Weekend Nov 5/6 - Weekend in Ehden

Tuesday, Nov 8 - Hiking in Bsetine el Ossi

Friday, Nov 11 - Night Hike in Baabda Forest

Sunday, Nov 13 - Hiking from Annaya to Lehfed

Sunday, Nov 20 - Hiking in Deir el Moukhales

Tuesday, Nov 22 - Hiking in Wadi Annoubine

Sunday, Nov 27 - Hiking in Falougha

As every weekend program, you have the choice of a whole weekend or just a Sunday trip…it’s up to you.Ehden forest (Horsh Ehden) is one of the most diversified ecosystems of Lebanon. This picturesque natural reserve shows its beauty mostly in autumn, where colors are as diversified as the numerous kinds of trees. Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve is rich in biodiversity. Over 1,058 plant species have so far been recorded in the reserve, accounting for nearly 40% of the plant species in Lebanon. This is impressive, considering that the reserve represents less than 0.1% of the total area of Lebanon.The program is as follows:On Saturday afternoon, you will make a tour of Ehden town, then enjoy a nice evening and dinner. You will spend the night in wooden chalets at the entrance of the reserve. Each chalet is furnished, heated, and has its own private washroom. On Sunday morning, after breakfast, you will wait for the second group to arrive to start the hike together.In this hike, many levels are available.

WHERE:  Ehden  In the north  1450 meters above sea level.WHAT TO GET:  Pack the usual overnight stuff.  Don’t forget to get sunscreen, a cap, and a jacket. Pack your backpack with water and light snacks.

MEETING PLACE:  Jdeideh Public Garden, facing Sagesse School @ 2:00 PM on Sat. @ 7:30 AM on Sun. PRICE:a) For the whole weekend: $110 per person including transport, guides, insurance, entrance to the reserve, accommodation & three meals. b) For Sunday participants, the price will become 65,000 LL per person (transport, guides, insurance, entrance to the reserve, and lunch). (Please get the exact change to facilitate and speed up the registration process).

RESERVATION: For reservation call 03-561174 or 03-720706. It is preferable to send an SMS from your mobile, giving your name and the event you wish to join in.

Kafarhilda is a long, narrow town running along the hillside of the rich agricultural valley of the same name and is known for its pleasant outdoor restaurants. Scattered around the village are the ruins of many monasteries and churches.This hike will be a one level hike (level 4).  The hike will be mostly beside a stream.You will enjoy the sound of rushing water along the track. The beginning of the hike is all downhill.  The end is an uphill trail.At the end of hike, we will stop at a local restaurant at the top of the waterfall for a delicious Lebanese lunch. The setting will be ideal for relaxation before heading back to Jdeideh.

WHERE:  Bsetine el 3ossi – Kfarhilda   Caza of Batroun – North of Lebanon.   75 Km from Beirut  650 m above sea level.

MEETING PLACE:  Jdeideh Public Garden, facing Sagesse School @ 7:30 AM There will be a breakfast stop along the way.PRICE: 65,000 LL per person including transport, guides, insurance, and lunch. (Please get the exact change to facilitate and speed up the registration process).

WHAT TO GET:  Get some light snacks that will boost up your energy such as dried fruits. Pack your backpacks with water, cap, sunglasses and sunscreen.  Don’t forget a light jacket because it gets cold in the shade. Wear comfortable shoes, preferably hiking shoes. RESERVATION: For reservation call 03-561174 or 03-720706. It is preferable to send an SMS from your mobile, giving your name and the event you wish to join in.

Baabda Forest is the only natural green area in greater Beirut where half of the Lebanese population can reach it in less than half hour. There, we can find more than 20 types of trees and small trees and hundreds of wild flowers. The forest location is very important for the study of local and migrating birds where one of the studies showed that 189 species of birds are present in the forest.

Man lived a long time ago in this forest because debris of an old house and rain water well in the rocks are found there in addition to terraces where vineyards and olive trees were planted.Great thanks to T.E.R.R.E Liban which is trying to protect Baabda Forest for its environmental and ecotouristic importance.Our night hike will be in this forest. It will be an easy hike where moonlight will guide us all the way.Mr. Paul Abi Rached, the owner of T.E.R.R.E. Liban, will accompany us and entertain us with his songs that contain powerful messages to encourage healthy nutrition, proper waste disposal, paper recycling, reforestation and protection of endangered species.As usual, our night hike will end in a cozy gathering around manakish, tea and roasted corn.

