Karm Chbat Nature Reserve

Karm Chbat Nature Reserve, known as "February Forest Vineyard" in English, is a unique cedar plantation covering approximately 4 square kilometers. Unlike most forests in Lebanon, which typically have cedars only on their western slopes to benefit from Mediterranean humidity, Karm Chbat boasts cedars on both its western and eastern slopes, thanks to the moisture from Homs Lake.

Situated between 1,500m and 1,800m above sea level, the reserve offers breathtaking panoramic views of the entire country. It's located near Akkar and Dhinniyyah and is connected to the Al-Qammoua forest in the southwest.

Within this reserve, you'll find the rare Cilician fir, a tree dating back to the first ice age, as well as a Babylonian stele from 500 years BC, harking back to the era of Nebuchadnezzar.

To visit, head to Al Qubayat Square and follow the road towards Al-Marhan, Al-Shanabouq, then take a right turn towards Al-Qamou’a, where cedars start to appear at an altitude of 1,500m. You can also access the forest from Kebabat.

Dr. Antoine Daher, the Chairman of the Council of Environment in Qubayat, has played a pivotal role in enhancing the forest's appeal to both locals and tourists from around the world, making it a must-visit destination on your journey from north to south.

Kobayat, Akkar District

Temple of the Nemesis Goddess

The Greco-Roman Temple of Nemesis in Menjez (Akkar, Lebanon) was unearthed in the early 1970s through excavations conducted by the General Directorate of Antiquities, which also uncovered a trove of archaeological treasures such as statues, copper objects, gold and silver jewelry, and busts of women. However, the site was heavily damaged and pillaged during the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990).

Although the temple's origins remain uncertain, some speculate that it may have been partly dedicated to the god Apollo because eagle symbols, which are often associated with him, are carved on several columns. Alternatively, the temple might have been named after Nemesis, the goddess of revenge and divine retribution, to whom it is currently attributed.

Constructed using black basalt stones, the Temple of Nemesis was a revered pilgrimage site in Antiquity and a significant point of passage for travelers traveling from the coast to the interior. Facing south, the temple's entrance led to an altar where pilgrims could offer their offerings.

Menjez, Akkar District

Monastère Notre-Dame-de-la-Citadelle

The Monastery of Our Lady of the Citadel (Sayyedet el Qalaa) is considered one of the most beautiful in Lebanon. Along with its church, it is built in black basalt stone, typical of the region. Today, Maronite, the monastery was built by the Jesuits in the early 20th century on an old church. This church was part of a crusader citadel dating back to the 12th century, itself built on Greco-Roman ruins.

The Feast of Our Lady of the Virgin Mary is celebrated there on September 8, leading to great festivities.

From the outside of the monastery, one can admire a beautiful panorama of Syria beyond the Nahr el Kebir River, which marks the border between the two countries. The monastery underwent major renovation work starting in 2011. Today, its premises house the Technical Institute of Our Lady of the Citadel, which trains students of all faiths from villages in the region in CAP, BP, BT, TS, and LT level diplomas in electricity, mechanics, agriculture, and education. The Institute also offers training in cooking and pastry making.

Menjez, Akkar District

Al Sayfa Castle

Akkar el Atika, Akkar District

Al-Bireh Heritage Citadel

Al Bireh, Akkar District

Saint Elias Monastry

Andaket, Akkar District

Oudine Valley

The Oudine valley is one of the widest valleys of Lebanon. It abounds with Calabrian pine trees, oaks, oriental strawberry trees, oriental plane trees, and cypresses.

There used to be a human presence in the valley, considering the ruins of dwellings, and especially the remains of convents and churches.

Finally, it is worth noting that Oudine holds significant geological significance due to the presence of the Yammoune fault line that passes through it.

