Shouf Biosphere Reserve - Field Guide and Information Booklet

Since 2009 the Italian Development Cooperation has taken a special interest
in the activities of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve - in particular supporting the

development of stronger capacity for the management and the protection of its
natural resources. The Shouf Biosphere and the Italian Development Cooperation
also worked on a visibility campaign, promotional events, and tourist services.
This guide is one of the many outputs of this successful partnership
Compiled by: Wissam Khalil and Nizar Hani

Reviewed by: Faisal Abu-Izzeddin and Pascal Abdallah
Photographs: Reserve team, Alaa Monzer, Dalia Khamisi
and Eddy Choury
Administration: Kamal Abou Assi and Mirna Riman
Biodiversity chapter prepared by: Riad Sadik (Reptiles and
Amphibians), Mounir Abi Said (Mammals), Ghassan Jaradi
(Birds), Nabil Nemer (Butterflies and Insects), Cherine
Yazbeck (People Chapter)
Graphic design & layout: Rima Rifai, rimarifai@yahoo.com
Printing: Chemaly & Chemaly Printing Press (s.a.l.),
www.chemaly.com
Copyright Shouf Biosphere Reserve - Lebanon
First edition 2014
ISBN 978-9953-0-2727-2
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be
reproduced or transmitted in any form without
permission in writing from the Shouf Biosphere Reserve.
2
The sole responsibility for the content of this

publication lies with the Shouf Biosphere Reserve. It
does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Italian
Cooperation or the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Telfax +961 5 350 250/150, info@shoufcedar.org,
www.shoufcedar.org
Contents
Lebanon and the Cedar Tree
18
The Shouf Biosphere Reserve
30
Flora and Fauna of the Reserve
56
Insects in the Reserve
68
Surrounding Villages
130
Historic Sites
140
People of the Reserve
158
Visiting the Reserve
172
Hiking in the Reserve
196
Other Activities
202
Eco-Tourism Packages
208
Where to Stay
214
Where to Eat
222
Useful Contacts
Preface
The Shouf Biosphere Reserve is the largest nature reserve in Lebanon covering extensive areas of Mount Lebanon. It is also the home to a
dedicated group of men and women who protect and
manage an area of outstanding natural beauty.
This field guide provides the visitor with a broad introduction to the Shouf Biosphere Reserve and serves as
a guide for hikers, bikers, nature lovers, students, and
people escaping the crowded life of big cities. It sheds
light on the remarkable biodiversity, beauty, and cultural
heritage of the Reserve and introduces the visitor to a
more responsible and sustainable form of ecotourism.
The Shouf Biosphere Reserve, the surrounding towns
and villages, restaurants, hotels and guesthouses are
keen to provide the visitor with a clean environment
and an entertaining experience. A combination of
natural beauty and generous hospitality once made the
Shouf region of Lebanon famous and by conserving
these qualities we are confident that it will remain a
primary tourist destination in the future.
LEBANON and
The Cedar Tree

Lebanon is a small and beautiful country on the Eastern
shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Situated at the crossroads
of Asia, Europe and Africa, it has served as a meeting point
for many civilizations for thousands of years. Its coast line is 225
kilometers (150 miles) long with an average inland width of about
45 kilometers (30 miles). The total area of the country is 10,452 sq.
kilometers (4,500 sq. miles).
LEBANON and
The Cedar Tree
The geography of the country consists of a coastal plain, two

parallel north/south mountain ranges (Mount Lebanon and AntiLebanon), and the Bekaa valley hemmed in between the
mountain ranges. The highest peaks are: Qornet Al-Saouda in the
north of Mount Lebanon (3,087 meters) and Jabal el Chaikh in the south
(2,814 meters). It is bordered in the north and east by Syria and in the south
by Palestine. Along the coast lie the cities of Beirut, Tripoli, Byblos, Sidon,
and Tyre.
Lebanon enjoys a pleasant Mediterranean climate with about 300 sunny

days per year. Winter is mild on the coast and snowy in the mountains
while summer is hot on the coast and cool in the mountains. In early
spring it is possible to ski and swim on the same day.
The cedar forests of Lebanon enjoy the unique distinction of being the
oldest documented forests in history and feature prominently in the earliest written records of the Sumerians in the third millennium BC. The
famous Epic of Gilgamesh describes the cedar forests of Lebanon as being
thousands of leagues long.
However it was the Phoenicians, along the coast of present-day Lebanon
and from such ancient cities as Byblos, Tyre and Sidon, who became the
principal dealers in cedar wood. Quantities of cedar and pine timber were
made into rafts and towed from Byblos to Egypt as early as 2800 BC.
During the periods when Egypt controlled Byblos much of the timber
exported was in the form of tribute. The primary use of cedar wood was
in building ships, boats, temples, and furniture.
Later the Babylonians took a similar interest in the cedars and used them
in building the fabled city of Babylon. The cedars of Lebanon feature
prominently in the texts of the Old Testament. The Bible records in some
detail how King Solomon asked King Hiram of Tyre to cut and transport
vast quantities of cedar wood for building his temple and palace in
Jerusalem.
In the 6th century BC, Persian control of the Phoenician ports provided the
Persians with the means of assembling a navy for use against their enemies the Greeks who embarrassed the Persians with their mobility in the
Mediterranean.
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A few centuries later the expansion of the Roman Empire into Syria and
Lebanon had a detrimental effect on the cedars until the Roman Emperor
Hadrian installed markers around the boundary of the remaining forests
and declared them an Imperial Domain. A few of these markers have
been preserved and held in museum collections.
During the early years of the 20th century, the Ottoman Turks deforested
all of the cedars growing within easy transport to the Hijaz railway to
provide fuel for wood-burning engines. Only the highest and most
remote forests escaped damage.
In modern day Lebanon the legendary cedar is still revered and remains
prominent in the minds of all Lebanese. The cedar is featured on the
national flag, the national airline, government logos, the Lebanese
currency, and innumerable commercial logos. It is the feature of books,
poetry, post cards, posters, and art. The cedars of Lebanon are an
important part of the cultural heritage of the country.
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During the past decade special attention was paid in Lebanon to the environment, and an effort was made to protect endangered plants and
animals and conserve their habitats. Currently there are 3 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and 14 Nature Reserves established in Lebanon, each
with its distinct character and natural beauty.
Memoirs of a Cedar
a history of deforestation
a future of conservation, by Faisal Abu-Izzeddin
This book explores the fascinating history of this
iconic tree and is available at all the Reserve
entrances and major bookstores in Beirut
13
Al-Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve/Shouf Biosphere Reserve

Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve
Jabal Rihan Biosphere Reserve
Bentael Nature Reserve
Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve
Palm Islands Nature Reserve
Tannourine Cedars Forest Nature Reserve
Tyre Coast Nature Reserve
Yammouneh Nature Reserve
Shnaniir Nature Reserve
Wadi al Hujair Nature Reserve
Ramia Nature Reserve
Beitlif Nature Reserve
Kafra Nature Reserve
Dibil Nature Reserve
Jaje Cedar Nature Reserve
For more information about these nature reserves please
visit the Ministry of Environment website: www.moe.gov.lb
14
15
16
17
Location of nature reserves
The Shouf
Biosphere Reserve
18
19
Background
The Al-Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve was established by Law
No.532 on July 29, 1996, and is managed by an Appointed Protected Area Committee reporting to the Ministry of Environment.
In 2005 UNESCO declared the Al-Shouf Nature Reserve and its surrounding 22 villages as the Shouf Biosphere Reserve in recognition of its
success in sharing the management and rewards of conservation with the
local community.
Management zones of the

Shouf Biosphere Reserve
The core zone

The buffer zone
The development zone
The Shouf Biosphere Reserve (SBR) stretches from Dahr el Baidar in the
north to Niha Mountain in the south along Lebanons western mountain
range. It is blanketed with oak forests on its north-eastern slopes and juniper and oak forests on its south-eastern slopes. However, the Reserves
most famous attraction are its three magnificent cedar forests of Barouk,
Ain Zhalta/Bmohary, and Maasser el Chouf located exclusively on the
western slopes of the mountain. These forests account for a quarter of the
remaining cedars of Lebanon.
20
From the summit of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve there is a panoramic

view of the countryside: north to the peaks of Kneiseh and Sannine, south
to Niha and the fortress of Fakhreddine, east to the Bekaa valley, the
Ammiq wetland and Qaraoun Lake, and west to the Mediterranean Sea.
The goal of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve is to fulfill three basic functions:
1. Conserve flora and fauna within the Reserve
2. Generate income activities for villagers
3. Support research, monitoring, education, and information related to
natural resources.
To facilitate management, the SBR is divided into three zones - the core
zone, the buffer zone and the development zone.
The Core Zone consists of the protected areas of Al-Shouf Cedar
Reserve (Law 532) and private lands. (93 sq Km)
The Buffer Zone consists of municipal lands incorporated into the AlShouf Cedar Reserve (Law 532), and private lands. (86 sq Km)
The Development Zone consists mostly of private lands, municipal
lands, and religious trusts (Awqaf). (320 sq Km)
The villages surrounding the Biosphere Reserve are: Niha, Jbaa, Mrosti,
Khreibeh, Baadaran, Maasser el Chouf, Batloun, Barouk, Ain Zhalta and
Bmohray, Ain Dara, Qab Elias, Ammiq, Deir Tahnich, Aana, Kefraya, Kherbit
Qanafar, Ain Zebde, Saghbine, Bab Marea, Aitanit and Machghara.
21
22
23
Physical
Setting
Villages surrounding the

Shouf Biosphere Reserve
24
25
Location
The Shouf Biosphere Reserve is situated in the middle of Lebanons
western mountain range and stretches from Dahr el Baidar in the north to
Mount Niha in the south. It includes (from north to south): Dahr el Baidar
(1558 meters), Jabal el Barouk (1900 meters), Jabal Niha (1800 meters), and
Taoumatt Niha (1674 meters).
Geology
The various geological layers of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve go back to
the Jurassic period (199 - 150 million years) and Cretaceous period (145 70 million years). Most of the rocks are limestone except for a few layers
of basalt located south and southeast of Niha. The floor of the Bekaa
valley, between the Lebanon and the Anti-Lebanon mountain ranges,
consists of a layer of deep sediment and rich arable soil that washed down
from the surrounding mountains.
beds (often transformed into silica), and bivalves. The sandstone of the
Cretaceous includes plant remains and occasional pieces of amber that is
rather dull or cracked and often contains insects.
Fossils
Hydrology
The limestone layers of the Cretaceous and the Jurassic are very rich in
fossils because they are composed of the sediments from the bottom of
the oceans. Near the peaks the Jurassic layer contains coral and sponge
Precipitation in the source of both surface water (streams and rivers) and
groundwater (springs and aquifers). Most of the precipitation occurs as
rain, however snow falls every winter at the upper elevations.
26
27
A large proportion of the exposed surface rock in the Barouk mountain

region is cavernous, fissured, and broken limestone. Its porousness makes
it very permeable and water percolates down through the various rock
formations and feeds many large springs that surface at the point of intersection between the sandstone and the limestone layers. The result is that
the majority of the springs arise at a similar altitude (the water line) on
both the western and eastern slopes of Mount Barouk and Mount Niha.
Such springs help maintain stream-flow during the dry season from April
to November. The main springs are:
Nabe el Safa () : located in Ain Zhalta

Nabe el Barouk () : in the Barouk village
Nabe Mershed () : situated in Ain Qani near Moukhtara
Nabe Azibeh () : located near the city of Jezzine
Nabe Abed () : located in the upper lands of Ammiq
Nabe Ammiq () : located near the wetland
28
29
Flora & Fauna

of the Reserve
Lebanon is known throughout the Mediterranean region for its
unique climate and microclimates, its vast array of geomorphological regions, and its wealth of biodiversity that
include a number of endemic plants and animals.
The Shouf Biosphere Reserve is home to 32 species of wild
mammals, 275 species of birds, 31 species of reptiles and
amphibians, and 520 species of plants of which 14 are considered
rare at the national level, 30 have a high economic potential as
medicines, and 50 are edible or aromatic.
30
31
Flora of the
Reserve
The Shouf Biosphere Reserve harbors a rich flora with about 520
species of plants. Many of these plants are medicinal, some are
edible, and others are aromatic. The Reserve is home to 25
internationally and nationally threatened plants; 48 plants endemic to
Lebanon or the Syria/Lebanon/Turkey area; 14 rare plants; and 214 plants
that are restricted to the Eastern Mediterranean or Middle East area.
32
The Shouf Biosphere Reserve is most famous for its large and self
propagating stands of Lebanese cedar (Cedrus libani). The cedar is a
highly symbolic conifer, and one of the most cited plants in history,
religion, and mythology. The Reserve represents the natural southern
limit of this tree and hosts about 620 hectares of cedar forests that are
largely confined to the steeper and less accessible areas. Nowadays the
cedar forests, protected from overgrazing and human interference, are
showing clear signs of natural regeneration.
33
Trees and
Shrubs
34
Aceraceae
Acer tauricolum Boiss. and Bal.
Taurus maple
Erable du Taurus
sea level, woodlands

