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CFLMT: Images from Lebanon hiking, Spring 2023

The Izma-Hankins family from Kitchener, Ontario, travelled to Lebanon during April and May 2023. We rented a small guest house near Batloun for five days at the end of April and frequently hiked on various trails through the Awali River valley, one of which took us to the LMT near Maaser Al Shouf.

We also rented a guest house at the top of the Qadisha Valley, just below Bsharre, for about three weeks. There are many hiking trails in that area, and they often join the LMT either in the Valley or in the mountains above.

Both guest houses had complete cooking facilities, so we prepared and ate many meals. We found it easy to find a wide variety of fresh, local vegetables and fruit in local stores, as well as prepared food. The cost of food and accommodation was considerably cheaper (in U.S. dollars) than during our last trip in 2019.

It was also very easy and inexpensive to hire local drivers for our trips between Beirut and the guest houses as well as for trips between towns and to hiking trails.

Images of the Shouf from May 2023


Looking across the Awali (Aouali) River, near Batloun in the Shouf
Newly constructed terracing for an orchard across the valley from Batloun
Details of the newly constructed terrace walls across the valley from Batloun
Fresh produce and groceries in early May from stores in Batloun

A twisted pine tree; a lot of pine nuts in those pinecones
An old Roman bridge near Maasser Al Shouf
Near Maasser Al Shouf

Images from the Koura and Bsharre regions, May 2023


Going down into the river valley in Bziza Al Koura
Following a small irrigation canal near Bziza; a common method of getting through difficult terrain
Looking out across the beginning of the Qadisha Valley from Bsharre
From Bsharre, looking at some of the highest peaks in the Middle East

A waterfall near the beginning of the Qadisha Valley
A closer view of a waterfall near the beginning of the Qadisha Valley