Walk, breathe, look
Nature & Trails
Terraces carved between the rocks, valleys that fall towards the sea, and paths that link chapels, olive groves and a hilltop fortress.
A promontory above the valleys
Bchaaleh stands on a promontory between deep green valleys, with the Mediterranean on the horizon and Douma across the way. Its eastern side is bordered by the mountains of Tartej and Faghri, with the heights of Laqlouq beyond.
Some of its natural landmarks, like the Hosn and the Valley of Josaphat on the border with Assia, can only be reached from the Bchaaleh side.
Bchaaleh Trails
Bchaaleh Trails is a network of hiking paths that brings together wild nature, farmland and the rural scenery of a traditional Lebanese village. The trails link the olive grove, the chapels and monasteries, the Saleeb summit and the cliffs of the Hosn, with a famous hike between Bchaaleh and Douma.
The trails are suitable for families and walkers of all levels. For guided hikes and the latest routes, visit bchaalehtrails.org, call +961 3 80 80 72 or write to [email protected].
Visit bchaalehtrails.org →Before you set off
- Wear good walking shoes: the paths are rocky in places.
- Bring water and a hat in summer; the sun is strong at altitude.
- In winter, snow can close the higher paths. Ask the municipality before you go.
- Respect private land, terraces and walls, and take your rubbish back with you.
Terraces built by hand
Bchaaleh has no wide plains and no great springs. Most of its land is made of terraces, "jlool", that the ancestors carved between the rocks and walled up with endless patience.
Generations lived from three crops: grapes, wheat and olives. The vines covered the slopes around the village, wheat grew on the flatter lands of el-Midan and el-Faradis, and from the 1920s apple orchards spread across the terraces. Today the olive tree remains the faithful companion of the village.
Nature through the year
Spring
Wildflowers on the terraces and the best weather for hiking.
Summer
Cool mountain evenings, village feasts and families coming home.
Autumn
The olive harvest begins, and the first pressing of the year's oil.
Winter
Snow on the olive trees and silence on the hills.