Saturday, Feb 4 Wine Tour

In this wine tour, we will visit three important wineries.Our tour will start with a visit to Domaine des Tourelles.  Winner of many international awards, it is the second oldest winery, founded by Francois-Eugène Brun in 1868. Nothing but a visit to its yellow stone and cedar wood cellars can begin to unravel the mystery of this age-old family estate.The second stop will be in Clos St. Thomas.  Clos St Thomas has won four gold and four silver medals at high profile international wine competitions. It is a family-run winery. You will visit it, learn about wine making and get to taste its exquisite wine. The third stop will be in Kefraya. Kefraya first came to international prominence with its 'Parkerised' Cabernet/Syrah Comte de M 1996. Today, the winery produces nine wines. Kefraya’s vast gardens are a must to see.After such a delightful experience in our prestigious wineries, it will be time for lunch.  We will go to Hotel Massabki in Chtaura.  It is a 4 star hotel, with vast gardens. You will also enjoy the swans and the water ponds.  Lunch will be served with soft drinks.On our way back, there will be a stop in Chtaura, to buy fresh dairy products from Masabni.MEETING PLACE:  7:30 AM in the parking of Sagesse School in Jdeideh, facing the public garden.PRICE: $50  per person including transport, winery visits, insurance, lunch. (Please get the exact change to facilitate and speed up the registration process).    RESERVATION: For reservation call 03-561174 or 03-720706. It is preferable to send an SMS from your mobile, giving your name and the event you wish to join in.

 

Chabrooh dam is one of the largest dams in Lebanon.  It is 63 meters high, and built according to ultimate environmental specifications. Located in the region of Faraya, and thus surrounded by snow at this time of year, it will be a great place for snowshoeing. Snowshoeing in Chabrouh is an experience like no other! You will be astounded by the wonderful feeling of walking on snow along the shore!  You must see it to believe it!The walk will start from the dam. You will climb the graduated wall of this immense dam, just as if you’ll be climbing a staircase.  Then you will be divided into two groups.One group will take the hard path and go around the area overlooking the lake. It will be somewhat uphill, with minimal time for rest and photo sessions.The other group will take an easier track, cutting the path short while walking around the borders of the lake.  They will walk around it and have enough time for picture sessions.The two groups will meet for lunch at the dam.Both groups will have a great view of the dam, the lake, and the mountains surrounding it.WHERE:   Chabrooh - Faraya  40 km from Beirut  1700 m above sea level

WHAT TO GET:  Wear a snowsuit or anything waterproof to prevent your clothes from getting wet. Wear waterproof boots (preferably after-ski boots), or get thick nylon bags to cover your walking shoes. Don’t forget the woolen hat and gloves. Get an extra pair of socks. Pack your backpack with water, sunscreen, sunglasses, and lunch.  Energy snacks will be a good idea too!

MEETING PLACE:  7:30 AM in the parking of Sagesse School in Jdeideh, facing the public garden.

PRICE: 55,000 LL per person including transport, guides, insurance, and snowshoe rental. 

RESERVATION: For reservation call 03-561174 or 03-720706. It is preferable to send an SMS from your mobile, giving your name, surname, and the event you wish to join in.

Our hike will start from Barsa. We will walk along a lovely track among olive trees until we reach Batroumine.  The views along the way are really spectacular. Once in Batroumine, you will visit all the ancient places, and a local guide will give you an explanation about the importance of the village. Then we will take a tiny trail that heads to Deddeh.  Lunch will be along that trail, in an open plain where you will enjoy your meal in a most breathtaking setting.From there, the group will be divided into two.  LEVEL 3 will take the bus to the Monastery of St. Jacob, while LEVEL 4 will go on foot.The Monastery of St. Jacob (Deir Mar Yaacoub) is a historical one overlooking the best view of the coast.  From there, you can see Palm Island, Tripoli, and the best section of the Lebanese coast. In this hike, you will have many reasons to keep your cameras handy. From the moment you start hiking until the moment you stop, there will be scenes you’ll want to cherish forever.WHERE:  Batroumine - Deddeh  In the north  325 m above sea level  80 km from Beirut 

MEETING PLACE:  7:30 AM in the parking of Sagesse School in Jdeideh, facing the public garden.There will be a breakfast stop along the way.PRICE: 40,000 LL per person including transport, guides, insurance. (Please get the exact change to facilitate and speed up the registration process).WHAT TO GET:  Get some light snacks that will boost up your energy such as dried fruits. Pack your backpacks with water, lunch, a cap, sunglasses and sunscreen.  Don’t forget to get a jacket. RESERVATION: For reservation call 03-561174 or 03-720706. It is preferable to send an SMS from your mobile, giving your name, surname, and the event you wish to join in. 

 

We will start our hike from Horshieh, where a very cozy path among olive trees will lead us to a small church called Saidet el Khrayeb. We will then continue among the olive trees until we start seeing the sea.  The track will then lead to Anfeh, an old village rich in ruins and caves.There, you will visit a very old Byzantine church among other historical monuments. The Citadel of Anfeh will be an important stopover in our program.The citadel is considered a Crusader remain, but it was an important place for many other civilizations. Many historical things like old graves, mosaic pieces, olive presses, and salt pans can be found in and around it. The citadel is characterized by its rock-cut trench (Al-Khandaq). The hike will end in a natural cave, well equipped, and furnished in a very special way. There, we will eat some manakish and drink hot tea prepared by a local woman from the neighborhood.

