Which rivers in Lebanon to explore this summer?
Chouwen (Kesrouan)
Chouwen Lake, located in the Jabal Moussa Reserve, has been a favorite spot for tourists and residents for years. A moderately difficult to difficult 3.6 km hike is required to reach it, according to the Association for the Protection of Jabal Moussa. "Picnicking, camping and water activities (kayaking, rafting, etc.) are prohibited there to protect ecosystems and ensure visitor safety," the association explains. In addition, "swimming in the deep area of the lake is not recommended due to currents." Admission is $4 per person and $2 for those under 16 from Monday to Friday. On weekends and holidays, it is $8 per person and $4 for those under 16.
Jahliyeh and Baakline (Chouf)
Very busy on weekends, the Jahliyeh river draws so many people that sometimes it's hard to find a spot, according to Nasim Abou Thiab, the village's mokhtar. Restaurants line the banks, and even if you do not want to order, you can rent a chair for $5.
A few kilometers away, the Baakline river offers a similar experience, with cafes and pools fed by the watercourse. This river is also very crowded on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Assi River (Hermel)
Known for rafting, the Assi river is located not far from the Syrian border. However, this region has been heavily affected by the recent war. "We offer four levels of rafting and, for those who stay overnight on site, a nighttime descent. (There are other activities as well) such as hiking, swimming and kayaking," explains Nouredine Makhour, who works at the Rafting Squad Club in Hermel. Accommodation options include a closed Canadian tent to keep out insects or a guest room in an old stone house.
Rafting costs $20 per person. A tourist visit including a zipline is $15. Those who do not wish to participate in these activities can picnic by the river, which is free to access. Nouredine Makhour adds that the river is suitable for swimming: "Proof of this is the fish in the Assi, especially salmon, are exported abroad."
Bisri River (South Lebanon)
Bordered by cafes and restaurants, the Bisri river crosses a 6 million square meter valley between the Chouf and Jezzine districts. According to Karim Kanaan, an engineer and activist from the region, there are clean spots in the river where you can swim, but in other areas, there is sewage. To know where to swim, "it is recommended to have a local guide." The best time to swim in the clean spots is "at the end of winter and the beginning of spring, when the water is purest, potable, and plentiful," he says.
The activist notes that access to the river is free because the entire valley belongs to the state, and it is therefore forbidden to charge entrance fees. This site made headlines a few years ago. In 2020, the World Bank canceled a dam project after environmentalists mobilized against it.
Other areas of South Lebanon
Some rivers, usually popular, are now inaccessible due to the conflict. According to the mayor of Hasbaya, restaurants near the Hasbani river are still open, but attendance rates reach only 30%. As for the parks of Wazzani, they are completely destroyed, and anyone who approaches is at risk of being shot at by Israelis, according to a village mokhtar.
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L'Orient-Le Jour
a day ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Which rivers in Lebanon to explore this summer?
During the summer, the rivers of Lebanon offer an alternative to beaches, with their cold water and cooler environment. However, many are now polluted, and some prefer to avoid South Lebanon and the Bekaa due to near-daily Israeli strikes, despite the cease-fire agreed last November between Hezbollah and Israel. L'Orient Today suggests four rivers to discover. Chouwen (Kesrouan) Chouwen Lake, located in the Jabal Moussa Reserve, has been a favorite spot for tourists and residents for years. A moderately difficult to difficult 3.6 km hike is required to reach it, according to the Association for the Protection of Jabal Moussa. "Picnicking, camping and water activities (kayaking, rafting, etc.) are prohibited there to protect ecosystems and ensure visitor safety," the association explains. In addition, "swimming in the deep area of the lake is not recommended due to currents." Admission is $4 per person and $2 for those under 16 from Monday to Friday. On weekends and holidays, it is $8 per person and $4 for those under 16. Jahliyeh and Baakline (Chouf) Very busy on weekends, the Jahliyeh river draws so many people that sometimes it's hard to find a spot, according to Nasim Abou Thiab, the village's mokhtar. Restaurants line the banks, and even if you do not want to order, you can rent a chair for $5. A few kilometers away, the Baakline river offers a similar experience, with cafes and pools fed by the watercourse. This river is also very crowded on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Assi River (Hermel) Known for rafting, the Assi river is located not far from the Syrian border. However, this region has been heavily affected by the recent war. "We offer four levels of rafting and, for those who stay overnight on site, a nighttime descent. (There are other activities as well) such as hiking, swimming and kayaking," explains Nouredine Makhour, who works at the Rafting Squad Club in Hermel. Accommodation options include a closed Canadian tent to keep out insects or a guest room in an old stone house. Rafting costs $20 per person. A tourist visit including a zipline is $15. Those who do not wish to participate in these activities can picnic by the river, which is free to access. Nouredine Makhour adds that the river is suitable for swimming: "Proof of this is the fish in the Assi, especially salmon, are exported abroad." Bisri River (South Lebanon) Bordered by cafes and restaurants, the Bisri river crosses a 6 million square meter valley between the Chouf and Jezzine districts. According to Karim Kanaan, an engineer and activist from the region, there are clean spots in the river where you can swim, but in other areas, there is sewage. To know where to swim, "it is recommended to have a local guide." The best time to swim in the clean spots is "at the end of winter and the beginning of spring, when the water is purest, potable, and plentiful," he says. The activist notes that access to the river is free because the entire valley belongs to the state, and it is therefore forbidden to charge entrance fees. This site made headlines a few years ago. In 2020, the World Bank canceled a dam project after environmentalists mobilized against it. Other areas of South Lebanon Some rivers, usually popular, are now inaccessible due to the conflict. According to the mayor of Hasbaya, restaurants near the Hasbani river are still open, but attendance rates reach only 30%. As for the parks of Wazzani, they are completely destroyed, and anyone who approaches is at risk of being shot at by Israelis, according to a village mokhtar.
