a complex of 3 roman temples. But also, for the curious travelers, many more things to discover and enjoy.
• Byblos – voted the most popular middle eastern city to visit a few years back – for a reason. With a charming souk, the most extensively excavated archeological site of the country that goes back 6000 years, the crusader citadel and church, let’s just say that Byblos lives up to its reputation.
• Baskinta – a beautiful village of the Mount Lebanon Range famous for its Literary Trail, and some magic spots tucked under the pine trees.
• Bcharreh – A beautiful town that sits just atop the Sacred Valley, with red-tiled roof houses and many religious sites.
• Beaino – Meet an olive farmer, a dairy production unit owner, visit beautiful traditional houses and just enjoy the surrounding nature.
• Bireh and Bourj – Once the seat of local ottoman governors, these 2 towns have exactly the same citadels – one built with local basalt and one with yellowish stones. Each one is in a different state of repair/ruin and both are equally interesting to visit.
• Chnanir – located in the Keserwan caza, next to Dlebta, Ghazir and Ghine and Kfour, this town offers a beautiful natural reserve – and a world renowned wedding venue.
• Dlebta – A village that has old traditional houses featured on post stamps, built on the slopes of a mountain populated with pine and oak trees, this is a village that retains its old charm and offers a perfect escape from the city.
• Douma – walk in the old souk, get to know the artisans, listen to their stories, taste some good food, and have a royal lunch on the village’s square. Also enjoy some exclusive insights on Douma’s architecture, inside out.
• Deir Mimas – a small village in the southern part of the country, with some beautifully interesting spots tucked away under the olive groves, and an amazing cook who does the best shanklish in the country (type of cheese).
• Deir el Ahmar – Wine and Dine in this far away part of Lebanon, where women came together to create an amazing coop: WADA (Women association of Deir el Ahmar) that comprises delicious local produce and lovely stays with the locals in their homes.
• Eddeh – with a couple of Byzantine churches and some beautiful private houses to visit, this is an off-the-beaten track stop that will charm the most difficult traveler.
• Ehden – with a beautiful nature reserve offering a rich biodiversity and a beautiful town located at 1500 meters above sea level, Ehden boasts some unmissable local specialties.
• Falougha – Famous for its water sources that dot the green hills, the village has preserved its 19^th century appearance and preserved its beautifully carved old Serail (Ottoman Administrative building) portal.
• Ghazir and surrounding area – Ghazir was once a major Ottoman center. With its old souks, absolutely lovely old traditional houses, and the traces of princes and European orientalists who have lived here, it is a stop not to be missed.
• Hamat – With a 17^th century citadel, and a monastery built on a Byzantine Shrine; with a lovely easy walking trail and a view from the top of the elevated head land on the sea below, this is one of those places where the sunset is out of this world.
• Hermel – What makes Hermel famous are the rafting activities on the Assi river, as well as the “mysterious” Oblelisk that stands on a yellow hill at the outskirt of the town. A couple of kilometers away is Qaa, another completely off-the-beaten track destination filled with surprises.
• Iaal – Located in caza Zghorta, Iaal is known for the Citadel of Barbar Agha, the Governor of Tripoli between 1800 and 1835 (on and off to be fair).
• Iaat – in the middle of agricultural lands stands an 18-meter high column. Just one. Some say it’s all that’s left from a bigger structure. Others say it is a commemorative Corinthian column set up sometime in between the 1^st and 3^rd Some believe it is a funerary monument.
• Jaje – A beautiful Cedar reserve above Byblos
• Jezzine and the surrounding area are located within the biggest pine tree forest of the Middle-East. Along with Olive groves, this makes the area famous for its olive oil and other olive by-products as well as pine nuts. Jezzine is also famous for its cutlery, its old souk, and some of its unique buildings.
• Kframeshki – a village with some urban art, a beautiful picnic area, local table d’hôte, and a peanut butter maker.
• Kfardebian – a popular summer resort that enjoys a Turkey Oak forest, roman temples remains, a hostel, beautiful trails, and good friends.
• Kfar Kila – With a wall on one side built by the southern neighbors, Kfar Kila is famous because of one of its soap producers. His workshop is a place we always stop at when in the area.
• Kobayat and surrounding – the main city of Aakkar, filled with very old sites, beautiful natural trails, a monastery that was once a roman temple, a bungalow resort nestled in the green hills and delicious foods.
