Lebanon Winter Snowshoe Adventure Snow fun adventures in the Middle East Lebanese hospitality and cuisine A novel and different winter destination Guided Group Departures Tour Grade B Tour Code - TLWS For dates and prices visit: www.walksworldwide.com Group Size:- Min 6 Max 14
Introduction Lebanon may not be the first place that springs to mind when it comes to a winter snow adventure holiday. However, it certainly has the right ingredients e.g. mountains rising to over 3,000m and snow covered in the winter months and is most certainly by default a winter destination with a different flavour entirely to those you d usually think of. This adventure holiday combines snowshoe walks into several different mountain areas of Lebanon, as well as an interesting mix of historical sightseeing and travel too. Add to this mix, the legendary Lebanese hospitality and great Lebanese food too and you most certainly have a different winter holiday compared with the usual suspects. Why be normal, when you can be different? Don t worry if you ve never used snowshoes before, as it s very easy to pick up, no special snowshoe boots are needed and if you haven t got your own snowshoes then you can rent these along with poles through Walks Worldwide. The Holiday Routine For the 5 days when we are snowshoeing, we ll travel by private vehicle from our various overnight locations into the several different mountain areas where we ll go snowshoeing. Generally we ll be snowshoeing for around 3-5hrs a day in the morning and then afterwards in the afternoons as part of our overland journey to our onward accommodation will visit some interesting and historic sights along the way. Walking conditions You will of course be walking over snow covered ground. The snowshoeing takes place in several different mountainous areas of Lebanon. The general terrain will be hilly, with both ascent and descent being a natural, constant feature. However these are usually not very steep or sustained. It is impossible to give precise details of each snowshoeing day as the level and extent of snow cover will dictate routes. However, a reasonable level of fitness is required, and although previous experience of snowshoeing is not necessary, this holiday is best suited to those that regularly walk in mountains. On average you ll be snowshoeing for around 3-5hrs each day. A full explanation of the trip grading can be found in our brochure or online at www.walksworldwide.com. You should ensure you are comfortable walking at this level of grading and are physically prepared for the trip. Walk staff each day you will be accompanied by a professional, English-speaking, guide. Lebanese are very friendly, light hearted people as a rule, and your guide will be no exception. As well as being a constant source of information about the mountains, through your guide you will be able to learn more about the interesting history, culture and traditions of this fascinating, small country. What you need to provide Your personal equipment as detailed in the clothing and equipment list later in this trip dossier. Snowshoes and poles can be rented through Walks Worldwide (essential to book and pay for these in advance). Rental cost is 75 for the duration of the holiday. Itinerary IMPORTANT-Due to the specialist nature of our holidays, day to day itineraries should be taken as a guide only, and as statements of intent and not contractual obligations. We regularly update our trip dossiers to take into account changes to trekking routes, accommodation, local transport etc. Such changes are a factor of this type of holiday and when made are out of necessity. Other factors such as adverse weather, unforeseen circumstances and other matters entirely out of our control etc can also lead to enforced changes during the course of the holiday. It is not possible to guarantee that any of our holidays will operate exactly as per the anticipated itinerary. The most current trip dossier will be made available on our website. We will also send you the most up to date trip dossier with your Final Joining Instructions approx. 2 weeks before departure and you should carefully check this for any changes that may affect your plans. Before booking you should read our Types of Trip and Essential and Useful information sections on www.walksworldwide.com including our Important Warning.. Lebanon- Winter Snowshoe Adventure 2 www.walksworldwide.com
Day Your 'at-a-glance' Itinerary Overnight Accn. Meal plan 1 Arrive Beirut. Rendezvous at the group hotel Beirut Hotel B 2 Snowshoeing at Qanat Bakish. Visit Jeita Grottoes. Transfer Byblos Byblos Hotel B 3 Snowshoeing at Laklouk. Visit Byblos Byblos Hotel B 4 Snowshoeing in Ehden Nature Reserve Bsharreh Hotel B 5 Snowshoeing in Cedar Forests. Visit Tripoli. Transfer to Beirut Beirut Hotel B 6 Snowshoeing in Shouf Mountains. Visit Beiteddine Palace Beirut Hotel B 7 Visit National Museum and Faqra temples and wine tasting at Chateau Musar Beirut Hotel B 8 Depart Beirut B B Breakfast, L Lunch, D Dinner. Lebanon-Winter Snowshoe Adventure Printed on 3/22/2013
