🌲 Discover Chouf District, Lebanon – Cedars, Palaces & Mountain Charm

📍 Chouf District, Mount Lebanon Governorate

📅 Best Time to Visit: April to June | September to November

✨ Why Visit Chouf in 2025?

The Chouf (or Shouf) is where Lebanon’s soul meets its greenest heart. Nestled in the Mount Lebanon range, this region is a haven of cedar forests, historical palaces, winding roads, and authentic village life. It offers a mix of cultural depth and outdoor adventure that's rare to find so close to Beirut.

Whether you're chasing hiking trails, organic food, or history tours, Chouf offers all in a peaceful, slow-travel setting.

---

🏞️ Top Attractions in the Chouf

1. 🌲 Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve

Rating: 4.9/5
The largest nature reserve in Lebanon, home to majestic Cedar of Lebanon trees, some over 2,000 years old. Offers scenic hiking, birdwatching, and eco-cabins.

• Popular hikes: Maasser el Shouf loop trail, Ain Zhalta forest walk

• Wildlife: Gazelles, hyenas, eagles, and over 250 bird species

2. 🏰 Beiteddine Palace

Rating: 4.8/5
A 19th-century masterpiece with mosaic courtyards, hammams, and ornate ceilings. Built by Emir Bashir, it's a stunning fusion of Lebanese and Italian design.

• Hosts the Beiteddine Art Festival (music, opera, theatre) in summer

3. 🏛️ Deir el Qamar

Rating: 4.7/5
A picturesque mountain village that was once the capital of Mount Lebanon. Known for its stone houses, churches, and traditional Lebanese atmosphere.

• Visit the Fakhreddine Mosque and Marie Baz Wax Museum

---

🍃 Eco & Cultural Experiences

• Eco-souk in Maasser El Chouf – Local honey, za’atar, jam, handmade soaps

• Stay in an eco-lodge like Bkerzay, offering slow food, pottery workshops, and forest spa

• Druze heritage tours with local storytellers in Baakline or Barouk

---

🍽️ Where to Eat

Top Picks:

• Mir Amin Palace Restaurant – Dine like royalty with palace views

• Baytna al Ateeq (Deir el Qamar) – Authentic Lebanese mezze in a stone courtyard

• Al Midan (Barouk) – Homey dishes with a forest backdrop

---

🏨 Where to Stay

• Mir Amin Palace Hotel – 5-star stay in an actual palace

• Bkerzay Eco-Retreat – Designer cabins in nature

• Deir al Oumara – Renovated convent-turned-boutique hotel

---

📸 Instagram-Worthy Spots

• Sunset behind the Beiteddine Palace arches

• Fog rolling over the cedars from Maasser cliffs

• Village balconies draped in flowers in Deir el Qamar

• Stone paths of Barouk Reserve in golden hour light

---

🚗 Getting There

• From Beirut: About 1.5 hours by car

• Car is best: Lets you explore freely between villages and reserves

• Public options: Service taxis from Cola to Beiteddine or Deir el Qamar (less frequent)

---

🧳 Travel Tips

• Wear layers – mountain air gets chilly, especially at night

• Most places are cash-friendly but not card-friendly

• Visit on weekdays to avoid weekend crowds, especially in reserves

• Pack walking shoes – many towns are best explored on foot

---

🌿 Bonus Experience: Hike + Harvest

In spring, many villages offer “olive picking” or “herbs foraging” tours. You can hike in the forest, pick wild za'atar, and have a homemade meal with local families. Ask around in Maasser or Baakline.