Flowering time: December - March
Cesalpiniaceae
Cercis siliquastrum L.
Judas tree
Arbre de Jude
Rosaceae
Crataegus monogyna Jacqu.
One-styled hawthorn
Aubpine un style
Distribution: South Europe, West Asia

and Mediterranean Region
Range in Lebanon: 0 1200m above
sea level
Flowering time: February - April
Distribution: Europe, North Africa,

West Asia and North West India
Range in Lebanon: 0-1300 m above
sea level
Flowering time: March - May.
35
Distribution: East Mediterranean

Region.
Range in Lebanon: 1000-1900 m
above sea level
Flowering time: Spring
Pinaceae
Cedrus libani L.
Cedar of Lebanon
Cdre du Liban
Ericaceae
Arbutus andrachne L.
Oriental strawberry-tree
Arbousier dOrient
Distribution: Mediterranean Region
and around Black Sea
Range in Lebanon: 500-1500m above
Distribution: Lebanon, Syria,

South Turkey
Range in Lebanon:1200-1900m above
sea level
Main forests:Jaje, Tannourine Nature
Reserve, Bcharre, Hadath El-Jebbeh,
Ehden Nature Reserve, Donnieh,
Swasseh, Karm-el Mohr, Karm-el
Njass, Quammoua
Flowering time: Autumn
Rosaceae
Crataegus azarolus L.
Common azarole
Azerolier
Cupressaceae
Juniperus excelsa M.B.
Grecian juniper
Genvrier lev
Distribution:South Europe, Turkey,

Cyprus, Caucasus, Iraq, Iran, Syria,
Lebanon and Palestine
sea level
Flowering time: March May
Distribution: Balkan and

Mediterranean Region
sea level
Flowering time: Spring
Rosaceae
Pirus syriaca Boiss.
Syrian pear
Poirier de Syrie
Rosaceae
Prunus ursina Ky.
Bear plum
Prunier des ours
Fagaceae
Quercus calliprinos Webb.
Kermes oak
Chne kerms
Anacardiaceae
Rhus coriaria L.
Tanners sumach
Sumac des corroyeurs
Distribution:Turkey, Iraq, Syria,

Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan
sea level
Flowering time: February - May
Distribution:Turkey, Syria and

Lebanon
sea level
Distribution:Turkey, Syria, Lebanon

and Palestine
sea level
Flowering time: February - April
Distribution: South and Middle

Europe, South Russia, Caucasus,
Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine
sea level
Flowering time: April - June
36
Rosaceae
Prunus korschinskii (Hand.-Mazz.)
Bornm.
Korshinskys almond
Amandier de korshinsky
Fagaceae
Quercus brantii, ssp. look (Ky)
Mouterde
Brants oak
Chne de Brant
Distribution: Lebanon, Syria and

Palestine
sea level, rocks and mountains
slopes
Flowering time: March April
Distribution: Iran, Iraq, Turkey,

Kurdistan, Syria and Lebanon
(ssp. look is endemic to the reserve)
sea level
Flowering time: April - May
Fagaceae
Quercus infectoria Oliv.
Cyprus oak
Chne tinctorial
sea level
Flowering time: March - April
Rosaceae
Sorbus flabellifolia (Spach) C.K.
Schneider
Fanleaved service tree
Sorbier feuilles en ventail
Distribution: Turkey, Syria, Lebanon
and Iran.
sea level
Flowering time: March June
37
Plants
Fabaceae
Calycotome villosa (Vahl) Link
Hairy thorny-broom
Calycotome velu
38
Ranunculaceae
Anemone blanda Schott and Ky.
Mountain anemone
Anmone charmante
Flowering time: January - April

Medicinal Plant
Distribution: Spain, Portugal, North

Africa, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon
and Palestine
Habitat: Woodlands
Flowering time: January April
Rosaceae
Cotoneaster nummularia Fisch.
and Mey.
Nummular cotoneaster
Cotonastre nummulaire
Distribution: North Africa, Turkey,
North Iran, Turkestan, North India
and Lebanon
Habitat: Rocky grounds in mountains
Flowering time: May June

Habitat: Rocky mountains
Berberidaceae
Berberis libanotica Ehrenb.
Lebanon barberry
Berbris du Liban
Ranunculaceae
Anemone coronaria phoenicea Ard.
Crown anemone
Anmone couronne
Distribution: East Mediterranean
Region
Habitat: Waste grounds and
Mountains
Distribution: Lebanon and Syria

Habitat: Mountains, 1400 - 1600m
above sea level
Flowering time: May June
Medicinal Plant / Endemic species
Valerianaceae
Centranthus longiflorus latifolus
Boiss.
Long-flowered spur-valerian
Centranthe longues fleurs
Distribution:East Mediterranean
Region
Habitat: Rocks at high mountains.
Flowering time: June October
Thymalaeceae
Daphne oleoides Schreb.
Olive-like daphne
Daphn faux olivier
Distribution:Mediterranean Region,
West Asia
Habitat: Woodlands, over 1000m
Flowering time: April September
39
Apiaceae
Daucus carota L.
Wild carrot
Carotte sauvage
Asteraceae
Echinops viscosus DC.
Viscous globe-thistle
Echinope visqueux
Rubiaceae
Galium verum L.
Ladies bedstraw
Gaillet vrai
Papaveraceae
Glaucium leiocarpum Boiss.
Smoothed fruited horned-poppy
Glaucienne fruits lisses
Distribution:Mediterranean Region
Habitat: Road sides, clear areas.
Flowering time: April June
Distribution:Turkey, Syria, Lebanon,

Greece and Palestine
Habitat: Road sides
Flowering time: May August
Distribution:Europe, North Africa,

West Asia and North West India
Habitat: Woodlands and high
Mountains
Flowering time: June July
Medicinal Plant
Distribution: Turkey, Syria, Lebanon,

Iraq and Iran
Habitat: rocky grounds in mountains
Flowering time: April August
40
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Caryophyllaceae
Dianthus libanotis Labill.
Mountain-spignel pink
Oeillet libanotis
Lamiaceae
Eremostachys laciniata (L.) Bunge Cut
leaved phlomis
Ermostachys lacinie
Geraniaceae
Geranium libani P.H. Davis
Lebanon geranium
Granium du Liban
Asteraceae
Gundelia tournefortii L.
Tourneforts gundelia
Gundlie de Tournefort
Distribution: Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria

and Lebanon.
Habitat: Mountains and Sub-arid
regions
Flowering time: July September
Distribution: Caucasus, Turkey, Syria,

Lebanon, Palestine, Iran and
Afghanistan.
Habitat: Slopes, deep soils
Medicinal Plant
Distribution: Turkey, Lebanon and

Palestine
Habitat: Forest lands
Flowering time: March June
Distribution: Turkey, Syria, Lebanon,

Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Armenia
and Cyprus
Habitat: Waste grounds and
Mountains
Flowering time: April May
Fauna of the
Reserve
Mammals
42
The Shouf Biosphere Reserve is one of the last remaining areas in

Lebanon where large mammals that once roamed the region can still be
found: wolves, wild boars and striped hyaena. In the future it may be
possible to reintroduce the ibex and mountain gazelle. In total, the
Reserve is home to 32 species of mammals. Wolf, wild boar, wild cat and
jungle cat have all increased in number since the Reserve was
established, as have the numbers of jackal, red fox, porcupine, and
squirrel. Striped hyenas are found on the borders of the Reserve and
feed on the garbage dumps and dead animals and carcasses.
Birds
Over 275 bird species have been recorded in the Shouf Biosphere
Reserve and the Ammiq Wetland (the wetland is a Ramsar site and
Important Bird Area-IBA). The birdlife of the Shouf Mountains includes
rare or threatened birds such as the Syrian serin, Eagle owl, Chukar
partridge, Long-legged buzzard, etc. The whole area, placed strategically
between Europe, Africa, and West Asia, is very important for bird
migration. Each year countless storks, birds of prey, and other migrants
pass over the reserve and use it as a resting, feeding and roosting site.
Reptiles and Amphibians

The region contains 31 species of reptile and Amphibians, including chameleon, tortoise, and several species of snakes, lizards, frogs, and toads.
Viperidae: The vipers are represented in Lebanon by 3 species found in
various locations and altitudes. All these snakes are venomous and their
bites may cause death. They become normally active at the end of the
day and through the night. At high altitudes, they are active during the
day especially early and late in their activity and breeding season.
43
General information: Strong, brave,

active and agile animal but endangered. The female delivers at the end
of April. The young stay with their
mother for about 4-5 months. It feeds
on frogs, snakes, birds and mamals.
Mammals
Vespertilionidae
Myotis myotis
Greater Mouse-eared bat
Grand murin
Khaffash Faari
44
Weight: 28-40 grs

Length: 67-84mm, tail 45-60mm,
wing span 35-43cm
Habitat: woodland, over short grass
meadows, pasture, and agricultural
land up to 1700m
General information: hibernate in
caves. Feeding mainly on insects,
beetles and large moth.
Procaviidae
Procavia capenis syriaca
Rock Hyrax
Daman Des Roches
Tabsoun
Weight: 2-6 kg
Length: 50-60 cm
Observation: Active during the day
Habitats: Rocky open areas in the
Reserve, mainly at Niha fortress
General information:The Rock Hyrax
belongs to the same order as
elephants. However, these small
mammals have many unique
structural peculiarities: a robust
build, dusky colored fur, short limbs
with specialized elastic pads on the
soles of the feet for good traction
when climbing or jumping. They use
vocalization for communication; bask
in the sun in winter to warm up.
Hyraxes are colonial herbivorous.
Canidae
Canis aureus syriacus
Jackal
Le Chacal
Ibn Awa
Weight: 5-12 kg.
Length: 60-90 cm (tail 20 to 30 cm)
Observation: Sunset to dawn
Habitat: Forests, bushy areas and in
close proximity to villages.
General information: The female
delivers at the end of spring between
4-6 cubs. It can travel between 5-20
Km a day. The female is smaller than
the male. The young stay for 6
months with their mother. It feeds on
fruits, birds, insects and rodents.
Erinaceidae
Erinaceus europaeus concolor
Hedgehog
Hrisson
Kababat El shawk or AlQounfoz
Weight: 1 - 1,5 kg.
Length: 0.20-0.30 m
Observation: Night / day (rarely)
Habitat: Orchards, near houses.
General information: Hibernate in
winter. It rolls into a ball with spines
for defense. Feeds on insects, invertebrates and snakes.
Felidae
Felis chaus
Jungle cat
Chat des marais
El Hir El Nimr
Weight: 2.5-4.5 kg (6-12 kg) adult.
Length: 45-65 cm (50- 90 cm) adult
Observation: At night
Habitat: Wet areas, near water
catches, forests and bushy areas.
Hyacnidae
Hyaena hyaena syriaca
Striped hyaena
Hyne Raye
Dabaa
45
Weight: 20-50 kg
Length: 85-130 (without length of tail)
Habitat: Cave in dense forests
General information: Its hind legs are
weaker than the front ones. It has
long pointed ears and a grey coat
with black stipes. It feed on carrion,
fruits, vegetables and reptiles.
46
Badger
Blaireau
Ghrayr
Weight: 7-14 kg.
Length: 55-85 cm (tail 10 cm)
Habitat: Woodlands and sometimes at
high altitude
General information: It is
characterized by 2 black stripes
running over the eyes as far as the
ears. It spends the winter in a well
organized underground den divided
into different compartments just
going out to feed. Feeds on
invertebrates, reptiles, rodents, and
sometimes plants.
Hystricidae
Hystrix indica indica
Porcupine
Por-pic
Neese
Weight: 10-17 kg.
Length: 70-90 cm
Habitat: Cultivated or bushy areas, in
self-dug burrows or natural caves.
General information: It is distinguished
by its black and white quills for
defending itself. Herbivorous, feeding
on plants, bulbs and bark.
Sciuridae
Sciurus anomalus syriacus
Squirrel
Ecureuil
Synjab
Weight: 0.2-.0.4 kg
Length: 20-40 cm (tail 10-20 cm)
Observation: early morning and late
afternoon
Habitat: Oak and cedar Forests.
General information: The female
delivers from April to Marsh. The nest
exists inside grooves of trees. Feeds
on fruits, nuts, seeds, and birds
eggs.
Mustelidae
Meles meles canescens
Suidae
Sus scrofa lybicus
Wild boar
Sanglier
Khanzir Barri
Weight: 70-250 kg.
Length: 80-130 cm.
Observation: At night when they go
out to feed
Habitat: Forests, swamps and around
agricultural areas
General information: Strong animal,
characterized by a strong sense of
smell and hearing, but weak eyesight.
The male has canine that grow
throughout his life. Boars are common due to their predator abscence.
They feed on oak, bulbs, worms,
snails, snakes and rats.
Canidae
Vulpus vulpus palaestina
Common red fox
Renard
Thaalab
Weight: 3-6 kg.