WHERE:  Baabda   220 m altitude 7 km from Beirut 

MEETING PLACE:  7:00 PM in the parking of Sagesse School in Jdeideh, facing the public garden.

PRICE: 40,000 LL per person including transport, guides, insurance. (Please get the exact change to facilitate and speed up the registration process).WHAT TO GET:  You must wear hiking shoes or comfortable walking shoes.  Get a light jacket since it gets cold at night. Don’t forget to get a flashlight. RESERVATION: For reservation call 03-561174 or 03-720706. It is preferable to send an SMS from your mobile, giving your name, surname, and the event you wish to join in.

From Annaya to Lehfed, the trail is blessed. You will start the hike by visiting St. Charbel, and end it in a visit to the hometown of Blessed Estephan Nehme.The hike will be divided into  two levels.LEVEL 3 (4.5 km) and LEVEL 6 (10 km) will start together from Annaya. After visiting St. Charbel and the monastery, you will hike along a diversified trail, parts on dirt roads, parts in bushes and parts overlooking wonderful views of the region. The first section is mainly flat and downhill. LEVEL 3 will stop somewhere along the way and take the bus to Lehfed, whereas LEVEL 6 will continue hiking in bushy paths with some uphill stretches until they reach Lehfed.After visiting the birthplace of Brother Estephan Nehme, we will rest and have lunch among the trees.

WHERE:   Annaya - Lehfed  54 km from Beirut  1200 m above sea level. 

MEETING PLACE:  7:30 AM in the parking of Sagesse School in Jdeideh, facing the public garden.  PRICE: 40,000 LL per person including transport, guides, and insurance. (Please get the exact change to facilitate and speed up the registration process).WHAT TO GET:  Get some light snacks that will boost up your energy such as dried fruits. Pack your backpacks with, water, lunch, cap, sunglasses and sunscreen.  Wear hiking shoes or comfortable walking shoes. 

RESERVATION: For reservation call 03-561174 or 03-720706. It is preferable to send an SMS from your mobile, giving your name, surname, and the event you wish to join in.

Deir el Mokhales, dated back to the 16th century, is a historical monastery possessing a beautiful church and a collection of icons, manuscripts and religious objects. It produces organic olive oil and carob molasses in addition to many local produce. Since November is olive season, you will see how olive oil is extracted. You will also see the production of traditional soap made from olive oil, and the way molasses is produced from carob. The visit to Deir el Mokhales will revive the old Lebanese traditions.Qalaat el Naqba is a very old citadel built atop a hill. Not much information about it is available. Several well preserved stretches of enclosure wall, in addition to parts of the main citadel can still be seen.Baanoub village is a small abandoned village of seven houses. In the near future it will be transformed into an ecotourism campsite.The hike will be divided into 3 levels:LEVEL 2 will walk around 2 km along a Roman road and among pine trees. It will be a flat trail ending in Deir el Mokhales. Then you will take the bus to meet with the others in Deir el Saideh to have lunch altogether.LEVEL 3 will start from Baanoub. You will walk along an easy trail leading to the old houses. From there you will continue along a nice trail to see an old bridge. The trail will then lead to a hermitage and then end in Deir el Saideh for lunch.LEVEL 6 will start from Baanoub, reach the old abandoned houses, then take an upward trail to reach Qalaat el Naqba. Then a downward trail will take you to the river. You will have to walk in the water (about knee deep). It will be an adventurous walk. You will see an old 17th century mill, a water source and an old stone bridge. Then you will go uphill to reach the hermitage. The trail will end in Deir el Saideh where all levels will sit together and have lunch. After the hike, we will go to Deir el Mokhales by bus, visit it and buy some local produce.

WHERE:  Deir el Mokhales - Baanoub    40 Km from Beirut  400 m above sea level.

MEETING PLACE:  7:30 AM in the parking of Sagesse School in Jdeideh, facing the public garden.PRICE: 40,000 LL per person including transport, guides, insurance. (Please get the exact change to facilitate and speed up the registration process).WHAT TO GET:  Get some light snacks that will boost up your energy such as dried fruits. Pack your backpacks with water, lunch, a cap, sunglasses and sunscreen.  Don’t forget to get a jacket. RESERVATION: For reservation call 03-561174 or 03-720706. It is preferable to send an SMS from your mobile, giving your name, surname, and the event you wish to join in.

