{"id":6542,"date":"2026-10-08T00:52:28","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T05:52:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.madeinliban.com\/top-10-hiking-spots-in-lebanon\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T14:37:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T19:37:07","slug":"top-10-hiking-spots-in-lebanon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.madeinliban.com\/ar\/top-10-hiking-spots-in-lebanon\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Hiking Spots in Lebanon: Trails, Reserves and Gorges"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cedar forests, monastery gorges and a 470 km national trail: here is where to hike in Lebanon, and how to plan each walk.<\/em><\/p>\n

Trip Information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Region<\/th>\nAcross Lebanon<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best season<\/th>\nSpring and autumn<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Good for<\/th>\nHikers, families and nature lovers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Lebanon is small, but its mountains climb past 3,000 metres within an hour of the sea, so a single weekend can take you from coastal oak and pine to cedar forest, limestone gorges and high plateaus that hold snow into spring. The country also has a growing network of marked trails, protected reserves and village guesthouses, which makes hiking far easier to organise than it was a generation ago.<\/p>\n

These ten spots cover every level, from a gentle forest loop to multi-day stretches of the national trail. Most are a one to three hour drive from Beirut.<\/p>\n

How we chose<\/h2>\n

We started from the original list, kept the spots that are real, reachable and well known among Lebanese hikers, and replaced two that were hard to verify with better-documented trails. Facts come from the reserves’ own sites, UNESCO and published trail guides. Conditions change with weather and season, so treat this as a starting point and check with the reserve or a local guide before you go.<\/p>\n

1. Qadisha Valley and the Cedars of God (Bsharri and Zgharta)<\/h3>\n

The Holy Valley is a deep gorge in the north where Maronite monks and hermits built monasteries and cave chapels for centuries. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site together with the Cedars of God grove above Bsharri, one of the last remnants of the ancient cedar forests. The classic walk drops from the rim to the valley floor and follows the river past Qannoubine, Our Lady of Hawqa and Mar Lichaa, with chapels hidden in the rock along the way.<\/p>\n

Plan a full day, start early in summer, and arrange a pickup at the other end so you do not have to climb back out. The Cedars grove itself is a short, easy stroll best kept for the afternoon.<\/p>\n

2. Shouf Biosphere Reserve (Chouf)<\/h3>\n

Lebanon’s largest reserve covers about 500 square kilometres, roughly five percent of the country, along the Barouk and Niha ridges. It protects some of the largest remaining cedar stands, around the villages of Barouk, Maasser el Shouf and Ain Zhalta, along with oak and juniper woodland lower down. Marked trails range from shaded forest walks to long ridge hikes with views over the Bekaa on one side and the sea on the other.<\/p>\n

Start at one of the main entrances, where rangers can point you to a trail that fits your group. Read more about the reserve’s work on the Shouf Biosphere Reserve<\/a> listing.<\/p>\n

3. Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve (Keserwan)<\/h3>\n

Above the Nahr Ibrahim valley, Jabal Moussa is a UNESCO biosphere reserve with well-signed trails, old Roman stairs cut into the slope, and a mix of oak, pine and wild flowers that is at its best in April and May. The reserve has built a small network of village guesthouses and lunch stops, so it is easy to make a day of it.<\/p>\n

Trails vary from easy loops to a full circuit, and the reserve runs group events through the year. Details are on the Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve<\/a> page.<\/p>\n

4. Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve (Ehden)<\/h3>\n

Protected since 1992, Horsh Ehden covers about 17 square kilometres on the north-western slopes of Mount Lebanon above Ehden. It is small, but it holds one of the most varied forests in the country: cedar, Cilician fir at the southern edge of its range, Greek juniper and the rare Lebanese wild apple, with more than a thousand recorded plant species.<\/p>\n

Come in late spring for wild flowers or in October for autumn colour. Combine it with a morning at the Mar Sarkis monastery above town. The Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve<\/a> listing has more on the forest.<\/p>\n

5. Baatara Gorge (Tannourine)<\/h3>\n

Near the village of Chatine in Tannourine, the Baatara pothole is one of Lebanon’s most photographed natural sites. In spring, meltwater falls behind three natural limestone bridges stacked one above the other and drops into a chasm roughly 250 metres deep. The site was only documented in the 1950s and sits on the route of the Lebanon Mountain Trail.<\/p>\n

Go between March and May, when the snowmelt is flowing. The viewing path is short, but the rock is slippery when wet, so stay on the marked route and keep children close.<\/p>\n

6. Tannourine Cedar Forest Nature Reserve (Tannourine)<\/h3>\n

A short drive from Baatara, this reserve was created in 1999 and covers about 12 square kilometres of steep slopes. It holds the largest and densest stand of Lebanon cedar in the country, with cedars growing on rock faces that look almost vertical. The trails are shaded and cool even in August.<\/p>\n

Pair the two Tannourine sites in one day: Baatara in the morning, the cedar forest after lunch. Bring layers, as the reserve sits high and the temperature drops fast in the late afternoon.<\/p>\n

7. Baskinta Literary Trail (Metn)<\/h3>\n

This 24 km trail links 22 literary landmarks around Baskinta and Bqaatouta, tied to writers such as Mikhail Naimy, Abdallah Ghanem, Suleiman Kettaneh and Amin Maalouf. It starts by the Mikhail Naimy memorial garden at el Chakhroub, under Mount Sannine, and ends at the convent of Saydet el Niyah. The full route is rated very difficult, with more than 1,000 metres of climbing.<\/p>\n

Most people walk only the 7 km stretch from el Chakhroub down to Baskinta, which passes Naimy’s summer house, a Roman inscription and an old church. It is a fine half day with a picnic.<\/p>\n

8. Chouwen (Jbeil district, below Jabal Moussa)<\/h3>\n

Chouwen is a small green lake on the river at the foot of Jabal Moussa, reached by a steep path down through the gorge. In summer the walk ends with a cold swim, and groups often continue along the river through rocky narrows and old water channels.<\/p>\n

The descent is short but the climb back is hard work in the heat. It is best done with a guide, and clubs such as Vamos Todos<\/a>, which has run weekly outings since 2006 and has a base near Jabal Moussa, organise regular trips.<\/p>\n

9. Qammouaa Plateau (Akkar)<\/h3>\n

High in Akkar above Fnaideq, the Qammouaa plain is a wide grassland ringed by forests of cedar, fir and juniper, some of the least visited mountain country in Lebanon. It is part of the northern stretch of the Lebanon Mountain Trail, and in late spring the meadows fill with flowers and shepherds’ flocks.<\/p>\n

The roads are long and services are few, so go with a local guide or a hiking club, start early and carry all your food and water.<\/p>\n

10. The Lebanon Mountain Trail (Andqet to Marjaayoun)<\/h3>\n

The national long-distance trail runs about 470 km from Andqet in the far north to Marjaayoun in the south, passing through many of the places above, including Qammouaa, Qadisha, Tannourine and the Shouf. It was established in 2007 and is divided into day-length sections that link village guesthouses.<\/p>\n

You do not need to walk all of it. Pick one section for a day, or join the spring thru-walk organised by the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association<\/a>, which also publishes maps and guesthouse contacts.<\/p>\n

Tips<\/h2>\n