Andaket, Akkar District

Remain Of Saint Barbara Ancient Church

Deir Janine, Akkar District

Saint Challita Sanctuary

Deir Janine, Akkar District

Our Lady Al-Intiqal Ancient Church

Deir Janine, Akkar District

Qamouaa Forest

Sahlet el Qammoua is an elevated terrain within the Lebanese borders and lies to the south-east of Qornet Jorn el Qâq. It rests east of Dahr el Kahf and south-west of Jouret ed Dilbi. Of the available and recorded facts about Sahlet el Qammoua, it has an estimated elevation of 1,437 meters.

Fneidik, Akkar District

Felix Crusader castle

Menjez, Akkar District

Saint Daniel Ancient Church

Menjez, Akkar District

Nahr el-Kebir

Nahr al-Kabir al-Janoubi (Arabic for the southern awesome stream, النهر الكبير الجنوبي) is a waterway in the Middle East streaming into the Mediterranean Sea. The waterway courses through the Homs Gap. The Nahr el Kabir ascends from various springs in Syria and in the mountains of Lebanon. It stretches across the western side framing a characteristic outskirt and natural boarder between northern Lebanon and Syria. The Nahr el Kabir keeps up the majority of its regular occasional qualities as water control is constrained on the primary waterway stem and in the spillover era territory in Lebanon and Syria.

Environmental degradation is a noteworthy natural issue in the waters: the waterway is seriously polluted by mass-release of untreated sewage and uncontrolled solid waste transfer. Different dangers incorporate repetitive surges and the spread of water hyacinth along the entire waterway course. The two nations coordinate on the premise of a 2002 water-sharing understanding, with a few joint specialized sub-advisory groups handling different issues identified with the watershed.

The stream frames the northern piece of the fringe between current Lebanon and Syria. In classical times the stream was known as Eleutherus and ‘Eleutheros, Eleuteris, Ελεύθερος, Ελευθερίς in Ancient Greek’. In English, it is otherwise called the Nahr el-Kebir or just as the Kebir.

Menjez, Akkar District

Wadi Es-Sabaa

Located 70 km northeast of Beirut, Wadi Es Sabaa is a scenic valley near the villages of Akroum, Kfar Toun, and Mrah el Bsatine in North Lebanon. The valley is a popular destination for hikers, with a variety of picturesque paths to explore.

Throughout the year, the valley enjoys a pleasant climate, with temperatures ranging from a maximum of 28° C in July to a minimum of 6° C in January. Along the way, hikers can discover fascinating remnants of history, including two famous Babylonian stelae dating back to the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.

The first one depicts an individual wearing a crown and facing a lion standing on its hind legs. The second one, located beneath this site in Sheer el Sanam, features a carving of a king or ruler, seated, with an unidentified object in his right hand. The carvings also include various celestial symbols, such as the seven-segmented star of Astarte and a crescent-shaped bow.

Akroum, Akkar District

The Forty Martyrs Ancient Church

Kobayat, Akkar District

Saydet el Ghassalet

Kobayat, Akkar District

Saint Doumit Monastry

The Mar Doumit monastery was built by the Carmelites in 1836 on the site of a pagan temple that dates back to the Roman era.

Kobayat, Akkar District

Saint Challita Monastery

Qatlabah, Akkar District

Saint Georges Monastry

Kobayat, Akkar District

Saint Sarkis and Bakhos Church

Akkar el Atika, Akkar District

Monastères Saints-Pierre-et-Paul

Bazbina, Akkar District

Monastère Saints-Serge-et-Bacchus

Beino, Akkar District

Monastère du Prohète Élie

Jebrayel, Akkar District

Monastère Saint-Doumet

Rimah, Akkar District

Monastère Saint-Georges

Deir Janine, Akkar District

Mar Seba Archaeological Site

Andaket, Akkar District

Dolmens of Menjez

Among the archaeological and historical treasures of the village of Menjez, there are dolmens, megalithic structures (meaning monuments made of rough stone) made up of a set of very large stones arranged to form a kind of table.

