Lebanon’s diverse patchwork of Mediterranean-lapped coast, rugged alpine peaks and green, fertile valleys is packed into a parcel of land some 225km long and 46km wide—an area approximately the size of Cyprus or Connecticut. An ancient land, Lebanon features in the writings of Homer and in the Old Testament. Its cities were major outposts and seaports in Phoenician and Roman times, just two of the great civilizations that touched this important Middle Eastern crossroads.The cities and ruins of
Aanjar, Baalbeck,
Byblos, Tyre and the
Qadisha Valley/Cedars Forest are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The cosmopolitan flair of modern-day
Beirut, the gastronomic renown of the country’s food and wine, and an educated and outward-looking population complement a country that is both traditional and progressive in outlook. For all the flavors of its storied past and rugged natural beauty, Lebanon is a well-kept tourist secret that begs exploration.
There are four main regions in Lebanon, differentiated by geography and climate: the coastal plain, the Mount Lebanon Range, the Bekaa Valley, and the Anti-Lebanon Range.
The Anti-Lebanon Range is a stretch of arid mountains that rise to the east of the Bekaa Valley and form part of the country’s eastern border with Syria. The
Bekaa Valley, known in ancient times as “the breadbasket” or “granary” of the Roman Empire, is still the country’s main agricultural region. Located on a high plateau between the country’s two mountain ranges, the river-fed Bekaa supports the production of tomatoes, potatoes, wheat, olives and grapes, even despite summers that are hot and dry.
Besides a visit to a couple of Lebanon’s best wineries (Ksara, Kefraya, Massaya), the Bekaa’s major attraction is the ruins at
Baalbeck. Originating as a place of worship to Baal, the Phoenician Sun God, Baalbeck was known in Greco-Roman times as the famous Heliopolis, or “City of the Sun.” Perhaps because of its agricultural importance in feeding the inhabitants of the Roman Empire, the three largest Roman temples ever constructed were erected at this site. The construction lasted over 200 years, and the well-preserved temples honor Jupiter, Bacchus, and Venus.
The lovely Lebanese coast is framed by the Mediterranean Sea to the west and the
Mount Lebanon Range to the east, its temperate climate bringing in sunny, hot summers and cool, rainy winters. The daytime temperature in the summer, which averages 30°C (86°F), encourages people to head to the beach or to the higher, altitude-cooled mountain slopes. In the coastal cities of Sidon and Byblos tourists can enjoy the rare opportunity to
snorkel amongst long-submerged
Phoenician ruins, while excellent hiking is a mere hour away in the
Shouf region of the Mount Lebanon Range.
The Mount Lebanon Range includes numerous rivers that fizz with snowmelt, steep-walled gullies that shade grottoes (caves) once the hideout to those fleeing persecution, and also Lebanon's highest summit, Qornet
es-Sawda (3,090m). In winter, the high peaks are blanketed with snow, lending Lebanon its name,
“Lubnan,” the Arabic word for “white.” Lebanon boasts a number of world-class
ski resorts, one of only two countries in the Middle East where you can ski (the other being Iran). The ski season runs from December until April.
The Mount Lebanon Range is also the location of Lebanon’s Cedar Reserves. The great cedar forests of Lebanon, now protected, are famous for their use in the construction of some of the holiest buildings in the region, indeed the world, including Jerusalem’s Dome of the Rock and Solomon’s Temple.
To visit Lebanon is to dispel preconceived notions that linger from a relatively short moment in a long, vivid, and fascinating history: Drink in the energetic, urbane vibe of revitalized Beirut; explore a diverse and beautiful landscape that lends itself easily to an unforgettable (and largely untrammeled) multisport adventure; marvel at archaeological wonders that are windows into the cradle of civilization; and simply enjoy the welcome of a people who are naturally hospitable, friendly, and gregarious.