Length: 50-65 cm (tail bushy
45-50cm)
Observation: Active during the day but
more at night.
Habitats: All habitats including
forests, bushy areas, open areas and
valleys and urban areas.
General information: The female delivers 2-5 cubs during May. The fox is
recognized from a characteristic
white spot at the tip of its long tail.
The young stay for one year with their
mother. It feeds on rodents, hares,
birds, fruits and berries
47
Canidae
Canis lupus pallipes
Wolf
Loup
Zeeb or Deeb
Weight: 14-30kg.
Length: 80-115 cm bushy tail
30-40cm
Observation: Mainly nocturnal, but
occasionally hunts during the day
General information: Globally threatened species, highly endangered in
Lebanon. Opportunistic carnivore,
feeding on wild boar (piglets), hares,
livestock, and occasionally on birds.
They travel between 40-70km/night
searching for food.
Birds
48
Muscicapidae
Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Common Redstart
Rougequeue front blanc
Turdidae
Phoenicurus ochruros
Western Black Redstart
Rougequeue noir
Upupidae
Upupa epops
Euroasian Hoopoe
Huppe fascie
General information: A real highland

specialized breeding bird in rocky
areas within the Cedar forest.
General information: Instantly

recognized with its black and white
wings and distinctive crest, the
hoopoe breeds in cedar groves and
other climax forests of the mountain.
49
General information: It is a summer

visitor to Lebanon, breeds at the Cedar
Forests of the Reserve and most of its
food consists of winged insects.
Corvidae
Garrulus glandarius
Euroasian Jay
Geai des chnes
Phasianidae
Alectoris chukar
Chukar Partridge
Perdrix chukar
General information: A common
breeding bird in the Reserve, especially
the rocky highlands and cedar forest.
General information: The Jay has an

important role in the natural regeneration of Cedar and Oak Forests and
can be heard in wooded mountain
habitats from about 500m altitude to
the tree line.
Fringillidae
Serinus syriacus
Syrian Serin
Serin syriaque
General information: A very special
bird for Lebanon as the country holds
the worlds largest population of this
mountainous bird.
Ciconiidae
Ciconia ciconia
Western White Stork
Cicogne blanche
General information: Most of Eastern
Europes population of white Storks
passes through Lebanon each spring
and fall.
Hirundinidae
Hirundo rustica
Barn Swallow
Hirondelle de chemine
Accipitridae
Milvus migrans
Black Kite
Milan noir
Pelecanidae
Pelecanus onocrotalus
Great White Pelican
Pelican blanc
Fringillidae
Carduelis chloris
European Greenfinch
Verdier dEurope
General information: The Barn swallow is an attractive bird which feeds on

flying insects and has therefore been
welcomed by humans when it shares
their buildings for nesting
General information: Black Kites are

opportunistic hunters and are more
likely to scavenge.
General information: In flight, the

White Pelican is an elegant soaring
bird, with the head held close to and
aligned with the body by a downward
bend in the neck.
General information: Greenfinches nest

in trees or bushes, thick vegetation is
favored for breeding. They lay 3 to 8
eggs and feed largely on seeds, but
also take berries and insects.
50
51
Meropidae
Merops apiaster
European Bee-eater
Guepier dEurope
Oriolidae
Oriolus oriolus
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Loriot dEurope
Accipitridae
Pernis apivorus
European Honey Buzzard
Bondre apivore
Falconidae
Falco subbuteo
Eurasian Hobby Falcon
Faucon hobereau
General information: The European

Bee-eater migrates during fall and
spring seasons over Lebanon. It is
appreciated for its fondness in wasp.
General information: The orioles are a

mainly tropical group, although one
species (Eurasian Golden Oriole)
breeds in temperate regions, namely
in Lebanon.
General information: The Honey

Buzzards coat consists entirely of
unique feathers that are capable of
protecting it against wasp stings. By
eating wasps the Honey Buzzards
protect more bees than he eats.
General information: It is an elegant

bird of prey, nests in old nests of crows
and other birds, lays 24 eggs, was
used in falconry, trained to hawk birds
like quails, larks, hoopoes, etc.
Reptiles and
Amphibians
52
Salamandridae
Salamandra infraimmaculata
infraimmaculata
Fire Salamander
Salamandre de fer
Arouset Al-Ain
Adult size (approx.): 12 cm

Status: fragmented distribution
Habitat: Rocky river banks.400-1000m
Observation: Mostly at night, occasionally daytime
Hylidae
Hyla savignyi
Middle East tree frog
Rainette verte
Dafdaa el shajar
Colubridae
Eirenis levantinus
Levant Snake
Couleuvre
Barsha
Adult size 3-5 cm

Status: Abundant
Habitat: varied, most often near water
Observation: day time, most of the
year except the coldest months
Adult size (approx.): 60-75 cm

Status: Abundant
Habitat: Varied, 0-1500m
Observation: Day
53
Adult size (approx.):>20cm

Status: abundant
Habitat: damp woodland with aquatic
habitats, 0 1500m
Observation: evening, at night or
when it rains
Bufonidae
Bufo viridis
Green toad
Crapaud vert
Oljoum Akhdar
Bufonidae
Buo cf. bufo
Common European toad
Crapaud commun
Oljoum
Adult size (approx.): 10cm

Status: Abundant
Habitat: Aquatic, moist habitat,
0-2100m
Observation: Most of the year, except
in cold months, especially at night
Chamaeleonidae
Chamaeleo chamaeleon
Mediterranean Chameleon
Chameleon
Herbaya
Status: Few. (Globally endangered
species)
Habitat: Woodland (on trees),
0-1300m
Observation: Day, in warm seasons
Colubridae
Elaphe sauromates
Barouk rat snake
Serpent de barouk
Hanash Al-Barouk
Adult size (approx.): >150cm
Status: Limited local distribution
Habitat: Shrubland, Forest, 1400m
1800m
Observation: Day
54
Lacertidae
Phoenicolacertakulzeri
Mount Lebanon Rock Lizard
Lzard des murailles
Saqqaya Jabaliyyeh
Agamidae
Laudakia stellio stellio
Agama
Agame
Hardun

Status: Abundant at high altitudes
(Globally threatened species)
Endemic species
Habitat: Rocky slopes and plateaus,
trees (cedars), 1400-2100m
Observation: Day

Status: Abundant
Habitat: Rocky areas, woodlands,
0-2000m
Observation: Warm sunny days
Lacertidae
Phoenicolacerta laevis
Common wall lizard
Lzard des murailles
Saqqaya, Shimmaysse
Colubridae
Macrovipera lebetina
Levant viper
Vipre
Afaa

Status: Abundant
Habitat: Moist habitats, Walls, trees,
rocks, 0-1450 m
Observation: day
Adult size (approx.): > 200cm

Status: Abundant
Habitat: Woodlands and shrublands,
0-1300m
Observation: day/night depending on
season
Colubridae
Malpolon monspessulanus
Montpellier Snake
Couleuvre de Montpelier
Hanash Ahmar
Colubridae
Natrix tessellate tessellata
Water snake
Couleuvre tessele
Hayyet May
Adult size (approx.):>180cm

Status: Abundant
Habitat: Sunny shrub land and open
fields, 0 - 1600m
Observation: Day
Adult size (approx.): >150 cm

Status: Abundant
Habitat: Ponds, marshes, rivers,
0-1500m
Observation: Day
Colubridae
Montivipera bornmuelleri
Lebanon Mountain viper
Vipre du Mont Liban
Afaa Al-Jabal
Lacertidae
Ophisops elegans
Snake - eyed lizard
Lzard oeil de serpent
Shemmaysse
Adult size (approx.): > 60 cm

Status: Endemic; Abundant at high
altitudes (Globally threatened
species)
Habitat: Rocky and mountain
vegetation (Jord), 1500-2000m
Observation: Day

Status: Abundant
Habitat: Dry shrub and open
woodland, 0 - 1500 m
Observation: Day
55
Insects
in the Reserve
Thanks to a wealth of wild flowers, there are more than 50
species of butterflies distributed over 4 families and 8 subfamilies, that thrive throughout the Reserve. Particularly on
a sunny day in the spring, or early summer, patches of flowers can
be surrounded with these most delicate of insects. Each species
has its own particular requirements, some being specific to one
plant as food for their caterpillars. Butterflies can live in their adult
stage from a week to nearly a year depending on the species. They
feed primarily on nectar from flowers and are important as pollinators for some species of plants.
56
57
Cedar mountain
blue
Lysandra ellisoni
Nine spotted
moth
Syntomis mestralii
The seven-spot
ladybird
58
Coccinella septumpunctata
The great green

bush-cricket
Tettigonia viridissima
59
Burnet moth
zygaena carniolica
Owlfly
Ascalaphus macaronius
60
61
Painted lady
Vanessa cardui
Marbled white
Melanargia titea
62
Black veined white

Aporia crataegi
Cardinal or great
fritillary
Pandoriana Pandora
Common blue
Common blue
63
Lesser spotted
fritillary
Melitaea trivia
64
Cardinal or great
fritillary
Pandoriana Pandora
65
Common blue
Lycaeides idas
66
67
Ain Dara
()
70
Distance from Beirut: 35 km

Altitude 1,250 meters
Some suggest that the

name of the town is attributed to a Persian king
named Darius, who hunted in the
area and pitched his tent by a spring
(ain), leading to the name of Ain
Darius later modified to Ain Dara.
Others trace the word Dara to the
Aramaic language meaning dwelling. Still standing in Ain Dara are
the ruins of two watchtowers used
during the famous battle of Ain Dara
between the Kaissey and Yamaney
factions of the Druze. There are also
some very old buildings such as the
Maronite Church of Mar Gerges (St.
Georges) and the Orthodox Church of
Mar Gerges. Ain Dara is noted for its
abundance of springs.
71
Bmohray
()
72
Distance from Beirut 41 km

Bmohray contains the remains of Roman monuments

and rock sarcophagi but there is no
record of the history of the village.
Most probably its first inhabitants
were tradesmen engaged in the trade
of cedar wood which is still abundant

in the area. The Bmohray cedar forest
covers one million square meters
while the pine forest covers three
million square meters. Before the
Lebanese civil war of 1975-1990 the
main source of income for the village
were the apple orchards. There are no
restaurants or hotels at Bmohray but
there are several sites in the pine
forests that are suitable for picnics
and camping.
73
Ain Zhalta/
Nabaa Safa
( /)
74

Altitude 950 meters
Ain Zhalta is situated on a

southern hill of Wadi al Safa
and boasts a number of
important springs: Al Safa Spring; Al
Qaah Spring that once supplied the
Beiteddine palace during the rule of
Emir Bachir; Al Reaayan Spring where
a huge pumping station now distributes potable water to Aley, Bhamdoun
and other neighbouring towns; and
Ain al Hilaf recorded in history as the
site where Emir Bachir held peace
talks with his adversaries. In the town
are the remains of a citadel that was
built during Maani rule and later was
transformed into a Protestant Church.
There is an area called the Jewish

Cemetery and nearby a small ruined
village known as Kafra.
75
Barouk/
Fraidiss
( /)
76

The origin of the towns

name is Phoenician meaning the blessed. A distinguishing feature of Barouk is its renowned cedar forest that is now part
of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve. Its
many springs and open-air restaurants have attracted tourists from the
entire Arab region for centuries. It is
also the birthplace of the Lebanese
poet Rachid Nakhleh (composer of
Lebanons national anthem) whose
burial place is frequented by tourists.
77
Batloun
()
78

Batloun is bordered by the town

of Kfar Nabrakh to the west,
Barouk to the east, Maasser el
Chouf to the south, and Briih from the
north. Batloun is rich in groundwater
and has a river flowing in the village.
The fruit trees cultivated in this village
are apple, peach, cherry, fig, almond
as well as grape. Oak trees are
common in Batloun.
79
Maasser
el Shouf
()
80

This village is situated on the

edge of the Shouf Biosphere
Reserve and is about 7 km
from one of the oldest groves of cedar
trees in Lebanon. Maasser is a traditional village with a town square, an
old mill, an oak and pine forest, and
two natural water sources. Recent
archaeological studies revealed that
Maasser was inhabited since the 4th
century BC. The El Hosn ruins date
back to the Roman era as evidenced
by tombs cut in the rock. On the trail
from Maasser to Moukhtara there is
an ancient and deserted water mill
dating back to the 16th century or
before and an Ottoman bridge that

links the two sides of the valley
between Maasser and Botmeh. The
Saint Michael church and convent are
the two major religious monuments in
Maasser. The convent has been renovated and converted into a bed &
breakfast. Maasser also includes a
guest house, wood cabins, and the
Maasser Park House headquarters
of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve.
81
Botmeh
(()
82

Botmeh is on the Barouk

River Valley Trail and is
famous for its old stone
houses, its old churches, and
an ancient grape press. Visitors
interested in archaeology can visit
the ruins of the ancient village of
Fornaya which dates to the Roman
period. Botmeh is also renowned for
its pine woods, the geological caves
of el Dabaa, el Houwweh and Ain el
Basatine, old springs of Ain el Horch
and Ain el Bayyad, as well as animal
and plant fossils.
83
Moukhtara
()
84