L'Orient-Le Jour
a day ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Donkey race, fruit festivals and saints' days: Lebanese summer traditions you won't want to miss
As the heat settles over Lebanon's hills and valleys, village squares fill with music, laughter and the scent of home-cooked food. Summer here is more than just a season; it's a return to roots. Families gather from cities and abroad, and old traditions come alive once again in festivals tied to land, faith and memory. The traditions support small economies, encourage the Lebanese diaspora to come home and keep long-standing traditions alive. Here's how Lebanese villages are keeping these customs alive: Cherry Picking in Hammana Each June, the mountain village of Hammana (Baabda district) paints itself in red, black and gold as local cherry trees bloom. Known for the fruit, people from all across the country flock to the town's annual Cherry Festival. The event celebrates the harvest with a full day of cherry picking, musical performances and cultural exhibitions alongside stalls overflowing with fresh cherries, jams, desserts, juices and more. Local artisans display handicrafts, while children enjoy activities and families take part in folk dances and live music. Visitors have the opportunity to pick cherries directly from the orchards, with some tours including hiking and discovering the cultural heritage of Hammana. The Donkey Race in Roum In the village of Roum, nestled in Jezzine's green mountains, a peculiar and cherished tradition made its comeback after more than 10 years: The Donkey Race. 'After 10 years of not hosting the race due to internal crises within the municipality, including over three years without a municipal head, we tried to revive it as part of my promises as a candidate,' Johnny Haddad, head of the Municipality of Roum, told L'Orient Today. 'The race is part of Roum Festivals, which traditionally took place every summer." The festival begins on its first day with the agricultural fair, showcasing the village's local products — from clay and grapes to olive oil and olives. The opening also includes plays for children and various activities spread over three days. The event usually brings locals from several southern districts, including Jezzine, Saida, Nabatieh and even from Beirut. Donkeys in colorful ribbons line up for a 220-meter sprint down the village square, accompanied by 12 horsemen and a cheering crowd. The donkeys usually have playful names like Neswanje (womanizer), Shayef Halo (showoff), Mkarkab (clumsy), Jahlen (in love in his old age), and Ghannoujet Bayya (daddy's girl). "After the race, the attendees gathered for a traditional wedding night performance by local artists Charbel Haddad and Jessy Jarjoura," Haddad said. The Fig Festival in Majdal al-Meoush Perched in the Chouf district, the village of Majdal al-Meoush is so famous for its figs that sellers across Lebanon often call their own produce 'Meoush figs' to lure customers. Every summer, the village hosts a fig festival where 'all farmers in the region are invited to share their produce,' Georgina Merhej, an employee at the municipality, told L'Orient Today. 'The figs in Majdal al-Meoush are special and known for their quality.' The event, supported by the municipality, transforms the village into a local market and cultural gathering space. Vendors line the streets and public squares with tables full of homemade fig-based products — from jams and dried figs to cakes, juices, and traditional Chouf dishes made with local ingredients. Local women offer home-cooked meals and desserts, while others sell handmade crafts and mouneh, giving the event a distinctly communal and self-sustaining character. Throughout the day, visitors walk through the market, talk with farmers and taste samples of what the region has to offer. In the evenings, the focus shifts to the village square. Locals bring out instruments and spontaneous music breaks out. Saints' Festivals in the Bekaa Across Lebanon's Christian villages, especially in the Bekaa Valley, summer is marked by religious celebrations that bring together food, prayer and entire communities. These saint festivals often coincide with feast days and revolve around local churches, attracting people from nearby towns as well as Lebanese living abroad who make a point of returning to celebrate. Eid al-Saydeh (Saint Mary Festival) is one of the country's most important annual gatherings. Locals gather around the church to cook and serve hrisseh — a traditional wheat-and-meat dish — free to all attendees. In Rashaya, the festival has a rural and homemade feel. Michel Daoud, a local who regularly attends, described the traditions: 'For Eid al-Saydeh, people bring homemade sweets, cakes, stuffed grape leaves, rice with chicken, tabbouleh, kebabs — all traditional food made at home. They sell it to support the church.' He added, 'Grapes and figs are always offered to guests. It's part of our hospitality.' In Deir al-Ahmar (Baalbeck district), the celebration is a neighborhood affair. 'In front of every house, you'll find food and drinks offered to visitors,' Daoud explained to L'Orient Today. 