Eat & Drink
Tawlet Ammiq
Tawlet Ammiq offers a huge range of dishes to suit any diet, all home cooked by our local chefs. Eat indoors in our dining area decorated with local art and furniture, or take your meal outside to our large garden patio where you can enjoy the view from under the shade of our trees.
Kefraya
Kefraya’s first vines were planted in 1951 and kept growing in spite of the civil war. The slopes and altitude make it a beautiful place to visit, while their diverse blends of grapes means you will always have an exciting and delicious tasting. For more information visit their website at http://www.chateaukefraya.com/en/kefraya.
Chateau St. Thomas
This winery has won over 70 international awards. If you are looking for a diverse range of wine – from white, rosé, and red – this winery in the Bekaa is not to be missed. Contact them to book a visit and a tasting http://www.closstthomas.com.
Chateau Marsyas
Family run and owned and established in 2005. The Saadé family’s deep passion for wine has allowed this newer vineyard to gain quick popularity. To learn more or to organize a visit, go to their website http://chateaumarsyas.com/.
Outdoor Activities
Liban Trek
When it comes to ecotourism, there is no business more established than Liban Trek. Founded in 1997, they were the first ecotourism company in the country, and have expanded to offer a huge range of outdoor activities, including hiking and trekking, cross-country skiing, caving, and camping. Whether you are a solo traveler, a couple, or family, they are a fantastic resource to plan any outdoor adventure. Visit them at http://www.libantrek.com/category.jhtm?cid=2.
Discover Lebanon
Offering another thorough resource for your tour demands, offering everything from cultural tours to hikes throughout the country. You can visit their website for a list, and contact information to book something that fits what you are interested in http://www.discoverlebanon.com/en/travel-tours/index.php.
Shouf Biosphere Reserve & Ammiq Wetland
The cedar forests at the Shouf Biosphere Reserve, and Ammiq’s wetlands, valleys, and mountains make these ideal places for outdoor activities like walking, hiking, bird watching, biking, and for educational activities and green education programs for students www.shoufcedar.org. The Ammiq Wetland is a remnant of extensive marshes and lakes that once covered large parts of the Bekaa Valley. Stretched over 100 hectares, this last significant wetland in Lebanon serves as an important staging and wintering area for migratory waterbirds en route from Europe to Africa.
Places of Interest
Anjar
Listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, this town served as a commercial center between two different and important routes: one from Beirut to Damascus, and the other crossing the Bekaa leading from Homs to Tiberiade. While most historical sites in Lebanon are combinations of different civilizations, this is exclusively from the Umayyad period – and the ruins left behind are spectacular!
Baalbeck Roman Ruins
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Baalbeck was a Phoenician city and an important pilgrimage site. The center of the city was dedicated to a temple, the remains of which lay beneath a later-erected Roman Temple. There is much debate among archaeologists, scientists, and historians as to how the Baalbek Stones – weighing between 100 and 900 tons – were moved and arranged.
Zahlé
This is a red-roofed town in the Beqaa. Visit the vineyards at Wadi Hadi, Harqat, Bir Ghazour, and Tell Zeina, where you can taste local wine and learn how arak is made. Visit the Geha House in the old town to take photos in the beautiful courtyard, garden, and upper galleries, and take the underground tunnel to the Church of St. Elias. For the best view in the area, go to the top of the hill at Our Lady of Zahle (don’t worry there’s an elevator!).