I’ve recently discovered my love for smoking weed and walking in nature. Is that the technical definition of a hike? The dictionary says no, and I’m only joking. But either way – you guys need to try this incredible hike.
I’m talking about the trail of Yahchouch – Chouwen, a hike amongst the pine trees down to the beautiful Chouwen lake. The area is so picturesque that it will take your breath away, and it’s around an hour and a half to two hour drive from Beirut.
You don’t need a guide, the trail is clearly outlined and the entrance fee is just 8,000 LL. (The fees go towards preserving the area and keeping it clean and safe.)
You make your way through the pine trees, down to a small balcony where you get to see this:
Then keep heading down to the lake. Swim, have a picnic, swing from the vines (really), and kayak before heading back up again. The weather is perfect right now, soon it will be too cold to swim so get at it while you still can!
It’s a moderate hike along a trail so it’s suitable for adults as well as families. You don’t need to be very fit to complete the hike and depending on how often you stop for breaks, it should only take around two hours.