Day 1 Rendezvous at the group hotel in Beirut in time for a 2000hrs pre-trip briefing. See Joining Arrangements and transfers section later in this trip dossier. Hotel, Beirut around the port area. Here you ll discover artisan shops along narrow, cobbled alleyways and you can try out your bargaining skills in the ancient souk. Snowshoeing time approx 3-4hrs. Hotel, Byblos Day 2 Leaving Beirut we transfer up to Qanat Bakish to commence our first day of snowshoeing in the Lebanon. We ll be traversing the slopes of Mt. Sannine (2600m+) at an average altitude of around 1800m to reach the other roadhead at Sannine itself. After a late lunch, we then drive to the spectacular grotto of Jeita to discover its stalagtites and stalagmites. We then continue our journey to our overnight accommodation in Byblos. Snowshoeing time approx 4hrs. Hotel, Byblos Day 3 We head back into the mountains, but now to a different area and up to Laklouk. Today we ll be snowshoeing at around 1800m again beneath the mountains that form the North Mt. Lebanon massif. It is envisaged that today will be a circuit snowshoe walk that largely heads steadily upwards until its zenith point and then largely descent on moderately angled snow slopes. We then head back down to Byblos, which is reputed to be one of the oldest towns in the world. Here we ll visit the Crusader castle, and explore the old part of Byblos Day 4 Another day and another snowshoe area. Today we head off to the Ehden Nature Reserve in the north of Lebanon. This is a very important part of Lebanon s cultural and natural heritage and contains a particularly diverse and beautiful remnant Cedar of Lebanon Forest. Here stands of cedars are bordered by a mix of juniper and fir trees, as well as Lebanon s last protected community of wild apple trees (obviously not in fruit at this time of year). It s a beautiful area for sure to go snowshoeing in and to explore on foot. Snowshoeing beneath the steep slopes of Mount Lebanon makes for a particularly atmospheric experience. We then travel to the famous village of Bsharreh and visit the museum of its best known former resident, Gibran Khalil Gibran (author of The Prophet). We ll then pay a visit to Mar Lichaa Monastery. Hewn out of rock this used to be a hermitage for the first Maronite community of monks. Snowshoe time approx 4-5hrs. Hotel, Bsharreh Lebanon- Winter Snowshoe Adventure 4 www.walksworldwide.com
Day 6 We now head into the Shouf Mountains for another morning of snowshoeing amongst one of the largest cedar reserves in Lebanon. We then visit Lebanon s greatest treasure, the Beiteddine Palace. Day 5 Our snowshoeing this morning will be in a mountainous area above Bsharreh and in one of the oldest cedar reserves in Lebanon. Snowshoeing at an average of altitude of around 2000m, the mountains rising some 800m higher form the natural high points of the Bekaa Valley, one of the most northern pints of the Great Africa Rift system. We then head back to the coast and to the city of Tripoli. Here we ll explore Lebanon s second city where within the souks little has changed in the past 500 years. We then transfer back to Beirut. Snowshoeing time approx 3 hrs. Hotel, Beirut Taking over 30 years to build, the palace is a sight to behold with numerous ornately decorated receptions rooms, multi-coloured tiling, arcades, harems and hammams, as well as the Diyafa guest house. We end the day with a visit to Deir Al Qamar, a well preserved traditional village that is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Snowshoeing time approx 4hrs. Hotel, Beirut Lebanon- Winter Snowshoe Adventure 5 www.walksworldwide.com
Day 7 Now for a day entirely devoted to Lebanese culture and history. We ll visit the House of Ghosts, a maze of limestone formations otherwise known as the Faqra Temples and the most extensive Roman ruins of Mount Lebanon. We ll then head to Chateau Musar to indulge in a spot of wine-tasting, for which Lebanon has always been reputed for and then head back to Beirut, where really for the first time we ll have had the time to explore this fascinating city. Day 8 After breakfast it s time to say goodbye to friendly Lebanon. See Joining Arrangements and transfers section later in this trip dossier. Practical Information Joining Arrangements and Transfers The joining point for this trip is the group hotel in Beirut and you should join this trip on day 1 of the trip itinerary. Please ensure you arrive at the joining point in time for the Pre- trip briefing at 2000hrs Arrival airport transfers are not included and you should make your way upon arrival from Beirut International Airport to the joining point. Private arrival transfers can be arranged upon request-please contact us for prices. Alternatively, a licensed, metered taxi or local, public transport may often be the cheapest way of reaching the joining point. The departing point for this trip is the group hotel in Beirut and you should depart this trip no sooner than day 8of the trip itinerary. Departure airport transfers are not included and you should make your way from the departure point to