Lebanon is a very mysterious country to me, and I don’t know much about it before going there. When I was in Kuwait, I took my chance to get a Lebanese visa because I know it is not easy for Vietnamese citizens to go there if I apply from Vietnam. I am glad that I chose to go to Lebanon because its one of the most beautiful countries I have ever been to.
10 days in Lebanon, I managed to travel from the North to the South of Lebanon by a renting car. It is very easy to hire a car, and the process so simple and quick. You need to be over 21 years old, have a valid license and a credit card for a deposit. Price is very affordable, 18$ per day with tax. I highly recommend you hire a car to travel to Lebanon because I found the public transportation here is not that good.
Once you get your own car, it’s time to GO! I chose Beirut as my first destination, to relax and also to see how the capital of Lebanon looks like. The accommodation here is similar to European prices, especially if you stay in the Hamza area, so I found an AirBnB little bit further out at a much more affordable price. Hamza is very noisy and crowded, made me feel like I was in Hanoi’s old quarter! All the bars and pubs are packed with locals and tourists, and they all have their own stylish decorations! People dress to impress here, and it is wonderful to walk down the street hearing a mix of English, French, and Arabic. There are many food options around, together with money exchangers and supermarkets. It will be best to have a stroll in this area, though parking can be a little tough to find, and will cost you at least a few dollars even for a short time.
There is some signt-seeing to be done in Beirut, and one outstanding place to see is Roushee Rock, where 2 massive rocks rise up from the sea. It is also a very nice area to walk around and explore, with several fancy restaurants and cafes nestled along the cliffside. If you like history, the national museum is also nearby. It’s nice to visit, though I’d say you’d stay for about an hour before seeing everything. After Beirut I went to Jeita Grotto, a fantastic cave and underground river system buried deep in Lebanon’s rolling hills. Sadly I couldn’t take any photo of the cave because of the no-camera rule, but I can guarantee you it’s extraordinary to see the cave by real eyes. It is in very good condition and I can see the people here are doing a great job to maintain the cave. You will also have a chance to ride a rowboat through the underground river. The road from Beirut to Jounieh is fantastic with mountains and forest, I stopped for a few times just to get out and enjoy the view. I stayed at Zoukotel, a small hotel in Jounieh in order to go skiing the next day.
Lebanon is famous for its high standard ski resorts, so I spent a day just to check out Mzaar Ski Resort which is around 2 hours drive from Jounieh. You probably need to prepare waterproof clothes, but they don’t need to be thick. I wore fairly light clothes, and even in the dead of winter, I was still too hot. Within minutes of skiing, I started sweating and had to take off my bonnet, scarf, and gloves (this was my very first time!). There are few shops around where you can hire ski equipment, clothes, shoes, etc You also have an option to get a guide to help if you are a beginner. I felt much better when my guide led me out and helped me keep balance. I honestly thought I could not do it without him. It took me a while to stand on my own tow feet and start skiing by myself. There are several loops for experienced skiers, but I stuck to the easy loop (for my own safety and other people’s safety ). If you happen to be in Lebanon during the winter, you definitely need to make a stop here!
Finished with Jounieh, I headed to Byblos after a quiet night just relaxing my body. I still ached for a few days after skiing, but it’s totally worth it! Byblos is a very beautiful town, with many things to see. My first stop was Byblos citadel, a huge old fortress which was built by the Crusaders in the 12th century from indigenous limestone and the remains of Roman structures. It took me nearly 2 hours to walk through the whole area, and I had a wonderful time getting lost amongst the ruins. After departing the citadel, Phoenicien Wall is my next stop just a short distance from the citadel. It is surrounded by a beautiful cobblestoned township with many hidden little shops and restaurants. There is also a small market, though this is quite touristy. The wall itself is nestled out in the water, surrounded by dozens of moored wooden boats. Absolutely stunning!
My last stop before stopping in Tripoli was Batroun. I visited one of Lebanon very few craft beer pubs here and sampled a couple of their brews. Absolutely delicious! Shoutout to the guys at Colonel Brewery Batroun! Just up the road was Batroun Wall, which proved quite difficult to find. Navigating the small alleys to get there was quite a feat, however! It’s a labyrinth of small seaside houses built of yellow bricks leading to the beach. It was nice enough, but honestly not really worth the trouble of finding it. However, the seafood in this area is a must-try here because they seem so fresh and available. I ended up stopping at a “boat” restaurant called Chez Maguy with the sea view and a good local food menu. After a while exploring, a good meal was all I needed. Nothing like having a cold beer and delicious food in the sun by the sea. Paradise!
Tripoli was my last stop for a day. I will write about the rest of my trip in another post which is about to come out soon!
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