Things to do in The Cedars and Bcharre
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit The Cedars and Bcharre
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Ski season at the Cedars when snow allows, best in Jan and Feb; grove in snow, valley hikes off, passes can close.
Best all round window: valley hike, Horsh Ehden and Tannourine in prime condition, mild walking weather.
High summer: cool mountain escape, full hotels, Ehdeniyat festival in August, hike early in the day.
Walkers autumn: warm days, thinner crowds, full hiking programme, harvest season in the villages.
Hinge month: first snow possible, last valley hiking possible, cheapest rooms, many Ehden places on short hours.
What's on
- Ehdeniyat International Festival August, dates vary by year
Ehden summer festival of concerts and family activities; book Ehden rooms with tickets.
- Feast of the Assumption 15 August
Major Maronite feast in Bcharre and Ehden with services and town celebrations in peak summer.
- Cedars ski season opening December, set by snowfall
Opening weekend fills Al Arz hotels; check SkiLeb reporting, poor snow years open in January.
Best things to do in The Cedars and Bcharre
Cedars of God
Ancient cedar grove and UNESCO site above Bcharre: a short loop among huge sacred trees, free with donations.
Gibran Museum
Gibrans paintings, manuscripts and tomb in the former Monastery of Mar Sarkis, the cultural heart of Bcharre.
Gibran Khalil Gibran's Home
Small house museum of Gibrans childhood in Bcharre, the short companion visit to the main Gibran Museum.
Mar Licha Monastery
Valley rim monastery at the head of the Qadisha, the viewpoint and trailhead for the hike to Qannoubine.
Bcharre Old Town
Church filled mountain town on the Qadisha rim: stone lanes, bakeries and gorge views on a free walk.
Qadisha Grotto
Small grotto at the source of the Qadisha river below the Cedars; verify it is open on the day.
Where to stay in The Cedars and Bcharre
Al Arz
skiing and the Cedars grove
Village at about 2000 metres beside the grove and lifts, coolest nights, fewest restaurants.
Bcharre
first trip, culture and all round base
Gibran sights, Qadisha rim, town restaurants and mid range hotels, with Al Arz a short drive above.
Ehden
food, summer resort life and Horsh Ehden
Strongest restaurant scene, the areas largest hotel, Horsh Ehden above and Qozhaya by road below.
Think twice about
- South and Nabatiyeh Governorates
Southern Lebanon is an area of armed conflict. Not part of this trip.
- Beirut southern suburbs (Dahiyeh)
An area affected by armed conflict. Do not base here or route through casually.
- Syrian border areas and Baalbek Hermel east
Border country with terrorism, kidnapping and armed conflict risk.
- Palestinian refugee camps
All 12 Palestinian refugee camps are areas to avoid entirely.
Best restaurants in The Cedars and Bcharre
Le Pichet
Cedrus hotel restaurant at altitude, the most reliable full dinner in Al Arz in any season.
River Rock Restaurant
Lebanese restaurant in Bcharre with strong recent guest scores, the town pick for mezze and grills.
MASA Restaurant
International restaurant in the Cedars area, a change of room from the Al Arz hotel dining rooms.
Cafe des Cedres
Simple Lebanese cafe near the Cedars, the cheap pause between the grove and the lifts.
Le Chatel
Small family run Lebanese and international restaurant in Bcharre; verify hours on the day.
Al Ferdaws Restaurant
Long running family Lebanese restaurant in Ehden with mountain views, the feast table of this trip.
Taj Restaurant
Lebanese restaurant inside Ehden's 5 star hotel, the smartest dining room in the area.
Restaurant Nabeh Jouit
Lebanese restaurant by the Jouit spring in Ehden, the natural lunch after a Horsh Ehden hike.
Outdoor things to do in The Cedars and Bcharre
Cedars Ski Resort
Lebanons oldest ski area from 1953, high and long season, small slopes beside the ancient cedar grove.
Qadisha Valley
Valley floor hike from Mar Licha to Qannoubine past cave chapels and hermitages; best with a local guide.
Monastery of Our Lady of Qannoubine
Ancient Maronite monastery reached only on foot through the Holy Valley, a living religious house.
Monastery of Saint Anthony of Qozhaya
Historic valley monastery with cave sanctuary and the first printing press museum; reach it via Ehden.
Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve
Protected cedar and fir forest above Ehden with marked trails and sea views on clear days.
Tannourine Cedars Forest Nature Reserve
One of Lebanons largest and densest cedar forests, with marked hikes on near vertical rocky slopes.
Lebanon Mountain Trail
Marked long distance trail sections linking Ehden, Horsh Ehden, Bcharre and the Qadisha rim.
Best hotels in The Cedars and Bcharre
Le Cedrus Hotel
Best hotel at the Cedars, 25 rooms near the grove with restaurant, bar and ski storage.
MIST Hotel and Spa
Ehden 5 star hotel and spa with pools and several restaurants, the full service splurge of the area.
Hotel Chbat
Central Bcharre 3 star with restaurant and terrace, the practical town base for Cedars and Gibran.
Cedars Palace
Small Al Arz aparthotel with kitchens and balconies near the grove, good for families and groups.
La Maison des Cedres
Quiet residential style stay in the Cedars area, the small alternative to the Al Arz hotels.
Palace Hotel Becharre
Simple central town hotel by Mar Saba square with restaurant and valley views, the budget hotel pick.
Tiger House Pension
Simple pension style budget stay in Bcharre, family run rather than full hotel service.
Is The Cedars and Bcharre expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | LBP 4,925,250 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | LBP 10,746,000 a person |
| Splurge | LBP 25,074,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Cedars Ski Resort: a few days ahead
- Qadisha Valley: a few days ahead
- Lebanon Mountain Trail: a few days ahead
- Le Cedrus Hotel: weeks ahead
- MIST Hotel and Spa: weeks ahead
- Hotel Chbat: a few days ahead
- Cedars Palace: a few days ahead
- La Maison des Cedres: a few days ahead
- Book Le Cedrus and MIST weeks ahead for ski weekends and Ehdeniyat nights.
- Book drivers and guided Qadisha hikes days ahead and reconfirm conditions that morning.
Is The Cedars and Bcharre safe?
- Save this trip for a calmer time: armed conflict continues in Lebanon, particularly in the south. When you go, keep to the North Governorate mountains.
- Stay on marked trails, do not photograph checkpoints, carry ID and share hiking routes.
The Cedars and Bcharre travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Cedars grove is a 40 minute loop, not a half day hike.
- Qozhaya looks close to Bcharre on a map and is a long road around via Ehden.
- Cheap unheated rooms at 2000 metres in winter are a false economy.
Getting around The Cedars and Bcharre: public transport and more
- Hire a private driver or rent a car; there is no useful visitor public transport between Bcharre, Al Arz, Ehden and trailheads.
- Bcharre town is walkable; everything else here is a mountain drive. Agree driver fares in dollars first.
Who The Cedars and Bcharre suits
| Solo travellers | OK |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | OK |
| Couples | Good |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | OK |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make The Cedars and Bcharre your trip
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