Altitude 850 meters
Moukhtara is on the Barouk

River Valley Trail and well
known for being the seat of
the Joumblatt family leaders of the
Druze community in Lebanon. The
Joumblatts palace was built in the
17th century and rebuilt in the mid 19th
century. The town is also famous for
its traditional old houses, its old oil
presses, and two El Saydeh (Our Lady)
churches. The early 16th century,
Baddeh bridge used to link Moukhtara
with the villages of the Barouk valley.
The valley near Moukhtara contains
many water mills dating to the 16th
century and before- such as the
Baddeh water mill.
85
Ain Qani
()
86
87

Altitude 830 meters
Ain Qani is on the Barouk

River Valley Trail and famous
for the Birket el Aarous site where
there is a water mill dating from the
16th century and a bridge built in 1507
during the late Mamluk era both on
the Nabeh Mershed River.
One can also enjoy the architecture
of the 18 th and 19 th century houses of
the Joumblatt and Zeineldine families in the center of the village. Hikers
will enjoy the ancient trail linking
Moukhtara to Ain Qani through the
Birket el Aarous bridge.
The Birket el Arouss Bridge

()
The bridge was built at the end of the
Mamluk period in 913 AH (1507 AD)
and is part of a complex network of
bridges and trails built in the valley
of Barouk. It serves as an important
link on the road that runs through the
Barouk valley to Marj Bisri and the
valley of Nahr el Awali that ends on
the Mediterranean coast near Sidon.
Khreibeh
()
88

This village is known for its

traditional Lebanese houses,
its old oak tree, and the Saint
Georges Church. It is also known for
its ancient ruins and monuments
such as the oil presses, sarcophagi
and the Joumblatt family Serai dating from the Ottoman period. There
are also six water sources, Ain el
Chatawiyeh, Ain el Jadida, Ain el
Qadima, Ain el Mechqer, Ain Aadas,
and Ain Amer. An old oak tree is located near the public school.
Accommodation is available in the
local guesthouse as well as in several wooden cabins.
89
Amatour
(()
90
91

Altitude 850 meters
houses and characteristic gates dating from the Ottoman period such as
Dar Bou Hamza (1215H/1800 AD), Dar
Ahmad Ali Abed el Samad (1273H/1856
AD), and Dar Ahmad Sleiman Abou
Chakra. Amatour is home to a number of religious monuments such as
two Druze khalwat, a 19 th century
Catholic Church, old trails, and water
springs the oldest of which is called
Ain el Foqr (the spring of poverty).
Amatour is on the Barouk

River Valley Trail and boasts
a Roman temple located outside the
village in the Marj Bisri area. It is also
renowned for its beautiful traditional
The Roman temple

of Marj Bisri
()
The temple is located in Marj Bisri in
the village of Amatour at the point
of intersection of the Barouk and
Aray rivers and is currently buried
beneath fluvial deposits. Passers-by
can only catch sight of four columns
of black granite and a wall visible in
the bed of Nahr Aray. This temple
is an archeological and geological
attraction because it was most likely
buried after a strong earthquake
which obstructed the river and created a dam. Sediments kept on piling
up behind the dam and engulfed the
Roman temple and the little nearby
town. The temple can still be seen
from the hilltop of Jabal Niha.
Baadarane
()
92
93

What is a Serai?
Serai is a Persian word meaning
palace. During the Ottoman period
this word was widely used in Mount
Lebanon to designate a palace and/
or headquarters where the emir or
the sheikh lived and ruled.
Baadarane is known for its

Ottoman houses and monuments particularly the palace of
Sheikh Ali Joumblatt, as well as the
Tajeldin and Abou Chakra gates.
Recent excavations revealed Roman
ruins that include grape presses,
tombs cut into the rock, and sarcophagi. Hundreds of ceramic shards
from the Phoenician, Hellenistic,
Roman, and Byzantine eras have
been found between Khreibeh and
Baadarane villages. A well equipped
guesthouse and wooden cabins
welcome overnight visitors and are

located near a local workshop and
traditional loom.
The Baadarane Serai

()
The Baadarane Serai is also called
the Jumblatt Serai. It was built in
the early 18th century by Sheikh
Ali Jumblatt one of the leaders of
the Shouf. During the Great Syrian
Revolt in Jabal al Arab in 1926,
the Serai became a stronghold
of Druze rebels and a symbol of
resistance to the French Mandate
over Syria and Lebanon. The
French retaliated by campaigning
against the Druze community
in the Shouf region. The Serai is
characterized by its 18th-19th
Ottoman Lebanese architecture.
Haret Jandal
()
94

Altitude 850 meters
house of the Mallak family, the 19 th

century bridge located in the El
Dlaghine area, and the ruins of the
ancient village of Jiblaye dating to the
Roman period. The ruins of an ancient oil press can be seen near
these ruins.
Haret Jandal is on the Barouk

River Valley Trail and is
known for its very old oak
trees located in the center of
the village and its old olive tree in the
El Basatine area. One can also visit
architectural and archaeological
monuments such as the 19 th century
95
Mrosti
()
96

The village square in Mrosti is

famous for the statue of Kamal
Beik Joumblatt, the renowned
old oak woods and the Ottoman
bridge. There is also an old grape
press and three natural springs: Ain
el Ghabeh, Ain el Tahta, and Jeita
Spring. The Jeita Spring is considered
blessed and holy. The Khalwat al
Sheikh al Sadeq (Druze holy site)
dates back to the 16th century and is
the main religious attraction of the
village.
97
Jebaa
()
98

Many natural elements,

places, and monuments contribute
to the reputation of Jebaa: its oak
and pine forests known by the inhabitants as the Roman woodland, an old
grape press cut into the rock, the
natural caves, the water sources of
Ain Chaachouh and Ain el Dayaa, and
tombs in Maabour el Wadi (the passage of the valley). A well equipped
picnic area was created near Ain
Chaachouh in cooperation with the
Lebanon Mountain Trail (the first and
longest hiking trail in Lebanon
stretching over 440 km in length).
99
Bater
()
100

Altitude 800 meters
An old hiking trail links Bater to Marj

Bisri, site of the Roman temple. Of
interest is the Jisr al Saqyia (bridge)
and its three arches. A natural park in
the valley near the Marj Bisri is one of
Baters recent attractions.
Bater is on the Barouk River

Valley Trail and famous for its
church, its old 19 th and early
20 th century houses such as
the Hamdan house, and for the old
water mill which was still functioning
until the early 1980s. Bater is also
well known for its water springs such
as the Ain el Kamal, and for its two
grottos of Ain el Masqfeh and el Keif.
101
Niha
()
102

Niha has been inhabited since

the Roman times. The most
famous monument in Niha is
the cave fortress (Cave of Tyron). This
cave was used by the Crusaders and
the Mamluks to control the vital road
linking Sada to the Bekaa valley (it
also became famous as the refuge of
Emir Fakhreddine). The shrine of Nabi
Ayoub is built on a summit overlooking
the village of Niha where the prophet
Job is believed to be buried. Pilgrims
frequently visit this site. Niha is rich in
old springs such as Ain el Qataa,
Nabeh Niha, and the very old Ain el
Halqoum. It also has old traditional
houses, two ancient churches (Saint
Joseph and Saint Georges), two old
bridges (El Jisr el Tahtani and Jisr
Tareeq el Nahr), and an old water mill.
Niha has a well run private guesthouse
and an information center managed
by the Shouf Biosphere Reserve.
103
Who is Fakhreddine?
104
Emir Fakhreddine ibn Maan is also

known as Fakhreddine the Great or
Fakhreddine the Second. He was
a Druze prince and the first ruler
of the Emirate of the Shouf. He
was born in Baaqline in the Shouf
Mountains in 1572 and united the
territories of modern Lebanon as
well as parts of Palestine and Syria
under his authority.
105
The Fortress of Niha

()
106
Located 70 km from
Beirut, the cave fortress of Niha is called
Cave of Tyron in Frankish
sources and Chquif Tayroun
in Arabic sources. It is carved into
the rock of a cliff overlooking the
Bisri and the Aray valley and its
strategic location monitors the
road between Sidon and the Bekaa.
Rooms were dug in the living rock
to serve as shelter for soldiers, as
depots, and for domestic use. It
also had a considerable number of
silos for storing provisions and rain
water was collected on site as well
as running water piped in from Ain
el Halquoum nearby. It was well
fortified and closed off to intruders.
The fortress was mentioned for
the first time in 975 AD when
Tamim, Emir of the Gharb, was
besieged by the troops of the governor of Damascus. In 1133, the
fortress was occupied by a Druze

Sheikh called Dahak bin Jandal al
Tamimi who was later removed
from the fortress by the Atabeck
of Damascus. In 1241 the fortress
became the property of the Crusaders and in 1251 the governor
(wali) of Sidon led an army that
occupied it. In 1257 the Crusader
Lord of Sidon donated it to the
Teutonic Order who did not hold
on to it for long. In 1261 the Tartars
invaded Damascus and sent Shahabaldin bin Bohtor to destroy it.
When Baybars conquered the city
of Damascus in 1270 he ordered
the fortress of Niha to be rebuilt.
It is believed that in 1585 the Emir
Qorqomaz Maan took refuge in it
shortly before his death. In 1633
his son Emir Fakhreddine and his
family found refuge in the fortress
from the Ottoman troops but was
was later captured and executed
in 1635 in Istanbul.
107
Qab Elias
()
108
Distance from Beirut 40 Km

Altitude 950 meters
older palace that stood there and

constructed this castle. Another famous monument in Qab Elias is the
Haidara which is an unfinished tomb
dating from the early Roman period.
It is a vertical shaped relief carved
into the cliff measuring 10 meters
high and 13 meters wide. In the areas
of Qab Elias are two minor archaeological sites: a relief from the 8 th and
7th century BC, and a Roman relief
located in the valley of Wadi el Delem.
These two monuments are only accessible by foot.
The most important monument in this town is the famous Ottoman castle which
overlooks the Bekaa and was built to
control the road that linked Beirut
and the Shouf to the Bekaa valley. In
1625, Emir Fakhreddin destroyed an
One can also visit the memorial to

the French soldiers who died in 1860,
the Ras el Ain ( ) area in the Wadi
el Delem ( ) where visitors can
hike and lunch in family restaurants
and the public garden located in the
southern part of the village.
109
Ammiq/Deir
Tahnish
( ) /)
110

of Qalet el Mdiq revealed that this

village was occupied during the Hellenistic and Roman eras.
The St. George Church is located
near the ruins of the old Ammiq. It
was built in 1865 and was damaged
by the 1956 earthquake. It has since
been restored.
Sitt Shewayne is a popular place of
worship for the Druze and the date of
its construction is uncertain.
The ruins of old Ammiq
(Khirbet Ammiq )
are located on the eastern
slopes of Mount Lebanon overlooking the West Bekaa. One can see the
ruins of old stone houses that date
back to the Ottoman period and the
first half of the 20 th century. Recent
archaeological surveys of the ruins
Deir Tahnish is a small village inhabited mostly by

shepherds. Famous for its
19 th century church dedicated to Saint Elijah and for the
Roman hypogeum that is located
near the modern Christian cemetery
behind the church.
111
The Qalet el Mdiq Fort

()
Qalet el Mdiq fort (also known
as Khirbet Saalouk - )
is located on a rocky hill on the
eastern slopes of Mount Lebanon
adjacent to the Qab Elias - Saghbine
road. A new study basee on the
text of the Greek historian Polybius
(200-118 BC) reveals that the actual
Qalet el Mdiq was called Brocho
and commanded the strategic
road above the Ammiq swamps.
The armies of the Seleucid King
Antiochus were stopped twice
by the garrison of this fort in 221
and 220 BC. Along with a second
fort (Gerra located near Anjar
and Majdel Anjar) it constituted a
Ptolemaic front line which blocked
the path of Seleucid invaders. A
niche with a relief representing a
personage making an offering is
located directly below the hill and
overlooks the modern road.
112
113
Ancient lake of
the Bekaa in Ammiq
The ancient lake
of the Bekaa or the
Ammiq swamp was
mentioned in a number of historical sources from the fourth century BC until the Mamluk period as a
lake where fragrant reed grew. It
was drained in the Mamluk period
and much later by the Jesuits in
the early 20th century. This lake
was an obstacle for invaders and
a natural frontier between the
Ptolemaic kingdom in the south
and the Seleucid in the north.
Among the ancient authors who
mentioned the Ammiq wetlands
Aana
()
are: Theophrastus (371-287 BC)

who described it in his Botanical
History as a lake where the fragrant reed grew. Polybius (200-118
BC) named it the Lake of Marsyas.
The Geography of Strabo (64 BC24 AD) also referred to it as the
aromatic reed lake. Pliny the Elder
(23-79 AD) referred to this lake
as did the text of the Dead Sea
Scrolls. Later in the Mamluk era
Aboulfeda (1273 1331 AD) spoke
of the lake describing it as swamps
and bushes where the reed grew.
Qalqachandi (1356 1418 AD)
claimed the lake was one days
walk from Baalbeck.
114

