The Barouk Cedar forest is the largest forest in the Shouf Biosphere Reserve covering 400 hectares. The trail boasts a number of fascinating features such as an observation point and a hill lake. You can hike on this trail for 3 to 4 hours and visit reforestation sites. The Barouk Cedar Forest features a special needs trail with a ramp and guide bars for the elderly, wheelchair users, and the visually impaired. The length of the special needs trail is 300 meters with a maximum slope of 25 percent.
There are more than 250 km of hiking trails in the Shouf Biosphere Reserve extending from the highest mountain peaks to the lowest river beds designed to satisfy a wide range of visitors. There are easy trails within cedar forests or medium trails connecting different cedar forests or long trails that link the villages surrounding the Reserve. A visitor can hike alone or in small groups, with a guide, along designated trails.
The first day, we will discover the Beiteddine Palace, 1 hour away from Beirut. Sitting majestically on a hill surrounded by terraced gardens and orchards, Beiteddine Palace is one of the highlights of the Chouf Mountains. Beiteddine is 850 meters above the sea level. In it there is Beiteddine Palace, which was built by Emir Bechir el Chehabi II (who ruled Mount Lebanon for more than half a century). This palace is the best example of 19th century Lebanese architecture; it was built over a thirty year period of time.
Since the middle Ages, Lebanon has been divided up into fiefs governed by emirs and sheikhs who assumed authority through heredity. In the early years of the 17th century, Emir Fakhr al-Din el Maani II (died in 1635) succeeded in extending his power over the feudal families and ruled an area corresponding to that of the present-day Lebanon. After the Maani dynasty died out (end of the 17th century), the land was inherited by the Maani relatives, the emirs of the Chehab family. Emir Bechir Chehab II left Deir el Qamar and constructed his palace in Beiteddine, which was a Druze hermitage (khalwa). In 1812, the Emir obliged all his male subjects to provide two days of unpaid labor yearly to supply his Palace with water. This was done within two years and after 80000 days of labor.
1n 1943, the palace became the summer resident of the Lebanese President. When Bechara el-Khoury was elected president, the remains of Emir Bechir II (who died in 1850 in Istanbul) were brought back to the palace grave-yard.
Beiteddine Palace along with its museums and gardens are among the tourist places that are visited most.
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