WHERE:  Anfeh In the north, district of Al Koura  Sea level  65 km from BeirutWHAT TO GET:  You must wear hiking shoes or comfortable walking shoes.  Get a light jacket since it gets cold at night. Don’t forget to get a flashlight. MEETING PLACE: 7:00 PM in the parking of Sagesse School in Jdeideh, facing the public garden.PRICE: 40,000 LL per person including transport, guides, insurance. (Please get the exact change to facilitate and speed up the registration process).RESERVATION: For reservation call 03-561174 or 03-720706. It is preferable to send an SMS from your mobile, giving your name, surname, and the event you wish to join in.

Hadath El Jebbeh is a beautiful northern village overlooking Annoubine Valley and the Cedars of Tannourine. There is a small cedar forest in this village, and so it would be a great place for snowshoeing.The walk will start from the main piazza.There will be two levels of difficulty.  *The easy level will walk through a pine forest and take a short path until they reach the cedar trees. The length of the trip is around 6 km.*The harder level will walk through the same pine forest, but take a longer path to the cedars. The length of the trip is around 10 km.The two levels will meet for lunch in a beautiful setting among the cedars of Hadath El Jebbeh.

WHERE:   Hadath el Jebbeh   In the north   107 km from Beirut  1500 m above sea level

WHAT TO GET:  Wear a snowsuit or anything waterproof to prevent your clothes from getting wet. Wear waterproof boots (preferably after-ski boots), or get thick nylon bags to cover your walking shoes. Don’t forget the woolen hat and gloves. Get an extra pair of socks. Pack your backpack with water, sunscreen, sunglasses, and lunch.  Energy snacks will be a good idea too!

MEETING PLACE:  7:30 AM in the parking of Sagesse School in Jdeideh, facing the public garden.

PRICE: 55,000 LL per person including transport, guides, insurance, and snowshoe rental. (Please get the exact change to facilitate and speed up the registration process).

RESERVATION: For reservation call 03-561174 or 03-720706. It is preferable to send an SMS from your mobile, giving your name, surname, and the event you wish to join in.

Qanat Bakiche is located on Mount Sannine near Faqra. Qanat Bakiche, is a scenic landscape, rich in panoramic views. So how about when it is covered with snow and the scenery is even more beautiful? This will be our snowshoeing destination for the coming Sunday.Walk on the white peaks of our beautiful country and enjoy the fresh air and the great landscape.Our track will lead you to a beautiful cedar forest, where views are awesome!As usual, there will two levels of difficulty.The easy level will have an undemanding walk, with very light ascents and descents. It is ideal for picture taking ... It will be a great snowshoeing session and a lovely day with the group. The harder level is a moderate walk with long ascents, but not steep ones. This level is strictly for advanced walkers, long delay is not an option. Photos shall be taken on the move or when we stop for a break.Both levels will meet for lunch at a scenic spot in the snow.

Did you know that the largest illuminated cross in the world is located in Qanat Bakiche? It is called “The Cross of all Nations”. It is 73.8m tall and 37m wide. It is equipped with two elevators that allow up to 300 visitors to access a platform located at its vertical beam. It is lit by 1800 spotlights. It was inaugurated on Sept 13, 2010.  You will all have the chance to visit this immense cross.

On the way back, we will pass to Ain el Abo. You will visit Deir Mar Semaan. It is a very old and historical Maronite monastery. It is beautifully built, with ancient vaults and arches. You can buy homemade food products and homemade wine.WHERE:   Qanat Bakiche    Metn   1900m above sea level 48 km from BeirutWHAT TO GET:  Get a snowsuit or anything waterproof to prevent your clothes from getting wet. Wear waterproof boots (preferably after-ski boots), or get thick nylon bags to cover your walking shoes. Don’t forget the woolen hat and gloves. Pack your backpack with water, lunch, sunscreen, and sunglasses.  Energy snacks will be a good idea too!MEETING PLACE:  7:30 AM in the parking of Sagesse School in Jdeideh, facing the public garden.PRICE:  55,000 LL per person including transport, guides, insurance, snowshoes.(Please get the exact change to facilitate and speed up the registration process).RESERVATION: For reservation call 03-561174 or 03-720706. It is preferable to send an SMS from your mobile, giving your name, surname, and the event you wish to join in.

No details yet

The Tannourine Cedars Forest Nature Reserve protects one of the largest and densest cedar forests in Lebanon. Ninety percent of the trees in the forest are cedars. The stunning mountainous landscape, with cedars seemingly defying gravity and growing on extremely vertical slopes, is impressive. The Tannourine Cedars Forest Nature Reserve overpowers us with its beauty, especially in winter.Warm yourself up with the appropriate outfit and footgear and spend with us a memorable day on the snow among beautiful trees and with excellent company.As usual, there will be two levels of difficulty.The easy level will have a moderate walk, with few ascents and descents and will have various stops for picture taking and resting.The difficult level is mainly for exercising.  The path will be mostly uphill, with few stops.  You have to be fit for this kind of experience. WHERE:   Tannourine  80 km from Beirut   1800 m above sea levelWHAT TO GET:  Wear a snowsuit or anything waterproof to prevent your clothes from getting wet. Wear waterproof boots (preferably after-ski boots), or get thick nylon bags to cover your walking shoes. Don’t forget the woolen hat and gloves. Get an extra pair of socks. Pack your backpack with water, sunscreen, sunglasses, and lunch.  Energy snacks will be a good idea too!MEETING PLACE:  7:30 AM in the parking of Sagesse School in Jdeideh, facing the public garden.PRICE: 55,000 LL per person including transport, guides, insurance, and snowshoe rental. (Please get the exact change to facilitate and speed up the registration process).RESERVATION: For reservation call 03-561174 or 03-720706. It is preferable to send an SMS from your mobile, giving your name, surname, and the event you wish to join in.