Altitude 970 meters
A small and charming village

best known for its pine
woods, picnic and camping
areas, and beautiful church.
115
Kefraya
()
116

Altitude 950 meters
Kefraya vineyard. Kefraya also has an

old mosque built in 1935 (the minaret
was added in 1959) and a church built
in 1960. A visit to Chateau Kefraya is
recommended as well as the Chateau of Michel de Boustros. Visitors
can enjoy wine tasting, eat a meal, or
shop at the show room.
Kefraya has a Romano-Byzantine grape mill located among

the agricultural terraces outside the center of the village.
Visiting the Dahr el Moghor hypogea
(underground dwellings) from the
Roman and Byzantine era near the
Boustros palace is a must. The five
hypogea are dug into the rock of a
small hill situated in the middle of the
117
Chateau Kefraya Winery
118
Located in the Bekaa

valley near the crossroads
of the Qab Elias/Saghbine
highway with the Kefraya/
Maasser el Shouf road, the Chateau
Kefraya winery and restaurant
is a must visit for travelers and
wine lovers. Established in the
1950s Kefraya is ideally suited to
growing the best wine grapes
that give Chateau Kefrayas wines
authenticity and originality. The
land is located at an altitude that
ranges from 900 to 1100 meters
above sea level and consists of a
clay-chalk and stony soil that is
exposed to 240 days of generous
sunshine a year. Chateau Kefraya
only produces wines with grapes
grown in Kefraya and all the stages
of the wine making process take
place on site.
119
120
121
Khirbet
Qanafar
()
122

Altitude 950 meters
Khirbet Qanafar has two

watermills one of which is
earlier than 16th century and
they operate on the flow of
Nabe el Khraizet to grind wheat into
flour. Mat-hanet el Jawze is the oldest
watermill but it has deteriorated
and can only be distinguish by its
ruins. However, Mat-hanet Massoud
is more recent and is relatively well
preserved.
Overlooking the Bekaa valley there
is the cave of repentance which is
in fact a tomb carved into the rock
dating back to the Roman period and
distinguished by a carved relief above
the entrance representing male and
female figures.
In the valley of Wadi el Jawz there

are eight tombs carved into the rock
some of which have been degraded
over the years by natural causes.
These tombs date back to the Roman
period and each was big enough to
bury three or more persons. There
is also a natural cave in Wadi el Jawz
with stalactites and stalagmites.
The Maqam el Sheikh Mothafar is
located close to the municipality
building and was built to honor Adiy
Ibn Mosfer, a famous Sufi born in
this village in the 11th century. The
church of St. Elijah is the older of two
churches in the village and was built
in the 19 th century by the Maronite
community. A second church was
built in 1911 by the Melkite Catholic
community.
123
Ain Zebde
()
124

and was probably used to shelter

shepherds and travelers.
The main source of water in

Ain Zebde is a natural spring
surrounded by old walnut
trees whose water is used for irrigation. The water mill of Nahr el
Chawaghir dates back to the Ottoman
period and was powered by the flow
of water from Nahr el Chawaghir.
The cave of Nahr el Chawaghir is
characterized by its mini stalactites
formed over the ages. Wadi el
Mghara is a natural cave enlarged by
humans and located on the main
road linking Ain Zebde to Saghbine.
You can still see the remains of an
ancient wall that blocked its entrance
The Jirjis Shaul house is an old residence dating from the late 19 th century located in the village center. Its
charm lies in its simple and functional architecture as well as its surrounding vegetation.
125
Saghbine
()
126

The water spring of Ain

Shouaa is 1 km from the village in a picnic area whereas
the spring of Ain el Ghazireh is located near the center of the village.
In the center one can also see old
rock basins that were used for the
preparation of grape molasses and
bulgar wheat.
The Saint Georges church was built
in the late 18 th century and is characterised by its architecture. One can
also visit the house of Mfaleh el Ajami,
built in 1910 and is now a high school.
From the upper parts of the village

the visitors can see the recent cedar
forests of Baaloul, Lala and Joub
Jannine. These Anti-Lebanon forest
absorb humidity from the man-made
Qaraoun lake.
127
Bab Mareh
Aytanit
()
()
128

Altitude 960 meters
This town is situated on

the eastern slope of the
Shouf mountain and it is
surrounded by oak trees.
Its name comes from Baith Mares
a place name found on an inscription
on a gold oil lamp in 1950 near the
spring of Aattouneh ( )dating
back to (121 AD).
The ruins of five old Roman underground chambers or hypogea can be
found near the village. The ancient
neighbourhood called Haret Tannous
is very rich in traditional Lebanese
houses and Nabe el Attouneh is the
best known spring in the village.

The name Aytanit most

likely derives from the
Phoenician goddess Tanit. A main
water source is located in the center
of the village surrounded by a large
rock with Roman inscriptions. One of
the most important sites in this town
is the Roman cave which is actually a
hypogeum or underground chamber.
An archaeological site Jwar el Khan
is located near Aytanit and has
around 40 sarcophagi and other
ruins such as cisterns.
129
Historic Sites
130
131
Beiteddine
Palace
()
The Beiteddine palace was built between 1788 and 1818 by Emir Beshir
Shehab II. Architecturally the palace is divided into three sections: Dar
el Baraniyyeh or the outer section of the palace, Dar el Wousta or the
middle section, and Dar el Harim or the private apartments that included
the hammam. It remained the emirs residence until his exile in 1840. The
edifice was reused by the Ottoman authorities as a seat of government
and later during the French Mandate it served for the local administrative
purposes. Lebanons General Directorate of Antiquities started restoration
work on the palace in 1926 and it was declared a historical monument in
1934. After Lebanon gained its independence in 1943 the palace became
the summer residence of the president of the republic.
People of
the Reserve
In this section of the guidebook we will meet some of the people

who live in the villages around the Shouf Biosphere Reserve and
learn about their connection to the protected area and the role they play
in conserving the natural and cultural values of the region.
140
141
Marwan Khodr
(local guide)
142
143
Marwan Khodr has been

working as an environmental
guide for over a decade. Based
in Baaqline, Marwan knows
every nook and cranny of his
hometown and green spaces
surrounding it. Claiming nature is
my inspiration Marwan has learned
to recognize endemic species such
as local birds and plants. He has
spent much of his time with old
villagers recording their habits and
customs because he realizes that
they are an important part of our
cultural heritage.
Raed Zeidan
(bee keeper)
144
145
Ever since he inherited his fathers job, Raed has been convinced that his bee colonies are
part of his family. After graduating
with a degree in agriculture his
practical experience with bees allowed him to become an expert in
this field. In 1992 an unexpected incident occurred in the Shouf cedar forests in the form of an infestation of
the honeydew aphids that accumulated on the branches of cedar trees.
Raed believed that the introduction
of the domestic bee would benefit
the cedar trees by feeding on the accumulated aphid honeydew. The trial
was a success and cedar honey is

now a major product of the Reserve.
Marwan &
Fadi Bouwadi
(carpenters)
146
147
Marwan and Fadi are carpenters

who always look forward to new
projects, especially when it
comes to renovating traditional
mountain houses. Wood is a living
material that breathes and has its
own life. I can feel the soul of each
piece of wood I touch says Marwan.
Fadi explains how they design
furniture and items that belong to
their mountain heritage such as
wheelbarrows or kitchen utensils.
Moreover, they both restore old
wooden ceilings that give a warm
feeling in old mountain houses.
Nazih Baz
(traditional weaver)
148
149
Nazih Baz manufactures

abayas (robes) and other
textiles in the old workshop
he inherited from his forefathers in
Baadaran that is famous for its
weaving and design. Using the century old loom in his shop requires a
special technique that Nazih learned
from his grandfather such as the
use of up to 24 pedals to operate the
manual weaving machine. Nazih also
owns a family guesthouse in Baadaran
that offers accomodation to mountain hikers who want to discover the
rich natural and cultural heritage of
the Shouf.
Zineddine
Chazbeck
(green farmer)
150
151
Zeineddine owns an artisan

business in the village of
Baadaran. In season he picks
fruits and vegetables and prepares
fresh pickled vegetables, savory
jams, and marmalades. His most
popular product is candied green
figs cooked on the same day they
are picked. Other favorites include:
an oregano mix consists of dried
oregano rubbed with olive oil combined with wild pine nuts, sumach,
and salt; tomato pure boiled for
hours on a wood fire; grape molasses (debs el inab); and orange blossom water and many other
therapeutic and natural healing essences such as lavender, rosemary

or thyme.
Slim El Achkar
(guesthouse owner)
152
153
Khreibeh, in the vicinity of

Moukhtara, is a picturesque village home to the traditional house of Selim El Achkar. The
guesthouse has four rooms that can
accommodate up to fifteen guests
and a living room warmed on chilly
winter days by a wood burning chimney. For breakfast, Selim is proud of
his country breakfasts consisting of
homemade oregano pizzas, dried
yoghurt and free-range eggs mixed
with kawarma. The guesthouse
also offers an open-air terrace suitable for brunches and late evening
gatherings. Selim is an mountain
eco-guide happy to accompany trekkers in the Shouf Biosphere Reserve.
Houssam
Ghanem
(saving cedar trees)
154
155
Born in Warhaniyeh, Houssam

devotes much of his time to
cedar trees. The cedar tree grows at
an altitude ranging from 800 to 1,800
meters and is native to the mountains
of Lebanon. It is very resistant to snow
and cold weather. Over the centuries,
extensive deforestation occurred, with
only small remnants of the original
forests surviving. The Lebanese are
now expanding the cedar forests
through a combination of replanting
and protection. There is a growing
awareness of the importance of planting trees to overcome deforestation.
Houssam feels blessed as cedars
grow on his side of the mountain. You

realize how much these trees need
the cold when you see them growing
on the cool western slope.
156
157
Visiting the
Reserve
158
159
Entrances and services
Head Office
160
161
Maasser Park House

The headquarters of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve is located in a restored and refurbished Lebanese house in the main square of Maasser
el Shouf. In addition to providing visitors with information, rest rooms,
conference room, gift shop, bike rental station, and walking/hiking needs,
it also serves as the administrative center of the Reserve. Thanks to funds
from Agence Francaise pour le Developpement (AFD) and the Maasser el
Shouf Municipality the Reserve was able to purchase an old house of Levantine/Ottoman architecture in the main town square. During 2009 2010 the Park House was completely rehabilitated thanks to funds from
the Italian Cooperation in collaboration with Directorate General of Antiquities. The work was executed by local craftsmen experienced in traditional
stone and iron work. A sustainable solar energy system, generating electricity for 6 hours per day, was installed in September 2010.
Entrances
162
163
Maasser Cedar Forest
Mrosti Entrance
The Maasser entrance opens directly onto 16 hectares of the oldest and
most impressive cedar trees. It is also famous for the old Lamartine cedar
tree that overlooks the western slopes of Mount Lebanon. The wooden
hut at the entrance provides tourist information, rest rooms, and a gift shop
with organic products and souvenir items. The Maasser forest has several
self guided walking trails as well as a qualified guides for longer trails.
The Mrosti entrance is a newly established gate through which you can
reach the Roman oak trail with its old trees and a wonderful panoramic
view to the western villages of the Reserve.
Barouk Cedar Forest

The Barouk entrance is located 2 km from the center of Barouk and includes tourist information, rest rooms, and a gift shop for organic
products. From the Barouk entrance there are several hiking trails one can
follow to explore over 400 hectares of cedar forest. For bird and animal
lovers, there is a stone blind above the Hill lake to observe wildlife.
Visitors can also adopt a cedar tree at the entrance.
Ain Zhalta/Bmohray Cedar Forest

This entrance is located 4 km from Nabe el Safa and includes tourist
information, gift shop, organic products, and rest rooms. There are a
number of hiking trails covering 170 hectares of cedar forest.
Niha Fort
This entrance provides visitor information and a gift shop for organic
products and souvenir items. Rest rooms are available. A quick hike will
lead you to the medieval Niha fort that overlooks the Aray and Marj Bisri
valleys. A much longer hike will take you to the Nebi Ayyoub Shrine a
majestic place where you can enjoy one of the best views of the Lebanese
mountains.
Ammiq Park House -Tawlet Ammiq

This entrance was recently built to exacting specifications and is considered the most eco-friendly building in Lebanon. The building also
serves as an information center, conference room, gift shop, and sells
some of the finest wines from the Bekaa. An old walking trail from Ammiq
to the Shouf is very popular.
Opening hours: Entrances: Summer (9:30-18:00); Winter (10:00-16:00)

