The Kadisha Valley and it’s most famous of villages Bcharre is what caught my eye when we first contemplated travel to Lebanon. Its picturesque landscape of rugged mountains, steep cliffs and gorges, and ancient sites seemed to call out. With a little extra convincing, I managed to get Briana to agree to a long route that would take us from Cambodia, through Malaysia, into Java and Bali, to Sri Lanka, through Dubai, and finally to Lebanon (she planned it all, but was considering other options). While the numerous amount of moving was stressful, it was worth it in the end. The region is relatively unknown so a Bcharre travel guide is in order.

Bcharre Travel Guide – Kadisha Valley

Finding Accommodation

We first booked our Airbnb with a smaller host, which did not seem to be the perfect place. The reviews were not great, but it was in our budget. Oddly, just a few days before our arrival, the Airbnb was removed from the site and our reservation canceled. This was rather stressful but prompted us to look for different options within Bcharre.

The first place we came across was a backpacker’s hostel. So while it could be appealing to solo travelers, it was not what we wanted. Ultimately, we decided to just bite the bullet and go with a more expensive and nicer accommodation – which made us feel a bit safer as we didn’t know exactly how Lebanon was going to be.

I decided to try and see if I could negotiate the rates for the place we decided we liked. It was initially listed at $50 a night, which is way over our budget. We made an offer and he countered and we settled on something which was still above our budget but was certainly reasonable. Keep in mind though, that we soon discovered that Bayt Nawal Guest House is absolutely worth the $50/night.

Other options include:

• Tiger House – with dorms starting at $14 a night, this is probably your best budget option. Located in the center of town, you have ready access to Bcharre. Keep in mind, this is a hostel.
• Bauhaus – a combination motel and chalet, there is a range of options here from simple rooms to luxury-style suites. Price will vary significantly by season, but you can expect it to range between $30 and $60.
• Hotel Chbat – a 3-star hotel catering mostly to skiers in the winter. There is a range of rooms to accommodate various needs and a bar in the lobby and breakfast is included. With rooms in the $100+ range, this is the higher-budget option.

Our Accommodation

Getting to Bcharre was not that easy, but once we arrived – we had no regrets. Our host was very accommodating and showed us the house. We had the entire home to ourselves. Three bedrooms, a kitchen, a nice living room, two bathrooms with HOT water, a balcony, and a gorgeous view of the valley and Bcharre. He then took me into town to get some groceries, which I found to be surprisingly cheap and then gave us a nice handful of cherries from their cherry trees.

Bcharre

The town of Bcharre is a wonderful little village in the very back of the Kadisha valley. Home to the famous poet and writer Khalil Gibran, the town also serves as the base for ski resorts and visiting the famed Cedars of God. The name Bcharre stems back to ancient times. Founded by the Phoenicians as Bet Ishtar, meaning the “House of Ishtar”.

It was then inhabited by Maronite Christians in the 7th century CE and has remained as such ever since. Bcharre now hosts a large cathedral, an old Maronite temple, and numerous homes and shops climbing a steep hillside. Our host was an architect and has designed multiple buildings and parks throughout Bcharre and Lebanon.

Wadi Qadisha

Bcharre sits at the crux of the Kadisha Valley, also known as Wadi Qadisha at the foot of Mount al-Makmal. The steep gorge is carved by the Kadisha river, the source of which – Kadisha Grotto – can be visited, and is an awesome cavern that you can explore. Springs abound the gorge and waterfalls spill over the 1000 meter cliffs where the Kadisha river winds 35 km to Tripoli. The entirety of the valley is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

 

The Holy Valley

Kadisha, in Aramaic, means “Holy”. The Kadisha Valley has served for centuries as a refuge for Maronite Christians escaping persecution. As such, the valley is dotted with dozens of Monasteries. Many of these sites carve directly into the cliff faces and are difficult to reach, though well-worth the trip.

• Deir Mar Lichaa/Elisha – dating to 1252, the monastery now contains a museum and is readily accessible.
• Deir Qannoubin – built into the rocks, this monastery served as a fortress palace for Maronite Patriarchs from the 15th – 19th centuries.
• Saydet Hawqa – a simple monastery built into a cave dating to the 13th century.
• Cave of Deir Mar Semaan – one of the oldest monasteries, dating to 1112, it is also only 15 minutes from Bcharre.
• Chapel of Daydet Ed Darr – another simple, yet close monastery on the road towards Hadshit.
• Deir Mar Antonios Qozhaya – this monastery dates back to the 10th century and is a 30-minute walk from Blawza.

Unfortunately, we were not able to make it to any of the monasteries. I really wanted to explore and hike the valley itself, but there was little information provided beforehand, and after a failed attempt at hiking to the valley floor on our first day realized we would not be able to do so.

The valley is much larger than one might think at first. Hiking down from Bcharre or any of the other villages along the valley rim is possible, but a large endeavor. Most people take a taxi or car down to a location to begin hiking. Considering we had just been robbed the previous day in Sri Lanka, spending money on a taxi was not really an option for us. We’d love to return however and really get to explore the valley over the course of a week or two.

