1 week-ski tour adventure in wild Lebanon
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Are you ready to ski tour in one of the wildest places in the world? Jean, an IMFGA-certified mountain guide, takes you on a week-long adventure in Lebanon.
Group
8 Days
Feb, Mar
High
Intermediate
Highlights
- Discover the fantastic snow conditions of Lebanon.
- Explore a wonderful wild area with your skis on.
- Learn about the local culture and tradition.
Description
Why go to Lebanon? Because its mountains and snow conditions are particularly suitable for skiing but, primarily, as part of a quest to discover the wildest places in the world.
In 1996 Michel Cormier, a great researcher of new ski destinations, went to the Lebanese-Syrian border. He spent the nights at local houses and skied in the middle of nowhere, with not even a map to guide him. I was there in 2012 and then in March 2017 and enjoyed exceptional conditions both times. Now, I invite you to join me on this magic trip that includes a night in a convent.
Lebanon is a small country with two large mountain ranges, separated by a valley: the famous Bekaa plain, which crosses the country from north to south. The first mountain range, the Lebanon Mountains, runs along the Mediterranean Sea and the second, Anti-Lebanon, marks the border with Syria. Most of the interesting massifs for ski touring are part of the Lebanon Mountains, which we will visit during this trip.
The trip is a mix of ski touring and cultural discovery of an extraordinary country. You will ski down Mt. Sannine, with its impressive 2,628 meters. The welcome we'll enjoy from the local people is unique: only a few people have had this opportunity. Plus, we will have a local service provider who knows the logistics of ski touring very well.
This week-long tour demands a good fitness level as most summits come out at over 2,500 meters and we will be climbing between 800 and 1,200 meters per day. However, the slopes are never steep and snow is often easy to ski. And the massifs are vast, so it will always be possible to ski an extra slope!
So, please request to book this trip get in touch with me. I will be glad to be your guide in this magnificent region!
Or, if you are a fan of wild and adventurous ski touring, please check out my amazing Ski touring program in Kyrgyzstan and my 7-day ski tour in unexplored Armenia.
Itinerary
Day 1 to 2: Paris - Beirut - Faraya
An international flight with a late morning departure will take us to Beirut. Then, we head north to reach Faraya in a 2,5 hour drive. On the road, we will pass by Harissa, from where the view on the bay of Jounié is unique. The second day we will put on the skis for a few wild turns on the mountains behind Faray.
Overnight in a hostel.
Day 3: Ascension of Mt. Sanine
Lebanon Mountains mountain range. Descent through the great flow to reach Baksinta´s convent, where we will spend the night.
Day 4: Mount Barouk
Crossing from Mount Barouk to Kefraya. Through a beautiful climb along the cedars, we reach the summit, which dominates over the Bekaa plain. Transfer to the village, often buried under the snow. On the road, we stop to taste the wines of Kefraya.
Overnight at a Druze family house.
Day 5: Mount Hermon
A superb single climb. At the top, the view is unique on Lake Tiberias and the Golan Heights. In the distance, you can also see the Lebanon Mountains, where we were the day before.
Also called Sihon, Shanir and Jabal el Sheikh in Arabic (meaning the Old), many ancient people consider Mt. Hermon a sacred mountain. Overnight in the same village as the night before.
Day 6: Mount Famel Mizef
The day begins with a long crossing of a plateau, through hills and domes (depending on the snow conditions, you can go on a 4×4 vehicle). The summit is located just before the Qurnat as Sawda, at 3,089 meters. Night at the village of Ainata.
Day 7: Ainata - Valley of the cedars
Through Mount Lebanon we join the Valley of the Cedars, a unique landscape that connects the Bekaa valley with the western part of Lebanon. In the distance, you can see the sea.
In the late afternoon, transfer to Beirut via the small port of Biblos.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8: Beirut - France
By early morning flights, we reach France.
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