Head Office: Summer (8:30-16:30); Winter (8:30-15:30)
How to get to
the Reserve
164
165
First option
From Beirut take the coastal
highway south for about 20 km to
Damour. From there take the road to
Beiteddine which passes through
the village of Kfarhim. From
Kfarhim you have the choice of
taking the southern route through
Baaqline (a right turn at the
fountain) or the northern route
through Deir El Qamar (continuing
straight past the fountain). Both
roads meet at Maasser Beiteddine.
From Maasser Beiteddine you can
take a sharp left turn at the
intersection to go the Barouk and
Ain Zhalta/Bmohray entrances of
the Reserve. If you keep going
straight through the intersection you
will pass through the villages of
Beiteddine, Baqaata and Moukhtara.
From Moukhtara take a sharp left at
the Jumblatt palace to Botmeh and
then on to Maasser el Shouf. From
the coastal town of Damour it takes

about 30 to 45 minutes to reach the
Park House of the Shouf Biosphere
Reserve in the village of Maasser el
Shouf.
In case you want to go to the Niha
Fort/Shqif Tyron keep going straight
through Moukhtara to Amatour, and
eventually to Niha.
The distances from Beiteddine to
the various Shouf Biosphere
Reserve entrances are:
15 km to the Barouk cedar forest
entrance
17 km to the Maasser el Shouf Park
house
20 km to the Ain Zhalta - Bmohray
cedar forest entrance
24 km to the Maasser el Shouf
25 km to the Niha Fort/Shqif
Tayroun entrance.
First option
Second option
Third option
166
167
Second option
A second route to the Shouf
Biosphere Reserve from Beirut is
via the Damascus highway east to
Aley (about 20 km). After Aley
continue past the villages of
Bhamdoun and Sowfar to Mdayrej
where you make a right turn off the
Damascus highway and head
towards Ain Zhalta (14 km from
Mdayrej). Then to the gate of Ain
Zhalta-Bmohray.
It takes approximately 30-35 minutes
to reach the Shouf Biosphere Reserve
from Aley.
The distances between Mdayrej and
the Shouf Biosphere Reserve
entrances are:
17 km to the Ain Zhalta-Bmohray
22 km to the Barouk cedar forest
entrance
35 km to the Maasser el Shouf

50 km to the Niha Fort/Shqif
Tayroun entrance
Third option
A third route to the Shouf Biosphere
Reserve is from Kefraya in the Bekaa
Valley. From the main Kefraya
intersection take the road west over
the mountains to the Maasser el
Shouf cedar forest entrance (about
14 km from Kefraya).
From Maasser el Shouf you can take
the road to Moukhtara and then to
Niha Fort/Shqif Tayroun entrance
(15 km from Moukhtara) or you can
take the road that passes through
the Dalboun oak forest to Barouk
and on to the Barouk Cedar
entrance.
168
169
How to get to
the Ammiq
Wetland
170
171
To visit the Ammiq Wetland,

the Eco Building, and Tawlet
Ammiq (eco-restaurant) take
the Beirut-Damascus highway
to Chtaura. Turn right at intersection
to Qab Elias and continue south
following the Barouk mountain ridge
to the Ammiq Wetland. Continue
south and you will reach Ammiq
village where a sign and right turn
lead you to the Eco building and to

Tawlet Ammiq.
Transport by bus
The easiet way to reach the reserve
by public transportation from Beirut
from Cola station where there are
buses and mini-buses almost every
hour starting from 9 AM to 5 pm. All

the buses reach Jdaideh/Baakaata
where taxis can be hired to any of
the entrances and villages. Some of
the buses from Cola reach Barouk,
and Niha as well as Khreibeh and
Baadarane.
What to bring
Visitors should come equipped with:
Good hiking or walking shoes
Comfortable clothing and a fleece
jacket
Backpack, water, and a cap
Appropriate clothing for inclement
weather
You may also want to bring:
Field guide
Camera
Binoculars
Walking stick
Basic rules
Refrain from:
Smoking, campfires, or fire
of any kind
Hunting
Cutting trees or shrubs
Collecting flora or fauna
Camping
Littering
Disturbing the peace
Hiking in the
Reserve
Ecotourism is defined as "responsible travel to natural
areas that conserves the environment and improves
the well-being of local people." (TIES, 1990)
172
173
174
175
There are more than 250

km of hiking trails in the
Shouf Biosphere Reserve extending from the highest
mountain peaks to the lowest river
beds designed to satisfy a wide range
of visitors. There are easy trails
within cedar forests or medium trails
connecting different cedar forests or
long trails that link the villages surrounding the Reserve. A visitor can
hike alone or in small groups, with a
guide, along designated trails.
Because every individual should have
the opportunity to enjoy the beauty
and grandeur of the Shouf Biosphere
Reserve, regardless of their physical
handicap or special needs, a 'special
needs' trail was established in the
Barouk cedar forest in 2012.
Detailed sectional maps of the Shouf
Biosphere Reserve are available at
all the entrances. More information
about
trails,
accommodation,
restaurants, and attractions can be

found on the Google Earth Package
and the Ecotourism interactive map
which can be downloaded to your
smart phone or Garmin GPS from
our website:
h t t p : / / w w w . s h o u f c e d a r. c o m /
Google-Earth-Package
The Shouf Biosphere Reserve adopted
the hiking ethics of the Lebanon
Mountain Trail. When you hike please
enjoy the wilderness without harming
it and:
Don't hike alone
Be prepared for emergencies (fog,
injuries, insect bites, torrential
rain, etc.)
Stay on the trail. Straying from the
trail will harm biodiversity and
can cause erosion
Do not trespass on private property
Do not leave any trash behind
Leave what you find
Don't pick flowers or fruits

Respect wildlife. Don't feed or
harm wildlife
Respect local communities and
local traditions
Contribute to the economic
development of local communities:
hire local guides, stay longer in
the villages, buy food and meals in
villages, buy local products, sleep
over in local lodging facilities, etc.
Happy hiking!
Ecotourism
Visitors to the Shouf Biosphere
Reserve are encouraged to
remember the following
ecotourism principles:
Minimize impact
Build environmental and
cultural awareness and respect
Provide positive experiences for

both visitors and hosts
Provide direct financial benefits
for conservation
Provide financial benefits and
empowerment for local people
Raise sensitivity to host
countries' political, environmental,
and social climate
176
177
Trail length: 500 m to 10 km

Difficulty Level: all levels
Barouk Cedar Trails

The Barouk cedar forest is the largest
forest in the Shouf Biosphere Reserve
covering 400 hectares. The trail
boasts a number of fascinating features such as an observation point
and a hill lake. You can hike on this
trail for 3 to 4 hours and visit reforestation sites. The Barouk Cedar Forest
features a special needs trail with a
ramp and guide bars for the elderly,
wheelchair users, and the visually
impaired. The length of the special
needs trail is 300 meters with a maximum slope of 25 percent.

Difficulty Level: easy to moderate
Maasser Cedar Trails

The Maasser cedar forest is the oldest
forest in the Shouf Nature Reserve
covering 16 hectares and hosts the
Lamartine tree where the French poet
enjoyed meditating. After a two hour
hike amidst the beauty of the forest
you can drive to an overlook above the
Maasser entrance for a spectacular
view of the west Bekaa, Mount
Hermon, and the Karoun Lake. The
Maasser entrance is wheelchair
accessible and opens onto a viewing
area in the forest.
178
179

Difficulty Level: all levels
Ain Zhalta/Bmohray
Cedar Trails
The Ain Zhalta/Bmohray forest covers 240 hectares of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve and exhibits an
amazing level of natural regeneration. This trail is well known for bird
watching and includes a hill lake.
Between Ain Zhalta and Barouk you
can enjoy a 6 hour hike amongst
cedar trees and a fascinating panoramic view from the top of the
mountain.

Difficulty Level: moderate
Niha Fort Trails

The Niha Fort is carved in the rock of
a cliff overlooking the Bisri and the
Aray valley. From its strategic location it monitors the road between
Sidon and the Beqaa. This fortress is
a cave that is over 100 meters deep. In
past centuries chambers and rooms
were dug to shelter soldiers and it has
abundant water from a rain water
collection system. It also had a considerable number of silos for storing
provisions. When you visit the Niha
Fort you can walk the short scenic
trail from the Information Center at
Rock Hyrax
Fortress
the entrance of the fort where Emir

Fakhreddine took refuge with his
family in the early 17th Century.
180
181
Trail length: 2 km
Total uphill / downhill: 300m/300m
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Birds
Trail length: 38.6 km

Total uphill /downhill: 582 m/848 m
Barouk River Valley

Trail (Barouk Batloun
Wetland Trail (Ammiq)

The Ammiq wetland that is owned and
managed by Skaff Estate, covers 100
hectares of land and is the last
significant wetland in Lebanon the
remnant of extensive marshes and
lakes that once covered parts of the
Beqaa Valley. This natural spot
remains an important staging and
wintering area for migratory water
birds between Europe and Africa.
Moukhtara Amatour
Haret Jandal Bater)
The trail begins at the Church of Our

Lady in Moukhtara, passes through
the Mamluk bridge of Birket el Aarouss, descends and crosses the Barouk river over the Baddeh Bridge to
the western slope of the river valley.
The trail continues south on a footpath
recently renovated along the Barouk
river on the left of which is the Baddeh
Old bridge
Water mill
Cave
Picnic area
water mill. It then proceeds to the Bou

Matar bridge and watermill and up the
eastern slopes below the village of Ain
Qani. The trail then passes over an
aqueduct belonging to an old water
mill before arriving to the bridge of
Sheikh Houssein. Below the village of
Amatour the trail points south towards
the village of Haret Jandal and crosses
the Salman river before reaching the
bottom of the Barouk valley. It then
runs along the Barouk river, crosses
over a small stone bridge at the Ain el
Zatoun stream, and ends in Marj
Bisri, as well as the trail can start in
Barouk or Maasser el Shouf.
The Lebanon
Mountain Trail
182
The Lebanon Mountain Trail (LMT) is the first long-distance hiking

trail in Lebanon and the region. It extends from Andqet in the
north to Marjaayoun in the south. The 470 km path transects more
than 75 towns and villages at altitudes ranging from 600 meters to
2,000 meters above sea level. The LMT showcases the natural beauty
and cultural wealth of Lebanon's mountains and demonstrates the determination of the Lebanese people to conserve this unique heritage.
The trail also brings communities closer together and expands economic opportunities in rural areas through environmentally and socially
responsible tourism. The trail is divided into 27 sections of which six
sections (about 100 km) pass through the Shouf Biosphere Reserve and
are included in this guidebook. The Shouf Biosphere Reserve and the
LMT Association work together to protect and signpost the trail, and to
improve guesthouse services.
183
26 sections of the
Lebanon Mountain Trail
www.lebanontrail.org
LMT Section 17
184
Falougha Ain Dara

Bmohrai Ain Zhalta/Nabe
Safa
This section of the LMT crosses
the main Beirut-Damascus highway before passing the Mghiti plain
and parallels the high peaks of the
Lebanon mountain range above the
relatively large towns of Ain Dara and
Ain Zhalta. The hiker will see cedar
trees near Falougha and Bmohray
(). The main highlights of this
section are the scenic views of the
Lamartine valley, the village square
in Bmohray and the water spring and
pine forest at Nabeh Safa ()
There is plenty of snow in the winter
but for the most part, the area remains accessible. This entire section
is suitable for biking.
Lodging
Soha Village (Falougha): Tarek
Halabi, Tel:+961 3 345 008 +961 3 136 298

Total uphill/downhill: 563 m/664 m
E-mail : info@sohavillage.com
Hotel el Rami (Falougha): Luis Rami,
Cell: +961 3 215937
Tel: +961 5 531690
Website: www.ramihotel.com
E-mail: info@ramihotel.com
Hussam el Eid Guest house (Ain
Zhalta): Hussam El Eid,
Tel: +961 3 217299
Wajdi el Zoor Guesthouse (Ain
Zhalta): Wajdi El Zoor,
Tel: +961 70 235453
MFDCL Ecolodge & Campsite
(Ramliye): Sawsan Abo Fakher
Eddine
Tel: +961 5 280430
Local Guides
Call the Shouf Biosphere Reserve
Tel: +961 5 350 250
185
LMT Section 18
186
Ain Zhalta / Nabeh Safa

Barouk/Fraidiss

This section of the LMT gives you an

excellent opportunity to see the extensive cedar forests that form part of the
network of protected areas throughout Lebanon. The trail climbs quite
steeply through the cedar forests and
then follows a ridge line for a long
distance, affording views of both the
Beqa valley ( ) to the east and
the Mediterranean to the west. The
main highlights are the cedar forests,
the panoramic views all the way to
Mount Hermon ( ) and some
very good bird watching. This entire
section is bike friendly.
MFDCL Ecolodge & Campsite

(Ramliye): Sawsan Abo Fakher
Eddine
Tel: +961 5 280430
Villages along this section

Ain Zhalta - El Barouk
Akram Guest house (Barouk):

Akram Mahmoud, Tel +961 3 829102
Lodging
Houssam el Eid Guest house (Ain
Zhalta): Houssam El Eid,
Tel: +961 3 217299
Local Guides
Tel: +961 5 350250
Wajdi el Zouer Guesthouse (Ain