'It's like one big open street festival in Christian areas.' Further south, in Kfar Meshki (Rashaya district), the Mar Elias Festival on July 21 includes religious processions, children's games, music and food stands selling traditional preserves and church-related items. In Beit Lahya (Rashaya district), the celebration features a traditional rural dinner with saj bread, fresh juices, dabke dancing and prayers. In September, the Elevation of the Cross draws crowds to streets lined with stands offering marshmallows, grilled corn, onions, and cotton candy in front of homes and churches. Beyond their religious significance, these festivals play an important economic role. 'It's a way to support the local economy,' said Daoud. 'A lot of people sell their homemade products, and you see Lebanese from all backgrounds coming together, not only Christians.' He noted that even locals who run shops selling clothes or accessories set up kiosks during the festivals. 'It's a very local, rural way of marketing their businesses.'
L'Orient-Le Jour
31-07-2025
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Forests, visual history and memory: Where to be this weekend in the Middle East
When every weekend blurs into a never-ending scroll of flyers, exhibitions and underground gigs, having too many options can feel a lot like having none. This is why every Thursday, L'Orient Today, in partnership with The MYM Agenda, is going to guide you through cultural happenings across the Middle East that are actually worth your time. Consider this your weekly shortcut to what matters in the region's buzzing cultural scene. Lebanon is celebrating its favorite season — summer — with its ruthless heat and overcrowded roads. If you caught last week's selections, you'll know Beirut's art scene is making the best of it, oversaturating its galleries and museums with bright colors and "biting and bold commentary" dissecting this controversial season. And if you still haven't found what you were looking for, here are two more picks to add to your agenda: Displaying 80 artworks from Phillipe Jaber's collection, the Nuhad Es-Said pavilion of the National Museum is retelling Lebanon's cultural history — through travel and film posters. Impressions of Paradise shows how these advertisements between the 1920s and 70s shaped Lebanon's image both locally and internationally. If you're curious to know what made tourists want to visit us back then and what our cinemas and airports looked like, without having to stuff your nose in a textbook, this exhibition is for you. It's a look into a pre-Civil War country, told through snapshots of everyday life. If you love a Lebanese summer but hate the heat, you can head to Art Scene Gallery in Gemmayzeh to soak in its colors and energy inside an air-conditioned space. Until the end of the month, the gallery is showing Endless Summer, a collective exhibition of local and regional artists who've taken the vibrant season as their muse, specifically the light and freedom it offers. If you're one of the rare Lebanese expats who weren't able to escape the UAE this month, or had to cut your trip short due to our lack of matcha raves, worry not, the space right down your street might have what you're looking for: The Louvre, Abu Dhabi, is offering special summer events where you'll be sure to find something to suit your fancy. The museum is showing the same caliber of timeless art you're used to, while offering astronomy and art camps and classes for you and your little ones. Looking for something a bit more active? Take a kayak ride or a private catamaran cruise across the premises, or book your own private photography session for your most artsy Instagram post yet. For more information, click here. "Everyman's Mountain," the debut solo show by Emirati artist and designer Omar al-Gurg, showing in Lawrie Shabibi Gallery in al-Quoz, takes you on a visual journey through Mount Kilimanjaro's rarely-seen ecological zones. The mountain's forests are usually seen as reclusive, a space that no one enters or exits from, but Gurg chooses to depict it with intimacy and detail, and to see the mountain not as a conquest, but as a living, breathing world. For more information, click here. Printed Nostalgia at Fire Station, Doha, is bringing back print. It features a staggering (record-breaking, I assume) 98 artists from around the world — chosen from over 300 submissions — as it builds a space to reflect on architecture, migration, culture and everyday life, turning personal experiences into shared visual stories. Through photography, collage, painting, illustration, and text, digital expressions are reimagined as tactile prints. The space invites you to join the artists in choosing a point in time in your memories, and allowing it to live its own visual life. Artist Samer Hourani displays Between Confession and Silence at the Orient Gallery in Amman, a series of painted portraits as dramatic as the title suggests. The biggest window into someone's personality is their face, its expressions and eyes, and Hourani takes you through the catalog of characters — and their associated emotions — that marked his life.
