Did you know you can ski in the Middle East? Head to Lebanon, which offers the best slopes in the region and the luxury hotel; Four Seasons Hotel Beirut is an ideal base for skiing in the region and exploring Beirut.
Lebanon’s six resorts are all within a couple of hours drive from Beirut, making them immediately accessible and well worth a visit on the weekend. Skiing is popular with the locals and the ski season sees slopes replete with locals and tourists alike. Each resort has something to offer and it seems that every skier has a personal favourite.
1. Mzaar is Lebanon’s most famous resort. Located by the villages of Faraya and Kfardebian, Mzaar offers a cosmopolitan resort and more than 80 kilometres of slopes at up to 2465 metres. Offering the country’s most challenging slopes as well as plenty of snow for beginners and intermediate skiers, too.
2. Faqra Club was one of the first private ski clubs in the country, set up in 1974. Visitors can stay at the resort and enjoy stunning chalets, a heated pool, tennis courts and other amenities. With a variety of slopes, the resort caters to all levels.
3. The Cedars Ski Resort has been in business since the early 1920s and is perfect for beginners, with gentle slopes accessed by wire-lifts. However, the resort also offers some of Lebanon’s best cross country skiing and great après-ski offerings. Found amid the famous Lebanese cedars, the resort is close to the birthplace of famous Lebanese writer Gibran Khalil Gibran and close to Bcharreh, the writer’s birthplace, where The Gibran Museum can be found.
4. Laklouk is the most beautiful ski resort in the Middle East and sits among breathtaking mountains and offers first class alpine and cross country skiing. Surrounded by raw natural beauty, the resort is close to the awe-inspiring Afqa cave and Balaa abyss. Stunning, Laklouk is somewhere utterly unique in the Middle East.
5. Zaarour is the closest resort to Beirut and is the smallest in Lebanon. Offering a wide range of activities, the site offers scenic views of the Sannine Mountain and a kilometre-long cross-country track for the more adventurous skiers out there.
6. Qanat Bakish is famous for the quality of its snow and for open slopes. The village of Qanat Bakish is one of the best preserved Lebanese towns and, together with the freedom found on its slopes, makes this resort something of a hidden wonder.
Lebanon is a diverse destination and the perfect place to ski for one day and to explore to the ancient wonders of Baalbek the next.
Stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Beirut on the sea. Situated just 1 minute walk from the beach and rising high above Beirut Marina, this Four Seasons Hotel boasts a rooftop pool with 360° views of sea, mountains and city. Rooms feature an elegant décor, designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon. For dinner, choose between several gourmet restaurants in the hotel or walk over to the waterfront cafés along Beirut Marina just 5 minutes away.
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