Lebanon

Lebanon compresses coast and high mountain into a tiny, dramatic country: from the Mediterranean shore and the city of Beirut, the land rises steeply to the Mount Lebanon range, topped by 3,088-m Qurnat as Sawda', where snow falls deep enough for skiing within sight of the sea. Deep river gorges like the Qadisha (Holy Valley) cut the highlands.

Here survive the last great groves of the famous Cedars of Lebanon — the ancient trees of the Bible and the national emblem — alongside Roman temples, Phoenician ports, and a vibrant, resilient culture.

Hike the Lebanon Mountain Trail the length of the country, walk the Qadisha Valley past cliff monasteries, visit the surviving cedar groves, and ski the slopes above Beirut in winter. The Jeita Grotto's vast caverns and the coastal archaeological sites of Byblos and Tyre round out the variety.

Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–November) are ideal for hiking the mountains and valleys in mild weather and wildflowers; summer is hot on the coast but pleasant in the highlands. Winter brings skiing to the Mount Lebanon resorts and snow to the cedars.

The mountains shelter wolves, hyenas, wild goats, and migrating birds funneling along the eastern Mediterranean flyway, while the cedar and juniper forests — much reduced over millennia — are being protected and replanted in reserves like the Shouf Biosphere.

The parallel Mount Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon ranges, built largely of limestone, rise sharply from the coast and frame the fertile Bekaa Valley between them, part of the great Rift system. Karst processes have created deep gorges and the spectacular Jeita Grotto.

Lebanon's coast was the homeland of the seafaring Phoenicians, and its lands hold Roman Baalbek, Crusader castles, and ancient Christian and Muslim heritage. The modern state gained independence in 1943, and its mountains have long sheltered diverse communities.

Lebanese culture is famed for its food, hospitality, and resilience, blending Mediterranean and Middle Eastern traditions across a mosaic of religious communities. Mountain villages, monasteries, and vineyards in the Bekaa shape rural life.

Hike the Lebanon Mountain Trail in spring or autumn with local guides, and visit the cedar reserves to support their protection. Check current travel advisories before visiting, combine coast and mountains in a short trip, and savor the renowned Lebanese cuisine.