The dolmens of Menjez are in fact tombs dating back to the Bronze Age, between 4000 and 2000 BC. The site of Menjez has been inhabited since the 7th millennium and was reoccupied during the Roman era.

These tombs were studied in the 1960s by a Jesuit priest, Maurice Tallon. At that time, there were about a hundred of them, but today there are only forty left, of which eleven have been enhanced by a project supported by various international institutions (British Council, University of Geneva, Museum of Lebanese Prehistory, and Château-Musée de préhistoire in Bélesta in the Eastern Pyrenees).

On the stones, one can sometimes observe engraved and sculpted geometric shapes and symbols, such as triangles, crosses, or serpents: the animal could symbolize the passage from one world to another at the time of death.

Different objects have been found in the tombs, such as glass or bronze jewelry, as well as weapons or agricultural instruments. Visitors can discover and explore these dolmens alone or, even better, with a local guide.

Menjez, Akkar District

Menjez Heritage House

Inaugurated in June 2019, the Menjez Heritage House is an information space about the archaeological and historical heritage of the village and its region. It contains documentation, explanation panels, and a permanent exhibition presenting reproductions and reconstructions of archaeological objects discovered in the area.

The Heritage House is an essential step to better prepare for visits to the archaeological sites of Menjez and to understand how the prehistoric period of this village unfolded.

Menjez, Akkar District

El-Horsh el-Assouad

Menjez, Akkar District

Tell Arqa Archeological site

Arqa, Akkar District

Mar Tadros Church

Beino, Akkar District

Saint Barbara Church

Beino, Akkar District

Baino Nature Reserve

Beino, Akkar District

Iron Oak forest of Fnaidek

The Iron Oak Forest, situated in Akkar, is a unique Lebanese forest composed entirely of Turkish oak trees (Quercus cerris). During spring and summer, the forest is adorned with lush greenery, which gradually transforms into stunning shades of gold in the fall, before eventually shedding its leaves in winter.

Fneidik, Akkar District

Saint Chmouneh Church

Chadra, Akkar District

El-Sheikh Ayash Mosque

Sheikh Ayash, Akkar District

El-Bireh Mosque

Al Bireh, Akkar District

Qobbet Bshamra Mosque

Qobbet Bshamra, Akkar District

Madrasah el-Hamidiyah

Machha, Akkar District

El-Borj Mosque

El-Borj, Akkar District

El-Zaher Baybars Mosque

Akkar el Atika, Akkar District

Tekkiyat Akkar el-Atiqa

Akkar el Atika, Akkar District

Qalaoun Mosque

Akkar el Atika, Akkar District

Mount Arouba

Fneidik, Akkar District

Dolmens of Fraidis Akkar

Fraidis Akkar, Akkar District

Akroum Roman Temples

In the far northeastern corner of Lebanon, perched at nearly 1300 meters above sea level, the village of Akroum shelters the remains of three Roman temples — silent witnesses to a past both mysterious and majestic.

Likely built between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE, these mountain sanctuaries are rarely visited today, but their presence in this rugged landscape is striking.

The first temple is still relatively well preserved. A monumental archway marks the entrance to the sacred space, leading into the main chamber or cella. Several walls remain standing, revealing the classical layout of a Roman podium temple, built from carefully cut limestone blocks, following techniques common to other mountain temples in the Mount Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon ranges.

The second temple, more ruinous, retains only some foundational stones and scattered blocks. Its layout is harder to discern, but its proximity to the first suggests a larger religious complex — possibly dedicated to a local triad or regional protective deities.

The third temple, slightly farther away, still has standing walls, though no columns or pediments remain. Its isolated position may point to a different function or a more nature-oriented form of worship.

Poorly documented and rarely studied, the Akroum temples raise many questions: To which gods were they dedicated? What role did Akroum play in the ancient religious geography of northern Lebanon? While we await answers, these ruins offer a fascinating stop for curious travelers and hikers drawn to ancient mysteries.

