Lebanon🇱🇧 | best national parksYour Guide to the 12 Best national parks in Lebanon

How many to visit: Three to four reserves over a week is the number I advise. Each hike takes half a day to a day, the roads are slow, and a fourth stop starts eating the time you need for village meals and rest. Visiting more only turns the trip into a driving tour. The reward for restraint is trails to yourself and a table of home cooking at the end.

Which kind to prioritize: Mountain forest reserves come first for almost everyone, because they give cool air, clear paths and the strongest scenery. Choose a gorge or valley reserve second if you like longer walks and can handle rougher footing. Coastal reserves are the lowest priority, since you can see the same sea from any public beach. Backpackers on a tight budget should favor reserves with free or very cheap entry and a guesthouse in the … read more 👉

How many to visit: Three to four reserves over a week is the number I advise. Each hike takes half a day to a day, the roads are slow, and a fourth stop starts eating the time you need for village meals and rest. Visiting more only turns the trip into a driving tour. The reward for restraint is trails to yourself and a table of home cooking at the end.

Which kind to prioritize: Mountain forest reserves come first for almost everyone, because they give cool air, clear paths and the strongest scenery. Choose a gorge or valley reserve second if you like longer walks and can handle rougher footing. Coastal reserves are the lowest priority, since you can see the same sea from any public beach. Backpackers on a tight budget should favor reserves with free or very cheap entry and a guesthouse in the next village. Experienced hikers can add a guided multi-hour route for a longer day with wide views.

What it costs: Plan on US$40 to 70 a day for a comfortable independent trip. Entry fees are usually US$3 to 10 per person. A guide, required at some reserves, runs US$20 to 60 for a group. A shared taxi or van between towns costs US$3 to 10, while a private taxi for a day trip from Beirut runs US$40 to 80. A guesthouse bed is US$25 to 50, and a mountain lunch of mezze and grilled meat costs US$8 to 15. Carry cash in small US dollar bills, because card machines often fail. A day in a reserve then costs far less than the drive suggests.

Safety and etiquette: Stay on marked trails. In parts of the south, near the border, unexploded ordnance remains a real risk off established paths, and some border and northeastern areas are subject to travel warnings. Check your government advisory before booking and again before leaving. Hunting occurs in some regions in autumn, so wear a bright layer. Fires are banned in forest reserves, and rangers fine offenders.

Villages beside the reserves are conservative in dress. Cover knees and shoulders when walking through. Ask before photographing people. Accept the coffee if it is offered, since refusing can read as rude and accepting often leads to the best trail advice. Carry 2 liters of water per person, since refill points are rare, and a rain shell in spring and autumn, because mountain weather turns within an hour.