Zhalta): Wajdi El Zouer
Tel: +961 70 235453
El Barouk Palace Hotel (Barouk):
Hafez Mahmoud, Tel: +961 5 240251
Boustani Guesthouse (Barouk): Ziad
Boustani, Tel: +961 3 633062
+961 5 240036
187
LMT Section 19
188
Barouk/Fraidiss Maasser el
Shouf
This section of the LMT begins in the
village of Barouk/Fraidis and passes
through parts of the Al Shouf Cedar
Nature Reserve at both Barouk and
Maasser el Shouf. Walking is mostly
on footpaths in the reserve. The main
highlights are cedar forests, scenic
overlooks, and panoramic views.
Barouk - Maasser el Shouf
Lodging
Tourist Rest (Barouk): Hafez
Mahmoud, Tel: 00961 3 630056
00961 3 231768
Boustani Guesthouse (Barouk): Ziad
Boustani, Tel: +961 3 633062 +961 5 240036
Akram Guest house (Barouk):
Akram Mahmoud, Tel +961 3 829102

Auberge St. Michael (arcenciel)

(Maasser el Shouf),
Tel: +961 5 350452 - +961 5 350451
Nazih Baz Guesthouse (Baadarane):
Nazih Baz, Tel: +961 3 702944
Local Guides
Tel: +961 5 350250/150
189
LMT Section 20
190
Maasser el Shouf Mrosti

Baadarane Jebaa - Niha
This section of the LMT passes
through the highest cultivated areas
of the Shouf at the foot of the Shouf
mountain peaks where springs
abound. The LMT offers two loops
that increase the hikers opportunities to explore the high country of
the Shouf. In this section, an 8-km
segment from Niha Square to Nabi
Ayoub Shrine and Niha Fort is bike
friendly.
Maasser el Shouf - Khreibeh Mrosti Baadarane Jebaa - Niha
Lodging
Auberge St. Michael (arcenciel)
(Maasser el Chouf):
Tel: +961 5 350452 - +961 5 350451
Nazih Baz Guesthouse (Baadarane):
Tel: +961 3 702944

Chafik Mershad Guesthouse (Niha):

Tel: +961 5 330755, +961 76 703168
Selim al Achkar Guesthouse
(Khreibeh): Tel: +961 3 354558
Local Guides
Tel: +961 5 350 250.
191
LMT Section 21
192
Niha - Jezzine
This section of the LMT begins in the
village of Niha. It climbs steeply to the
Nabi Ayoub shrine ( ) and
the Niha fort before heading south to
Jezzine. The panoramic views over
the valley to the west are superb, and
there are many springs on the way. In
this section, an 8-km segment from
Niha Square to Nabi Ayoub shrine
and Niha fort is bike friendly.
Lodging
Chafik Mershad Guesthouse (Niha):
Tel: +961 5 330755
Iris Flower Hotel (Jezzine):
Tel: +961 70 449305, +961 7 781999
Rizk Plaza Motel (Jezzine):
Tel: +961 7 781066
Local Guides
Chafik Mershad (Niha):
Tel: +961 5 330755, +961 76 703168

Total uphill / downhill: 48 m/540 m
Difficulty Level: Easy to moderate
Raed Zeidan (Mrosti):
Tel: +961 5 330368, +961 70 309439
Habib El Helou (Jezzine):
Tel: +961 3 720774
193
LMT Section 22
194
Jezzine Aitanit
This section of the LMT starts in
Jezzine and follows a long foot path
through a valley and then over the main
range of mountains into the Bekaa
valley () . There are occasional
forests along the way, as well as
panoramic views toward Niha, Mount
Hermon () , and Lake Qaraoun
() . The trail also passes
interesting geological formations, and
an oak forest with some very old trees.
Getting there
To reach Jezzine (), take the coastal
highway southbound from Beirut to
Saida (). In Saida, use the by-pass
road to avoid the congested downtown
area, and follow the signpost(s) for
a left turn to Jezzine after the third
traffic circle. The road passes through
the villages of Abra (), Kfar Falous
( )and Rom ( )as you climb to
Jezzine.
To reach Aitanit (), take the Damascus highway into the Beqa valley
Trail length: 16 km
Total uphill / downhill: 837 m/814 m
Difficulty Level: moderate
() . At Chtaura (), turn right

to Aitanit, passing Kefraya (), and
Saghbine (). All roads are paved
and public transportation is available
to both places. Estimated distances:
Beirut to Jezzine: 71 km; Beirut to
Aitanit: 79 km.
Lodging
Chafik Merchad Guesthouse (Niha):
Iris Flower Hotel (Jezzine):
Tel: +961 70 449305
Rizk Plaza Motel (Jezzine):
Tel: +961 7 781066
La maison de la fort (Bkessine):
Tel: +961 3 911984
Faysal el Halabi (Aana ):
Tel: +961 8 566578 - +961 3 330413
Local Guides
Selim Karam (Jezzine)
Tel: +961 3 364987
Habib El Helou (Jezzine
Tel: +961 3 720774
Chafik Merchad (Niha):
Tel: +961 5 330755, +961 76 703168
195
Other Activities
196
197
198
199
Biking
Bicycles are available at the Park House in Maasser for use on different
trails and roads in the SBR. (See Eco-tourism Packages)
meters near the Barouk cedar forest. Individuals and organizations wishing to contribute to the program may do so by adopting a cedar. For $150
a cedar will be planted bearing the name of the person who adopted it.
Snowshoeing
Local festivals
Strap on your snowshoes and enjoy a walk through the snow covered
cedar forests. Snowshoes are available for participants who want to enjoy
this safe sport and can be rented at the Park House in Maasser, or from the
Ain Zhalta/Bmohray and Barouk entrances.
During September of every year the villages surrounding the Shouf

Biosphere Reserve hold various festivals attended by a wide range of visitors and local residents. Local cuisine, traditional products, artefacts,
games and outdoor activities are available. The most prominent of these
festivals are held in:
Village tours
These tours will allow the tourist to explore typical Lebanese villages and
become familiar with archaeological and historical monuments, geological
attractions, old houses and traditional cuisine. (See Towns and Villages
section)
Adopt a Cedar - Cedars Forever

In an effort to restore Lebanon's mountains to their original glory the
Cedars Forever organization plans to plant hundreds of thousands of
cedar trees over a period of 10 years in a barren area of 14 million square
Maasser el Shouf Jabalna (),

Mrosti Mawassem Mrosti () ,
Khreibeh and Botmeh () ,
Barouk water festival () .
The main objective of the local festivals is to attract visitors and promote
the sale of fresh fruits and traditional food products grown in the Shouf
area. The local festivals also raise awareness about the need to protect the
environment and its precious resources. These festivals are a good example of stakeholder collaboration because they are a cooperative effort
organized by the Shouf Biosphere Reserve and village farmers and
residents.
The Beiteddine
International
Festival
The Beiteddine Art Festival is one of the leading festivals in the

Middle East. It takes place in the magnificent 200-year old
Beiteddine Palace built by the Emir Bachir in the Shouf Mountains.
Each year, in the months of July and August, the Festival presents
outstanding musical and theatrical performances by world famous stars
and Lebanese artists.
Museums
200
Beiteddine Palace Museum: Beiteddine Palace is a 19th century palace

in Beiteddine, built by Emir Bachir Shehab. the palace is home to an
archaeological and ethnographic museum as well as Byzantine Mosaic
museum.
Address: Beiteddine
Marie Baz Museum: this wax museum features the country's most
prominent rulers and politicians.
Address: Deir el Qamar
Moussa Castle: built by Moussa Al Maamari who engraved each stone
with decorative figures and different scenes, illustrating village life in
the 19th century in Lebanon.
Address: Deir el Qamar
201
Eco-tourism
Packages
The goals of ecotourism in protected areas should always focus on

conserving the environment, enhancing the quality of life for local
communities, and improving the tourism product and/or service.
The Shouf Biosphere Reserve has already achieved some of these goals but
further progress requires a national commitment to protected areas, and
support to tourism opportunities that benefit conservation. We must not
forget that tourism, if not well controlled, can have negative impact on the
environment so the design of ecotourism activities needs to remain a top
priority. The Shouf Biosphere Reserve Ecotourism Strategy, as part of the
Management Plan, focuses on the role of ecotourism as an effective step in
reconciling conservation of biodiversity with economic development.
The Shouf Biosphere Reserve provides a wide selection of eco-tourism
packages and activities to all nature lovers whether on the mountain tops or
in the river valleys. Visitors can meet people in the villages and taste the
most delicious traditional plates and rural products in addition to visiting the
important hidden attractions around the Reserve. On the eastern side of the
reserve visitors can enjoy the panoramic view of the Bekaa valley and bird
watching in the Ammiq wetland.
202
203
Wetland
Packages
Mountain
Packages
204
205
Mountain Package 1: One day
Wetland Package 1: One day
Hiking in the Reserve with local

guide (2-3 hours)
Traditional lunch at a guesthouse
Village cultural tour with local guide
Visit Maasser Park House

Visit Maasser forest (hiking 1 hour)
Lunch at Tawlet Ammiq
Afternoon visit to the Ammiq
wetland (1 hour)
Mountain Package 2:
One day/One night
2 Village cultural tours with local

guides
Accommodation at local guesthouse

(dinner + overnight + breakfast)
Hiking in the Reserve with local
guide (2-3 hours)
Traditional lunch at a guesthouse
Village cultural tour with local guide
The mountain packages are also

available in the winter season using
snowshoes.
Mountain Package 3:
Two days/One night
Accommodation at local guesthouse
(dinner + overnight + breakfast)
2 Hikes in the Reserve with local
guides (2-3 hours)
2 Traditional lunches at different
guesthouses
Wetland Package 2:
One day/One night
Accommodation at the guesthouse
with dinner
Visit Maasser Park House
Visit Maasser forest (Hiking 1 hour)
Afternoon visit to the wetland (1 hour)
Wetland Package 3: One day

Visit Barouk or Ain Zhalta/Bmohray
Cedar Forest
Hiking to Ammiq old village (2-4
hours)
Wetland visit in the afternoon
Wetland Package 4:
One day/One night
Accommodation at the guesthouse
with dinner
Visit Barouk or Ain Zhalta / Bmohray
Cedar Forest
Hiking to Ammiq old village (2-4
hours)
Wetland visit in the afternoon
Afternoon visit to the wetland (1 hour)
Biking/School
Package
206
207
This 35 km biking tour of locals

villages is on paved roads and
begins in Ain Zhalta/ Bmohray, then
passes through Barouk, Maasser,
Khraibeh, Baadarane, Mrosti and
Jebaa and ends at Niha. A biking
station is well equipped in the Park
House in Maasser el Shouf.
For more professional mountain
bikers there are designated trails
and dirt roads in the Reserve such as
Sections 17, 18 and 20 of the Lebanon
Mountain Trail.
In the Bekaa valley there is a well
known biking trail on the asphalt road
School Packages
Audio-visual introduction to
the Reserve
Hiking in the Reserve
Environmental games
Lunch box
starting from Ammiq wetland to the

Quaroun lake.
Where To Stay
The guesthouses around the Shouf Biosphere
Reserve offer an unforgettable experience in a
comfortable atmosphere where authentic Lebanese
dishes are prepared at home. The owners are warm and
open and will welcome you as a member of the family.
208
209
210
211
Guesthouses
Ziad Bustanis Guesthouse
Barouk

Capacity: 6 persons
Tel: +961 5 240036 +961 3 633062
Akram Mahmouds Guesthouse

Barouk
Capacity: 6 Persons
Tel: +961 3 829102
+961 5 240882
Beit el Hana Guesthouse

Maasser el Shouf

Capacity: 12 persons
Tel: +961 5 350250 +961 5 350452
Houssam El Eid Guesthouse

Ain Zhalta

Tel: +961 5 311999
+961 3 354558
Nazih Bazs Guesthouse

Baadarane

Capacity: 6 persons
Tel: +961 3 217299

Capacity: 8 persons
Tel: +961 5 311191
+961 3 702944
Salim Achkars Guesthouse

Khreibeh
Chafik Merchads Guesthouse

Niha

Capacity: 8 persons
Tel: +961 5 330755 +961 76 703168
Hostels
Auberge St. Michael Youth hostel
Maasser el Shouf
Tel: +961 5 350451
+961 5 350452
Wood Cabins of Baadarane

