Mount Lebanon Mountains

Address: Mount Lebanon Range, Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon

Mount Lebanon is the central mountain range of Lebanon that runs parallel to the Mediterranean coast and reaches heights over 3,000 metres. It forms the principal divide between the coastal plain and the Beqaa Valley.

Prominent features include high peaks exceeding 3,000 metres, remnant cedar forests, and steep limestone slopes. Visitors use the range for hiking, winter skiing, and visiting historic villages and cedar groves; well known sites include the high summit areas and protected cedar reserves. The area supports Mediterranean mountain ecosystems with mixed forests and alpine pastures.

The range has been inhabited and managed for millennia and has long been a cultural heartland for communities in Lebanon. Its forests were historically exploited for timber, and in modern times several areas have been set aside as reserves and protected landscapes.

Mount Lebanon runs along the western side of the country, close to the Mediterranean coast, and forms a continuous ridge from the north to the south of Lebanon. It overlooks coastal cities to the west and the Beqaa Valley to the east.

• Seasonal snow: Snow commonly falls above 1,000 metres in winter, enabling local ski resorts and seasonal alpine recreation.

What to See#

• Qurnat as Sawda’: The highest point in Lebanon at about 3,088 metres, forming the main high ridge of the central mountain chain and a focal point for high-altitude routes.
• Cedars of God: Ancient cedar stands and remnant forests that represent one of the historical habitats of the Lebanon cedar and are accessible from nearby mountain villages.
• Chouf Cedar Reserve: A protected area that conserves cedar forests and Mediterranean mountain ecosystems across the southern part of the mountain chain.

Mount Lebanon is accessible from Beirut by the main coastal highway and several mountain roads. The drive to Bsharri and the Cedars of God takes roughly 2-3 hours depending on traffic and route; private car or organized tours are the common ways to explore the higher elevations.

• Drive the road to the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el‑Rab) early to avoid mid‑day tourist buses and to catch better light for photography.
• Combine a mountain drive with visits to mountain villages like Bsharri for cedar trails and cultural museums (e.g., Khalil Gibran Museum).
• Pack warm layers - temperatures in the high Beqaa and Mount Lebanon can be several degrees cooler than Beirut.