The Trails

The town of Qabb Elias - Wadi el-Delem is located at the entrance of the Bekaa Valley in the district of Zahleh and is one of the largest towns in the Bekaa after Zahleh and Baalbek.

Due to its strategic location, linking the western and central parts of the Bekaa Valley, and linking both the districts of Aley and Shouf to the Zahle District, visited by caravans and armies for thousands of years, Qabb Elias has played an important role in the history of the region. It is also well known for the abundance of its waters.

The altitude of Batloun varies between 920 and 1240 meters above sea level. It is bordered to the west by the village of Kfarnabrakh, to the east by the Barouk-Fraidis, and from the south by Maasser el-Shouf. Batloun is well known for its numerous natural springs and abundant waters. The ancient village was built around the Barouk River but was destroyed in the 1956 earthquake. The inhabitants moved away from the river up to the Kfarnabrakh-Barouk road and settled in what has become Upper Batloun, built with the support of the Lebanese government. The river still crosses its farmland rich in cherry trees, apples and peaches, in addition to numerous Oak trees. Recent archeological studies in Batloun revealed the existence of archaeological finds dating back to the Hellenistic period.

At an altitude that varies between 1150 and 1950 meters above sea level, and 7km away from one of the oldest groves of cedar trees in Lebanon lies the village of Maasser El Shouf. It is also one of the main entrances of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve. It is a traditional rural village with a central public space, surrounded by stone houses, and an old grape press, comprising old oak and pine trees forests and several natural water sources.

Recent archaeological studies revealed that Maasser has been inhabited since the Phoenician period (9th century BC), and during the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine eras. It was also inhabited during the Mamluk period and prospered in the Ottoman era. Recent archaeological excavation uncovered in the periphery of Maasser an ancient Roman period site, Qalaat El Hosn (meaning the fortress), with its temple, two ancient presses and tombs carved in the rocks. Maasser El Shouf: meaning literally in Lebanese dialect "the presses of Shouf", an evidence to the existence and importance of grape presses used for wine production during Phoenician and Roman times, then molasses during the Ottoman period.

Located on the eastern slopes of Mount Niha overlooking the Bekaa valley and the Litani Lake (also known as Qaraoun lake), the altitude of Aitanit varies between 800 meters (Litani river) and 1800 meters (Mount Niha), whereas the residential area is between 950 and 1050 m altitude. Aitanit is 75 km from Beirut, and bordered by Bab Mareh to the north, Machghara to the south, the territories of Niha al-Shouf to the west, and the Litani River to the east.

Aitanit is well known for its numerous archaeological sites, for its traditional stone houses, its old alleys, its abundant waters, and extensive agriculture. The construction of the Litani dam and lake, in the second half of the 1950’s, expropriated 3,000 dunums of Aitanit’s agricultural land, and led to the emigration of many villagers. Nowadays, the dam (70% of which lies in the lands of Aitanit), the lake, and the view of Mount Hermon, have become an integral part of the landscape of this village.

Aitanit: the name is derived from the words "ain" and "tanit". The first is known to be the source of water, and the second is the name of the famous Phoenician goddess "Tanit", whose worship spread to Carthage and North Africa in the first millennium before Christ.

The village of Niha is located on the slopes of Mount Niha (Jabal Niha) on the western side of Mount Lebanon at an altitude varying between 1050 meters at the center of the village up to 1850 meters on the peaks of Mount Niha, and is 70 km away from Beirut. The area of the village is 3700 hectares, equivalent to 1.5% of the total area of Lebanon. It is bordered by Jebaa el Shouf to the north, Bater and Aaray to the west, Jezzine and Kfarhouna in the south and Ain el Tine, Mashghara and Aitanit to the east.

This village was inhabited by Romans, Crusaders, Mameluks, and Ottomans, and it prospered under the Lebanese Maan emirs. A number of Roman tombs and a cave fortress can be found in the area. Niha is known for its numerous seasonal water sources. Locals estimate that there are as many as 360 springs around the village.

Niha: the word Niha means « quiet » and « peaceful » in Syriac.

Ain Zhalta village is located in the Shouf district on the western slope of Mount Lebanon, at an altitude ranging between 950 and 2000 meters and is 39 kilometers away from Beirut. It is famous for its old beautiful houses built of stone and bricks, which are characterized by elegance and authenticity. Ain Zhalta is also known for its breathtaking nature that embraces pine forests, fruitful orchards, and abundant water.

It was one of the most important summer resorts of the Shouf and Mount Lebanon in the early twentieth century. The village was known for its luxury hotels and restaurants located on Al Safa water source. Its history began in 1120 with the Maanid tribes who settled near Al Safa spring, where they found its abundant water suitable for their livestock and they built their houses. The Shweizan family who are also Tanukhids, built their homes in Ain Zhalta, specifically in a region called Al-Adayss.

Origin of the name: The name is derived from the word "Ain" which means source of water and "Zhalta" is derived from the ancient Semitic languages which means a steep slope. Some believe that the name is associated with Phoenician mythology and is derived from the name of the God Zohal (Saturn), worshipped by the Canaanites before the Christian era.

The Barouk -Fraidiss village is one of the most famous villages of the Shouf region for more than a reason. Nested on the slopes of Mount Lebanon between 1000 and 1900 meters, it is home to one of the largest cedar forests in Lebanon. The Barouk water source, located in the village, is renowned for its abundant water and its purity.

On the historical and cultural sides, Barouk-Fraidiss is the birth place of the Honorable Cheikh Abou Hassan Aref Halawi, a historically prominent religious figure, and the hometown of the great poet Rachid Nakhli, author of the Lebanese national anthem.

Barouk Arabic word originate from roots composed of 3 consonants of the Arabic alphabet; the root of the word “Barouk” is “Brk”, which, if given the form of a verb, becomes “baraka”, meaning “to rest”, probably in reference to caravans of the past that used to set up camp in that location, enjoying the cooling effect of the fresh water source, hence the name given to the village. If some sources explain the word Barouk in reference to caravans, others think that the word is of Syriac or Aramaic origin. 

The village of Baadaran lies in the Shouf at a 1100 meter altitude, with an area of 8.5 square Kilometers and 59 km from the capital Beirut. It is bounded north by the village of Khreibeh, south by Harat Jandal and Jbaa, east by Mresti, and west by Ammatour and Ain Qani.

Baadaran is characterized by a healthy, moderate climate in spring and summer which makes it attractive to summer vacationists and tourists; It is strategically located on a natural mountain path used since Roman times, linking the coastal city of Saida (Sidon) Mrusti to Saghbine in the valley of the Bekaa. From there the road continues towards Damascus.

The toponym of Baadaran derives from Semitic languages; it is composed of "baal", referring to the male deity closely related to fertility and strength and "dara" meaning house or temple. Another possibility is that the name derives from the Syriac "beit" or house, and "adhrono" signifying the help or the assistance, thus designating a place of rest.

The village is located on the top of Mount Barouk-Niha at an altitude of 1200 meters and 59 km away from Beirut. To the west, Jbaa overlooks the village of Baadarane and the valley of Jeblay and Marj Bisri. It is known for its monuments, rich history, abundant waters and perennial forests. Due to its strategic location, it has been inhabited since the Bronze Age.

Origin of the name: The name originates from the Canaanite word "Jbaa", meaning hill or highland. The name was most probably given to one particular hill then expanded over time to mark the entire village.