Akroum, Akkar District

Viewpoint on Akroum

Akroum, Akkar District

Viewpoint on Homs

Akroum, Akkar District

Akroum's old olive oil press

Akroum, Akkar District

Al-Nir Plateau

Akroum, Akkar District

Al-Nir Cave

Akroum, Akkar District

Viewpoint on Wadi Es-Sabaa

Akroum, Akkar District

Wadi Es-Sabaa Babylonian steles

In Wadi Es Sabaa, two famous Babylonian stelae from the reign of Nabuchodonosor have been discovered. One of these stelae depicts a Babylonian man engaged in combat with a lion, which lends the valley its name. The second stela portrays a seated king or ruler holding an unidentified object in his right hand. The carvings on both stelae include various celestial symbols, such as the seven-segmented star of Astarte and a crescent-shaped bow.

Akroum, Akkar District

Maql El Snawbar

Kobayat, Akkar District

Kef Wehbe

Kobayat, Akkar District

Dark Valley

The Dark Valley owes its name to the thick forest of Cilician fir trees (Abies cilicica) that populate the area and create a canopy, blocking out the sunlight.

These trees have persevered since the ice age and continue to thrive in vast forests throughout the region of Akkar.

Kobayat, Akkar District

Ayn Tabet

One of the freshest water springs in the mountainous region of Akkar Al Atika. The purity at sources comes from the piled snow during winter and the geological limestone nature that emerges the water on the surface. 

Surrounded by giant Fir trees (Abies cilicica) that shade your hiking break and gives a fresh breeze while refilling the deliciously cool water all year long. 

Akkar el Atika, Akkar District

Canaanite Tombes

The Canaanite tombs, which were hand-dug into caves, date back 3000 years.

Akkar el Atika, Akkar District

Akkar Al Atika Waterfall

Located in the charming village of Akkar Al Atika, which was voted Lebanon's favorite village in 2016 by the country's leading daily newspaper, L'Orient Le-Jour, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, this waterfall is one of Lebanon's most stunning and significant waterfalls. Stretching 80 meters in length, this waterfall is best experienced during the months of February, March, and April.

Akkar el Atika, Akkar District

Qamouaa Natural Bridge

Qamouaa Natural Bridge is a rare karstic arch sculpted over centuries by water erosion in the limestone landscapes of Akkar, northern Lebanon.

Nestled in the heart of the ancient Qamouaa Forest—renowned for its rich biodiversity and breathtaking scenery—this geological formation stands as a striking symbol of the region’s natural heritage and geotourism appeal.

Fneidik, Akkar District

English Road

Fneidik, Akkar District

Nabi Khaled

Nabi Khaled site, the holy man's sepulcher, is watched over by a tall Cedar tree and the two biggest iron oaks of Lebanon that are protected by his tomb.

Fneidik, Akkar District

The Maze

The Maze, located in Fneidik, is made up of naturally carved ancient rocks that are more than a million-year of age forming a rocky labyrinth. Surrounded by walnut trees, some Cilician fir and juniper trees will amaze you while roaming around the maze.

Fneidik, Akkar District

Chir El Sanam

Chanbouk, Kobayat

Kroum Al Samaqqa

Bazbina, Akkar District

Chir El Nemer

Akkar el Atika, Akkar District

Zabboud spring

Akkar el Atika, Akkar District

Es-Sabaa Valley

Akroum, Akkar District

The Monk Spring

Bazbina, Akkar District

Wadi Jhanam / Death Valley

Akroum, Akkar District

Iron Oak Forest of Kobayat

Kobayat, Akkar District

The White Spring

Kobayat, Akkar District

The Cross

Kobayat, Akkar District

Aandqet Silk Factory

Andaket, Akkar District

Artificial Lake of Menjez

Menjez, Akkar District

Old Maiin Church

Menjez, Akkar District

Ecological house

Qatlabah, Akkar District

Our Lady of Dahr Church

Kobayat, Akkar District

Notre Dame Chahlo

Kobayat, Akkar District

Sainte Moura Church

Kobayat, Akkar District

Saydet Ghozrata Church

Beit El Khalil, Akkar District

Notre-Dame de Qamma’a

Qatlabah, Akkar District

Mount Akroum

Mount Akroum, situated in northern Lebanon, encompasses several villages, including one named after the mountain itself. This rugged terrain flourishes with archaeological treasures dating back to Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic civilizations. Visitors can witness rocky necropolises and ancient tombs crafted from stone slabs or hewn into cliffs, as well as remnants of churches.