Baadarane
Tel: +961 5 311191
+961 3 702944
Hotels
Mir Amine Beiteddine

Tel: +961 5 501315 +961 5 501318
212
213
Tourist Rest Barouk

Tel: +961 3 630056 +961 3 231768
Iris Flower Hotel Jezzine

Capacity: 21 rooms
Tel: +961 70 449305
Macharef Saghbine Hotel

Saghbine
Tel: +961 8671200
Al Khraysat Hotel
Khirbet Qanafar

Tel: +961 8645190/1
West Bekaa Country Club

Khirbet Qanafar
Tel: +961 8 645601/2/3
Soha Village Falougha

Tel: +961 3 136298
Where To Eat
Lebanese restaurants know how to spice up a meal and guarantee

an authentic ambiance and dining experience to satisfy anyone's
taste. They offer a rich traditional cuisine famous for its assorted
mezze dishes in a pleasant environment. Quality control is an integral
feature of the restaurants recommended in this guidebook. All meats,
poultry, vegetables and fruits arrive daily. Service and quality go hand in
hand to provide guests with a well-deserved experience in fine dining.
214
215
216
217
Tawlet Ammiq ()
Tawlet Ammiq is the eco-restaurant
of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve located in the Ammiq Park House
overlooking the Bekaa valley. The
restaurant was built to be environmentally friendly, to showcase the
culinary traditions of the region, and
to support the small farmers of the
Bekaa. It has become a must for
those wishing to enjoy the best of
Lebanese cooking.
Tawlet Ammiq offers:
A producers festive buffet on
weekends, where cooks from the
region share the best produce from
their land (Saturday and Sunday from
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm)
Private functions, events, and
conference facilities (upon booking)
Wines of the Bekaa boutique and
events
Cooking classes and Wines of

the Bekaa appreciation sessions
(upon booking)
Chateau Kefraya Le
Relais Dionysos
Dekenet Ammiq for a selection of

regional foods mouneh,
handcrafts, and publications
The Chateau is located near the

intersection of the Qab Elias
Saghbine highway and the Kefraya
Maasser el Shouf road. Chateau
Kefraya produces fine wines with
grapes grown in Kefraya and all the
stages of the wine making process
take place on the estate.
Information on environmental
and eco-tourisim activities in and
around the Reserve
Contact: +961 3 004481
Le Relais Dionysos is a fine restaurant adjacent to the Chateau Kefraya

showroom where you can lunch or
dine. It offers a subtle cuisine combining traditional Lebanese mezze
and western delicacies accompanied
with chateau Kefraya wines.
Contact: +961 8 645333 /444
Baytna ()
Baytna, a charming family
restaurant overlooking the Barouk
river, is located on the main road of
the Barouk Batloun highway. This
restaurant is distinguished by the
vaulted arches of its indoor dining
area that date back two hundred
years. Baytna provides an excellent
mezze and barbequed meat in a
calm atmosphere.
Contact: +961 5 240540
218
219
Al-Challalat ()
Located on the main road in the
Barouk village with an amazing view
of the waterfalls. In addition to
delicious Lebanese food the
restaurant is equipped for large
groups and events.
Contact: +961 3 387228
Tourist Rest ()
Located near the Barouk cedar
forest entrance (500 m) it features
Lebanese and western menus
prepared by professional chefs.
There are also rooms where you can
spend the night in comfort.
Contact: +961 5 240587
Al Midyaf Parks &

Restaurants ()
Located on the main road in the
Barouk village with an amazing view

of the waterfalls. In addition to delicious Lebanese food and international cuisine.
Contact: +961 5 240578 +961 70 443318
El Yammine
()
Located on the main road in Nabeh

El Safa Ain Zhalta village. Savour
traditional Lebanese mezze, fresh
fish, grilled halal meats, and
much more or have a coffee and a
Lebanese narguile while seated
outdoors surrounded by waterfalls.
Contact: +961 5 230033 +961 3 746073 - +961 3 218216
Challalat Nabeh al Safa

()
Located on the main road of Nabeh
El Safa Ain Zhalta village.
Contact: +961 5 230030 +961 3 786180
Diarna Al Khadra
()
El Safa Ain Zhalta village.
Contact: +961 3 309756 +961 5 230333
Al Jazira ()
el Safa - Ain Zhalta village.
Contact: +961 3 498845
Pinacea Caf ()
Located near the Barouk cedar
forest entrance.
Contact: +961 3 596764
220
221
Local food products

The Al-Shouf Cedar Society (ACS)
launched its Rural Development
Program in 1999, to support local
communities by providing training
and marketing outlets for their food
products. There are currently 70 food
products carrying the Shouf Biosphere Reserve label that are produced in a traditional manner by
local community households. Production is currently being centralized
in three workshops located in Mrosti,
Baadarane, and Jebaa. Products are
sold at all the Reserve entrances
(Barouk, Maasser el Shouf, Ain
Zhalta/Bmohray, Niha and Tawlet
Ammiq, Mir Amine Hotel, Chteau
Kefraya, Kasr el Sultan Hotel- Aley,
Bristol Hotel- Hamra, etc.).
Selected list of products include:
Jams (apricot, bitter orange,
grape+almond, fig, fig+almond, rose,
fig, mulberry, walnut)
Honey (cedar honey, oak honey,

honey with bees wax, honey in pottery)
Syrups (mulberry, rose)
Distilled water (orange blossom,
rose)
Vinegar (apple)
Herbs (pollen seeds, sumac, thyme
with sesame, thyme + wild pine,
coriander and garlic)
Dairy & olive products (labneh baladi cow, labneh baladi goat,
olives with labneh)
Others (carob molasses,
pomegranate molasses)
Ain Wzein Hospital:

+961 5 509001/2/3/4/5/6 +961 3 707048
Irfan Medical Center: Semkanieh:
+961 5 501678 - +961 5 500877
Baakleen Medical Center: Baakline:
+961 5 300882
Reserve
Family
West Bekaa Region:
222
Useful Contacts
Red Cross: 140
Police: 112
Civil defence: 125
Information call center:
1515 land lines
Airport: +961 1 628 000
International calls: 100
Port of Beirut: +961 1 580211
Skaff Estate: Ammiq wetland:
+961 8 566777
Electricity offices: 1707
Fire Brigade: 175
The Shouf Biosphere Reserve:
+961 5 350250 /150
Hospitals
Shouf Region:
Barouk dispensary, Barouk:
+961 5 241018
Niha dispensary, Niha:
+961 5 330253
Committee: Charles Noujeim,

Michel Skaff, Faisal AbuIzzeddin, Elie Nakheh, Edward
Moughabghab, Joseph Malkoun,
Hassan Abou Hadir, Raja
Batlouni, Sami Haddad, Nasser
Zeidan, Nassim el Achkar
Team: Nizar Hani, Samer

Zebian, Faten Ghais, Kamal
Abou Assi, Mirna Riman, Talal
Riman, Akram Mahmoud, Chafik
Merchad, Houssam El Eid, Ramzi
Breik, Houssam Ghanem, Shadi
Kerbaj, Wissam Mahmoud,
Shawki Zeidan, Abbas Omar,
Zaher Halawi, Ajwad Azzam,
Ihab El Abanni, Samer Zeidan,
Moein Kleib, Tania El Zoer
Farhat Hospital: Job Jannine:

+961 8 660101, +961 8 660102
Chtaura Hospital: Chtaura:
+961 8 544022 / 023
Mais Hospital: Chtaura:
+961 8 825100, +961 8 542300 / 301
Reyak Hospital: Reyak:
+961 8 900754, +961 8 901302 / 303
Bekaa Hospital: Taalabaya:
+961 8 543150 / 153
Khoury General Hospital: Zahle:
+961 8 811180, +961 8 807000
Libano Francais Hospital: Zahle:
+961 8 810 121 / 125
Tel Chiha Hospital: Zahle:
+961 8 807781 / 784 / 785
Municipalities on the
western slope
Amatour: +961 3 708524
Ain Dara: +961 5 220016
Ain Qani: +961 5 310196
Ain Zhalta: +961 3 260510
Ain W Zein: +961 5 508101
Baadarane: +961 5 311321
Barouk: +961 5 240222
Bater: +961 3 858888
Batloun: +961 3 215826
Bmohray: +961 3 748823
Botmeh: +961 5 311011
Haret Jandal: +961 3 847766
Jebaa: +961 5 330015
Khreibeh: +961 5 310298
Maasser el Shouf: +961 5 350380
Moukhtara: +961 5 311234
Mrosti: +961 3 246497
Niha: +961 5 330002
Useful Words In Arabic

Greetings and useful words
Good Morning: Sabah el kheir /

Sabaho
Good Evening: Masa el Kheir
How are you?: Kifak?
Good: Mneeh
Thank you: Shukran
Welcome: Ahlan wa sahlan
Yes: Na3am
No: La
I want: Badde
How much?: Adday?
Getting around
Bus : Bosta
Taxi : Taxi/Service
Bus stop or taxi stop: Mawkaf
Road : Tareek
Street: Shareh
Bridge : Jisr
House: Beit
Highway: Autostrad
Gasoline : Benzine
Gaz station: Mhatat benzin
Village: Dayaa
City: Madineh
Post office: Bareed
Police: Shortah/Darak
In the Reserve
Mountain: Jabal
Hill: Talleh
Valley: Wadi
River: Naher
Lake: Bohaira
Sea: Baher
Spring: Aain/Ain
Forest : Ghabeh
Wood: Horsh
Cedar : Arz
Reserve : Mahmiyyeh
Sun: Shams
Wind : Hawa
Day: Nahar
Night: Layl
Birds: Touyour/Asafeer
223
Useful Words In Arabic

Mammals: Thadyiyat
Trees: Ashjar
Plants: Nabatat
Nature: Tabiaa
Birds: Aasafir
Eating out
224
Breakfast: Terwika
Lunch: Ghada
Diner : Aacha
Bill: Fatoura
Plate: Sahn
Knife: Sikkin
Spoon: Malaaqa
Salt: Meleh
Pepper: Bhar
Butter: Zebdeh
Coffe: Qahweh
Tea: Chay
Water: Maii
Cheese: Jebneh
Yogurt: Laban
Olive oil: Zayt zaytoun
Olives: Zaytoun
Bread : Khobez/Khebez
Wine: Nabith
Table: Tawleh
Accommodations
Hotel: Hotel/Fondoq
Guest house: Bayt el Diyafeh
Reservation: Hajez
Room: Ghorfeh/Oudah
Bed: Takhet
Hot water: Mayy sokhneh
Electricity: Kahraba
1 night: Layleh wehdeh
2 nights: Laylteyn
Municipalities on the
eastern slope
Aana: +961 8 566776
Ain Zebde: +961 8 670405
Aitanit: +961 3 612771
Ammiq: +961 8 566606
Bab Mareh: +961 3 360112
Qab Elias: +961 8 500721/2/3
Kefraya: +961 8 645099
Khirbet Qanafar: +961 8 645070
Machgara: +961 8 650400
Saghbine: +961 8 670570
Popular Tourist Stops:

Moussa Castle:
+961 5 500106 - +961 3 411144
Opening hours:
May Oct. from: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Nov. April from: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Marie Baz Wax Museum:
+ 961 5 512777 - +961 3 756000
Beiteddine Palace:
+961 5 500077
Opening hours:
April Oct.: Tues. Sun.: from: 9:00
AM to 6:00 PM
Nov. May: Tues. Sun.: from: 9:00
AM to 3:45 PM

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Shouf Biosphere Reserve - Field Guide and Information Booklet

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Since 2009 the Italian Development Cooperation has taken a special interest

in the activities of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve - in particular supporting the

Compiled by: Wissam Khalil and Nizar Hani

The sole responsibility for the content of this

Lebanon and the Cedar Tree

The Shouf Biosphere Reserve

Flora and Fauna of the Reserve

Insects in the Reserve

People of the Reserve

Visiting the Reserve

Hiking in the Reserve

The Cedar Tree

The geography of the country consists of a coastal plain, two

Lebanon enjoys a pleasant Mediterranean climate with about 300 sunny

Al-Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve/Shouf Biosphere Reserve

Location of nature reserves

Management zones of the

The core zone

From the summit of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve there is a panoramic

Villages surrounding the

A large proportion of the exposed surface rock in the Barouk mountain

Nabe el Safa () : located in Ain Zhalta

Flora & Fauna

sea level, woodlands

Distribution: South Europe, West Asia

Distribution: Europe, North Africa,

Distribution: East Mediterranean

Distribution: Lebanon, Syria,

Distribution:South Europe, Turkey,

Distribution: Balkan and

Distribution:Turkey, Iraq, Syria,

Distribution:Turkey, Syria and

Distribution:Turkey, Syria, Lebanon

Distribution: South and Middle

Distribution: Lebanon, Syria and

Distribution: Iran, Iraq, Turkey,

Flowering time: January - April

Distribution: Spain, Portugal, North

Distribution: Mediterranean Region

Distribution: Lebanon and Syria

Distribution:Turkey, Syria, Lebanon,

Distribution:Europe, North Africa,

Distribution: Turkey, Syria, Lebanon,

Distribution: Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria

Distribution: Caucasus, Turkey, Syria,

Distribution: Turkey, Lebanon and

Distribution: Turkey, Syria, Lebanon,

The Shouf Biosphere Reserve is one of the last remaining areas in

Reptiles and Amphibians

General information: Strong, brave,

Weight: 28-40 grs

Weight: 3-6 kg.

General information: A real highland

General information: Instantly

General information: It is a summer

General information: The Jay has an

General information: The Barn swallow is an attractive bird which feeds on

General information: Black Kites are

General information: In flight, the

General information: Greenfinches nest

General information: The European

General information: The orioles are a

General information: The Honey

General information: It is an elegant

Adult size (approx.): 12 cm

Adult size 3-5 cm