What To Do

There are plenty of activities to keep yourself occupied within Bcharre and the surrounding Kadisha Valley.

• Cedars of God – above the valley are the Cedars of God. These are one of a few small patches of old growth Lebanese Cedar, prized for its high-quality wood worldwide. Today, the Lebanese government is working to restore the Cedar forests to their former glory.
• Gibran Museum – Bcharre is the hometown of the famous Lebanese poet and writer – Kahlil Gibran. There is a museum dedicated to him at the former Monastery of Mar Sarkis, overlooking Bcharre. It houses his paintings, photos, furniture from his New York home, as well as his tomb. There is a small grotto located just above the museum dedicated to Mary which makes for a pleasant and easy hike.
• Notre Dame De Lourdes Grotto – up a small path just above the Gibran Museum is a small grotto dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
• Kadisha Grotto – the source of the Kadisha river, you can explore this cavern that spills out to the valley below.
• Temple of St. George – Next to a modern park on the far west end of Bcharre, lies the ancient Temple of St. George. Wrought of stone and cedar, the temple is simple in design and construction. It is a single room with an altar dating back nearly 2000 years.
• Qornet Es Sawda – the highest peak in Lebanon. You can access a hiking trail from the road at the highest point between the Cedars and Yammouneh.

 

How to get to Bcharre

Bcharre is remote and not that readily accessible – it is a mountain town. With that being said, it is still well within reach of most people. There are a few different methods to get there:

• Bus – this was the route that we took. We wrote a whole guide on how to do it. It is cheap and only takes about 2.5 hours from Beirut. It is also by far the most economical option.
• Taxi – this is by far the more expensive option, but Lebanon is small enough that most large taxis will be willing to take you. We recommend using Allo Taxi – we used them for our airport transfer and wouldn’t have been able to make it without them.
• Car – if you are comfortable with it, you can rent a car yourself and drive up. The drive is pretty straight-forward and only takes a couple of hours. This is a great option if you plan on doing many day trips or exploring the area.
• Tour – if you don’t have a lot of time to spend and you just want to get in and see the sights real quick, you can book a tour that will pick you up in Beirut. This full-day trip gives you a great overview of the town, exploring the Cedars, Gibran Museum, and the many churches and monasteries present in the valley. Book your tour here.

While we only got to spend three days here, it was definitely a highlight of our trip. We would love to return – especially for the winter, the mountains look to have amazing skiing and the town would just be wonderful with snow.

Prepare for Kadisha and Bcharre

While I wouldn’t call Bcharre remote by any means – Lebanon is not really large enough for any place to be truly remote – it is still far enough from major cities that you want to be sure you brought everything you want with you. Since the town is at a higher elevation in a rather arid zone, you’re definitely going to want to be prepared if you plan to do pretty much anything here.

*Note that we are members of the Amazon Affiliate program and that we receive compensation for all valid purchases made through our site.

• Travel Pack – Carrying the right pack can make a huge difference when out and about. Our ultimate guide to choosing a travel pack will help ensure you get off on the right foot.
• Water Bottles – Collapsible Water Bottles – These are some of our favorite items to bring with us. They’re really light-weight and you can also roll them up so you can store them away easily. If there is one item that is most important to bring with you, it is water.
• Hiking Clothes – The Kadisha Valley is completely exposed and you are very vulnerable to the elements. But with the proper gear, you can hike in comfort. A recent addition to my wardrobe has made a big difference so that I can be protected and comfortable. For him | For her
• Headlamps – Bcharre gets dark at night, so if you are wandering around after dark or caught on a trail in the evening, these will show you the way and keep your hands free. Stay safe. Foxelli Headlamp Flashlight
• Trekking Poles – We did not need poles with us during our short time, but had we spent enough time to wander down the gorge we would have wanted them. The trails are steep and treacherous and some trekking poles for stability will help greatly. These are great because they can support a lot of weight, and can collapse down for easier carrying. Trekking Poles
• Sun Screen – We got burned a little here. We got caught out longer than intended and didn’t have anything to do about it. If you don’t cover up with clothes, then you should wear sunscreen. We’ve used these and we haven’t been burned since, plus they are allowed in carry-on luggage. TSA Approved Sunscreen
• Water Filter – One of the stupidest things we’ve ever done is head out into the mountains here, with no water at all! We were so thirsty and there was nowhere to grab a drink and no one to ask for help. In desperation, I found a little mountain spring running across the trail that I drank from. It tasted fine, but that is very dangerous to do. In emergencies, you want to be safe with your water. These drinking straws allow you to drink straight from (almost) any source of water and be safe. LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
• First-aid Kit – You really need to be prepared for anything when hiking, which means you need to be prepared for injury. We don’t often get hurt, but we have. You never know what could happen so you should always carry a basic first aid kit to be able to patch up whatever may happen. First-Aid Kit

Bcharre Travel Guide – Kadisha Valley