Bcharré is a small town at an altitude of 1400m above sea level, almost 2 hours away from Beirut. The city is most famous for being the birthplace of the famous painter Khalil Gibran. Apart from that, it serves as the gateway to renowned tourism sites, such as the Cedars of God forest, several ski resorts, and the Holy Valley. Visiting Bcharré, you will find some very traditional architecture and a few lovely restaurants. The town is also home to numerous festivals and religious festivities taking place throughout the year.
The weekend will start by an easy hiking in the Cedars of God reserve in Bsharri (90 minutes), at an altitude of 2000m, you can find some of the remaining millennial Lebanon cedars. The Cedars of God forest (aka. Arz Forest) is located on the slopes of Mount Makmal. Lebanon’s cedars are some of the most majestic trees in the world and once covered the entire mountain range of Mount Lebanon. Due to the cedar’s majesty and resilience, it is said that God himself had planted the trees thousands of years ago.
Then, a visit to Gibran Museum, located very close to the mountain village Bcharré, where you can explore an extensive collection of poet and artist Khalil Gibran’s paintings. Gibran became famous for his book The Prophet in 1923 and was later on interred in the chapel next to the monastery where you can find the exhibition.
The night will be spent in a very elegant Boutique Hotel in the Cedars.
The next day, after breakfast, a long hiking day is waiting for you. You will enjoy an easy or a moderate hike in the Qadisha Holy Valley for about 5 hours with a lunch by the river.
Located at an altitude of 900 – 1900 m, the valley is well-known for both its breathtaking scenery and rich historical heritage. Hiking is probably one of the best ways to experience Qadisha Valley. While trekking through this unique area of Lebanon, you can discover both the beautiful nature and fascinating history. Lebanon’s famous isolated rock-cut monasteries found in the Holy Valley are a must-see attraction when traveling to Qadisha Valley. Ten significant cave churches and monasteries can be visited – some of them are reachable by car, while others are abandoned and only accessible on foot. Back in the Middle Ages, these monasteries were used as refuges for religious groups and ended up becoming the most important Maronite settlement.
Some of the monasteries you can quickly reach by car are Deir Qannoubin Monastery, Deir Mar Elisha Monastery as well as Deir Mar Antonius Qozhaya Monastery featuring a rock cut chapel, a courtyard, and even a small museum.
We take care of the transportation from Beirut, the multilingual guide, hiking trail, entrance/admission fees, hotel booking and accommodations (breakfast & lunch).
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