Beirut International Airport. Private departure transfers can be arranged upon request-please contact us for prices. Alternatively, a licensed, metered taxi or local, public transport may often be the cheapest way of departing from the joining point. Flight Inclusive You can book this holiday as a Flight Inclusive Package. Booking your International flights through Walks Worldwide guarantees you peace of mind and 100% financial protection under our ATOL licence. What's more, if you book your flights with us as well as your ground arrangements, we will manage these flight arrangements both before and during your trip. As an ATOL Licence holder, we are able to secure and arrange competitively-priced airfares with most major airlines from London (as displayed on our website), as well as the option of regional departures too. Land Only The Land Only price is for joining and departing the trip at the specified joining and departing points only and does not include International flights. You can book this holiday as Land Only if you prefer to arrange your own International travel arrangements. If you are purchasing your own air ticket, you should be aware of certain risks. Many airline tickets purchased directly are non-refundable and often do not provide you with any financial protection, unlike booking your flights with ourselves and thus being 100% protected by our ATOL licence. For this reason we strongly advise you check the rules of the ticket when you make a flight booking, and check the limitations of any cancellation insurance policy you have. We cannot be held liable for any losses incurred or consequences of any flight bookings or subsequent travel arrangements you have made yourself e.g. if your international flights were delayed or cancelled and you could not join or depart your holiday on time. You should not book your International flight tickets or other travel arrangements until your chosen holiday is guaranteed to run. Please ensure when making your own International travel arrangements that they enable you to join and depart this trip in accordance with the criteria specified in the Joining and Departing this trip section of this dossier. Baggage Please make sure that your baggage is clearly marked with your name, inside as well as outside, in case the labels get detached. As your main baggage will be transported by vehicle a normal suitcase can be used for your main baggage. Local transport All land transfers will be by private vehicle with a driver. Lebanon- Winter Snowshoe Adventure 6 www.walksworldwide.com
Passports and Visas British passport holders require a visa to enter Lebanon. Please note that it is likely that you will be refused entry into the Lebanon if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport. Other nationalities should check with their Lebanon Embassy regarding visas. British nationals can usually obtain a visa on arrival (free) at Beirut International Airport if in possession of a return flight ticket. For the most up to date visa advice check the link below before travelling. www.lebaneseembassy.org.uk/visas.html Accommodation Accommodation will be reserved for you on a twin share basis unless you have requested a single room at additional cost. Throughout the trip accommodation is in a variety of 3* hotels. Food For such a small country, Lebanese cuisine certainly punches above its weight and is deservedly world renowned. All breakfasts are included in the Land Only trip price. Other meals have been intentionally excluded to allow you to choose seasonal Lebanese specialities freely according to your tastes and budget. Climate It is of course impossible to predict the precise weather conditions you will encounter during the course of your holiday. However, we do schedule our holidays to coincide with what should be the most suitable weather periods for snowshoeing. Clearly when snowshoeing up in the mountains it will be cold with temperatures hovering around freezing. In coastal and most overnight locations (Beirut and Byblos) winters are relatively mild, although it is unlikely to be t-shirt and shorts weather at lower elevations. Mountains are notorious for creating their own, localised weather conditions, so you should always be prepared for inclement weather conditions. For climate statistics visit www.worldweather.org Roughly speaking temperatures decrease by approx. 