• Maasser el Chouf – Labelled as a “zero pollution” village by UNESCO, this village is listed as one of the “most beautiful villages of Lebanon”. It is recognized by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve since 2005 and a is part of the Al-Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve. Experience everything this village has to offer: A walk among the Cedars, yummy local foods, wine tasting, architecture, old presses, and much much more.
• Marjeyoun and the area – a great architecture escape where it is possible to visit some old traditional houses inside out, as well as take in breathtaking views from a neighboring old monastery.
• Maroun el Ras – located just on the border with Palestine/Israel, Maroun el Ras has a public garden that should absolutely be visited, offering a unique insight on the situation of the area.
• Mtein – famous for its historical square surrounded by facades of palaces a few centuries old, Mtein also boasts 2 old silk factories, a whiskey and a wine maker, a beautiful table d’hote, and trails not to be missed.
• Niha – there are 3 Nihas in Lebanon, and all 3 are equally rich and interesting with Roman temples, a famous Druze shrine, and a citadel carved in the rock located in a natural reserve, and many activities to enjoy such as bee keeping.
• Okaibe – this is a beach locality – pebble public beaches and some cute little sea side resorts with little quaint local fish restaurant and the Nahr Ibrahim valley with its roman aqueduct drowned in banana plantations, right next to the river.
• Qaa – an off-the-beaten track town located right next to the Syrian border, filled with very interesting and still not completely excavated archeological sites, a very old canal, and endless grape and peach groves. Qaa has its very own local specialties not to be missed.
• Qab Elias – Wineries, a goat dairy production site, a lovely summer picnic area and some historical remains are some of the things you can enjoy here.
• Qadisha – The Sacred Valley is one of the 5 UNESCO heritage sites of the country and offer dramatic landscapes which have been a refuge for persecuted Christians for centuries.
• Qibl el Saki – an off-the-beaten-track town in the South, not far from Marjeyoun, Qibl el Saki has a protected natural area or a Hima, and a very interesting cemetery.
• Rachaya al Fokhar is famous for its pottery; and Rachaya al Wadi if rich with many crafts, grape molasses, as well as the Independence Citadel.
• Sir and surrounding area. Located in the area above Tripoli surrounded by biodiverse forests, Sir is one of these unexpected places with a hotel dating back to the 1950s, and a beautiful grotto carved by water for millions of years.
• Sofar – the name mean whistle. This little shepherd den became a posh town thanks to the passage of the train, with a luxury hotel and a few high-end villas/palaces. The hotel is in ruins, but there remain many places to visit.
• Tannourine – mostly famous for the natural reserve
• Thoum – famous for the Smar Jbeil citadel, Thoum is one of the villages above Batroun that are so beautiful that they are now THE place to have a summer house.
• Tripoli – is the city that hides 1001 mysteries and gems, famous for its medieval Mamluk architecture, its bustling and labyrinthine Souk, the best preserved in the country and full of atmosphere. The city is also blessed with handsome examples of Crusader and Ottoman-era architecture, and full of local produce and crafts and soaps and sweets. No matter how many times you have visited Tripoli, there is always something new to discover.
• Terbol – one of the villages of the Bekaa that still has vernacular houses, one of which was made into a museum, offering a unique insight into rural life under the ottomans.
• Worhaniyeh – this is where the Assaf workshop is located. This beautiful place offers an unforgettable insight into the life of 3 extremely talented brothers – who all happen to be sculptors.
• Yammouneh has a natural reserve, a sacred lake, a roman temple, and, well, worldwide famous plantations of marijuana. Definitly an interesting place to visit.
• Yahchouch – one of the villages and towns bordering the sacred Nahr Ibrahim, Yahchouch offers absolutely beautiful trails and is part of the Jabal Moussa reserve. It also is a great place to do an essential oil workshop.
• Zahle – the bride of the Bekaa, the capital of the Bekaa, also known as the city of honey and arak, there is a wealth of things to enjoy in Zahle – of which the local specialty and the old traditional houses, and having a drink after a long day in the area.
• Zouk Mikael – just 5 minutes from Jounieh, the 18^th century souk of Zouk is very well preserved. This is where you can meet a oud maker, and other artisans as well.