Qadisha Valley lies within the Becharre and Zgharta Districts of the North Governate of Lebanon. The valley is a deep gorge carved by Qadisha River, also known as Nahr Abu Ali when it reaches Tripoli. Qadisha means "Holy" in Aramaic, and the valley, sometimes called the Holy Valley, has sheltered Christian monastic communities for many centuries. Filled with caves and rock shelters inhabited from the third millennium B.C. to the Roman period, the valley is scattered with cave chapels, hermitages and monasteries cut from rock.The whole valley with its cave churches is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.There are around 13 different trails in this holy valley.  On Tuesday, we will visit Deir Saidet Annoubine, St. Marina, Deir Mar Licha, Deir el Salib, and Saidet Hawka.  We will pass through Dimane and Hadchit (depending on the level of the hike).The hike will be divided into four levels: level 4, level 5, level 6 and level 7.LEVEL 4 will start from Hawka, visit the hermit, St. Marina, and Deir Saidet Annoubine. It is a great place to visit and you will have enough time to contemplate scenery and take pictures. Then you will meet with the other groups by the river for lunch. It is a lovely place, a breathtaking setting.  After lunch, you will continue to Mar Licha. There will be some ascents and descents since the topography of the valley is quite steep.  Be prepared!LEVEL 5 will take the same trail as level 3, but after lunch, you will climb the cliff to reach Hadchit, and visit Deir el Salib. The hike will end in Hadchit village. The hike is quite demanding. There will be ascents to climb!LEVEL 6 will start from Dimane, go to Annoubine village, visit Deir Saidet Annoubine and St. Marina. You will meet the others by the river for lunch.  It is a lovely setting that you won’t get enough of. After lunch, you will continue to Mar Licha.  It is a tough hike with lots of ascents and descents.  You must be well prepared to take this level. LEVEL 7 will take the same track as level 6, but after lunch, you will climb the cliff to reach Hadchit, and visit Deir el Salib. Be prepared for a steep uphill hike!

WHERE:  Dimane-Hawka-Annoubine   In the region of Bcharreh & Ehden  1200 m above sea level.80 Km from Beirut.

MEETING PLACE:  7:30 AM in the parking of Sagesse School in Jdeideh, facing the public garden.PRICE: 40,000 LL per person including transport, guides, and insurance. (Please get the exact change to facilitate and speed up the registration process).           

WHAT TO GET:  Get some light snacks that will boost up your energy such as dried fruits. Pack your backpacks with water, lunch, cap, sunglasses and sunscreen.  Don’t forget a jacket because it gets cold in the shade. Wear hiking shoes or comfortable walking shoes. RESERVATION: For reservation call 03-561174 or 03-720706. It is preferable to send an SMS from your mobile, giving your name, surname, and the event you wish to join in.

Falougha is a quiet and serene village in Mount Lebanon located away from the city hustle and bustle. It's an ideal summer resort and home for the first Lebanese flag that was erected on its mountain. The origin of the name Falougha is Syriac and means "divide" symbolizing the two winter rivers that divide the village.The town is famous for its fresh water springs and its green hillsides, covered by a variety of trees.Its main attraction is the 19th century Serail with a splendid door that combines oriental and Italian styles. Our hike in Falougha will be divided into two levels.LEVEL 3 will start from the Cedar forest where the first Lebanese flag was erected. The trail will be easy, leading to the most picturesque spot at Lamartine Rock where the famous French poet, Lamartine, used to sit and get inspired. The views from there are spectacular. You will then continue to Nabeh Abou Laban and Ain el Fouwwar. The hike will end in the square of Falougha village. You will have the chance to visit the important monuments of Falougha (Serail, Baladieh and ancient churches).LEVEL 6 will start from Sohat Village and walk an uphill trail to get to the Cedar forest. Then the hike will join with level 3.Both levels will have lunch together somewhere along the trail.

WHERE:  Falougha   1250m above sea level. 36 km from Beirut 

MEETING PLACE:  7:30 AM in the parking of Sagesse School in Jdeideh, facing the public garden.PRICE: 40,000 LL per person including transport, guides, insurance. (Please get the exact change to facilitate and speed up the registration process).WHAT TO GET:  Get some light snacks that will boost up your energy such as dried fruits. Pack your backpacks with water, lunch, a cap, sunglasses and sunscreen.  Don’t forget to get a jacket. 

RESERVATION: For reservation call 03-561174 or 03-720706. It is preferable to send an SMS from your mobile, giving your name, surname, and the event you wish to join in.