The village of Akroum boasts a Roman temple, a grand Byzantine church dedicated to Mar Shamshoum al-Jabbar (Saint Samson the Strong), and numerous water reservoirs. At a location called Jabal al-Hussein, two parallel structures are visible, with the best-preserved temple situated north of the site, featuring a main cell partitioned by a large arch. In proximity to this temple lies the ruins of another, larger temple, though the available remnants are not enough to identify its plan.

In Wadi es-Sebaa, known as the Valley of the Lion, visitors can behold two obelisks from the New Babylonian era. The first obelisk depicts a character adorned with a tiara standing opposite a lion standing on its hind legs. Approximately 60 meters above the lion stele, at a place called "Shir as-Sanam" or the Cliff of the Statue, lies another cone-shaped stele.

To reach the site, travel 60 kilometers from Halba. From Al-Abdeh, north of Tripoli, head towards Halba and continue on to Qubayyat, Aandaqet, and Akroum.

Akroum, Akkar District

Saint Arbaya Monastery

Beino, Akkar District

Old Silk Factory

Andaket, Akkar District

Mayor Hajj of Aydamoun

The museum is a unique heritage site housed in the former municipal residence of the Hajj family in Aydamoun, Akkar. It offers an authentic glimpse into the administrative, social, and cultural life of the village through collections of traditional furniture, vintage photographs, official documents, and artisanal objects. As a true place of memory, it reflects the historical role of the mayor within the community and aims to preserve local identity while raising awareness among visitors—students, researchers, and tourists alike—about the history and heritage of Aydamoun. Discreet yet rich in symbolism, the museum embodies the intergenerational transmission of civic and cultural legacy.

Aidamoun, Akkar District

Permanent Science Museum

The old school of the Saint Doumit Monastery, built in 1908 on the ruins of the "school under the oak tree", was transformed into a museum of Lebanese nature by Fathers François Tanb and Ayyoub Yaacub.

Today, more than 400 taxidermied birds and animals — both local and migratory species passing through the land of the Cedars — are displayed here for scientific and educational purposes.

In the first room, visitors are greeted by foxes, owls, porcupines, hyenas, and wildcats.
Most of the birds were captured in regions such as Akkar (Bazzina, al-Bireh, Qoubayat), West Bekaa, Hermel, the mountains of Kesrouan, and even in Beirut.

A second room showcases an extraordinary collection of 4,000 butterflies, arranged on the walls in a vibrant explosion of colors.

This museum offers a captivating glimpse into the richness of Lebanon’s natural heritage.

Kobayat, Akkar District

Bkarzala Waterfalls

Bkarzala, Akkar District

Silk Factory Qoubaiyat

Kobayat, Akkar District

Saint Georges & Saint Daniel Chapel

Kobayat, Akkar District

Helesban Park

Kobayat, Akkar District

Forêt de chênes de Deir Janine

Deir Janine, Akkar District

Rivière Al Oustouane

Deir Janine, Akkar District

Saint Daniel Church

Kfar Noun, Akkar District

Saint Doumit Church

Kfar Noun, Akkar District

Sayidat al Intikal Kfar Noun

Kfar Noun, Akkar District

Rock Bridge

Akkar el Atika, Akkar District

Falaise de Kazbar

Mish Mish, Akkar District

Vallée d’Helsban

Qatlabah, Akkar District

Nabaa ech-Chouh el Aali

Akkar el Atika, Akkar District