1ºC for every 200 metre increase in altitude. Altitude This holiday reaches only moderate altitudes and you should not anticipate any problems. Vaccinations and medical precautions We always recommend visiting your doctor and dentist for a check up before travelling. Your doctor will also have access to the most up to date information on vaccinations and medical precautions for the country you are about to visit. In general, no vaccinations are necessary for Lebanon and health problems here are quite rare. A useful travel health online resource is www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk First Aid You should always carry your own small, personal first aid kit. This should consist of the following: A general anti-biotic, throat lozenges, painkillers, plasters (band-aids), blister treatment, insect repellent (DEET), rehydration salts, antiseptic cream, diarrhoea treatment (e.g. Imodium). Currency. The Lebanese currency is the Lebanese Pound. Please refer to www.xe.com for up to date rates. ATM machines are common in Lebanese towns and cities. Language The official language of Lebanon is Arabic. Your guide will speak very good English, as do many younger generation Lebanese. Your guide will of course help you communicate with the locals, but it s also a good idea to take along a phrasebook and try to learn a few phrases in the local language. The locals will certainly appreciate this. Tipping Tipping is not mandatory and should rightly be at your discretion. However, if you have received good service from your guide and driver (and we are certain you will) then a tip is the accepted form of saying thank you. As a guideline we recommend 25 per person for the guide and 10 for the driver to be sufficient. Travel Insurance It is a condition of booking any of our holidays that you have comprehensive travel insurance. It is your to responsibility to ensure you are covered for medical and personal accident risks for the part of the world you intend to travel and the activities involved. This cover should include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue. It is also advisable to take out cancellation insurance, as all deposits paid are non-refundable. You may arrange either single-trip or annual multitrip travel insurance through Walks Worldwide. Please call us on 0845 301 4737 or e-mail ussales@walksworldwide.com for a quotation. Lebanon- Winter Snowshoe Adventure 7 www.walksworldwide.com
Inclusions and exclusions Inclusions International flights (if booking a flight inclusive package) All accommodation Professional English-speaking guide All land transfers involved in the itinerary Entrance fees to sites in the itinerary Exclusions Drinks Airport Transfers Tips Souvenirs and personal items Insurance Meals not indicated in the outline itinerary Snowshoe and poles rental ( 75) Visa (if cost applicable) Lebanon- Winter Snowshoe Adventure 8 www.walksworldwide.com
Clothing and Equipment Lists At least one set of casual / non-walking clothes will be useful on this holiday. Whilst walking you must not worry about how you look: comfort and protection against bad weather are of prime importance. Because mountain weather is so very variable, we recommend a number of layers rather than one thick one. Whilst snowshoeing body heat usually builds up quite quickly and the flexibility to add/remove layers as the body warms/cools accordingly. The following list is our suggested guide to help you with your packing based upon our many years of travelling/walking. Using your own judgment for packing is of course important, especially with regard to casual clothing etc but please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about packing for your holiday, or are uncertain as to the suitability of your clothing and equipment. As a general rule you ll be snowshoeing above the snow line during part of the day, and then sightseeing below the snow line (hopefully a bit warmer) after each session of snowshoeing. It s a good idea (after each snowshoeing session) to change into more casual clothing, or remove outer layers accordingly. CLOTHING Walking boots (sturdy and waterproof) and spare laces Trainers/approach shoes Socks 3+ pairs Warm socks for snowshoeing, plus casual Underwear 3+ T-shirts 1+ Warm Trekking Pants Casual trousers Light fleece 1+ Thick fleece 1+ Thermal Baselayer shirt 1+ Waterproof and windproof jacket with hood Waterproof and windproof trousers Warm Gloves Warm Hat Gaiters-optional Sun hat (you never know) EQUIPMENT Daypack/rucksack (size 25 litre+ capacity) 2 Large water bottles (1 litre each) Snowshoes and Snow Poles (can be rented at cost of 75 if booked in advance) Towel quick drying pack towel is recommended Torch (and spare bulb and batteries) Camera & accessories Sunglasses (sunshine on snow can be strong) Trekking poles (highly recommended) Reading material (optional) Washing/Shaving kit Insect Repellent Small personal First Aid kit (see section above) Anti-Bacterial Handwash Water purifying tablets Sun Cream & lip salve Blister plasters i.e. Compeed Tickets/E tickets Passport Money Lebanon- Winter Snowshoe Adventure 9 www.walksworldwide.com
The following items should also considered as being useful on a walking holiday Penknife/small scissors (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE) Moisturising cream Baby wipes Snacks/Energy bars Safety pins (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE) Padlock for your kitbag Small sewing/repair kit (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE) Small mirror Nail clippers (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE) Spare glasses/contact lenses Earplugs (against snorers) Cold water Travel Wash (preferably biodegradable) Travel adaptor Lebanon- Winter Snowshoe Adventure 10 www.walksworldwide.com