AGENDA

Beautiful Hiking trail from Deir Mar Semaan in Aitou to Deir Hamatoura in Kousba

 

SUMMARY

• Date: Sunday 03.04.2022


• Timing: from 08h00 am till 5h00 pm
  Meeting point: Nahr el Mott, near Wooden Bakery - PLEASE BE ON TIME


• Activities: Hiking the beautiful trail from Mar Semaan Monastery in Aitou to Hamatoura Monastery in Kousba


• Trail details: 12 kms – Level 5+ - 4 hrs


• Transportation: in a comfortable air-conditioned bus


• Reservation: Book your space as soon as possible.


• If you're sick or have fever, please stay at home until you feel better.


• Please read well the Important Information listed below:

 

 

For info and reservation:

• Roula : 03- 95 32 97


• Gio : 71-72 37 70

 

 

Overview

Join Green Steps on Sunday 03/04/2022 for a beautiful hiking trip from the old monastery of Mar Semaan in Aitou to the old monastery of Hamatoura in Kousba, embracing lovely pine forests and enjoying the breathtaking views of the holy Qadisha valley and the surrounding.

 

What to Expect

• Our day will start with a breakfast stop on our way to Aitou village.


• Upon arriving to Aitou, we’ll take some time to visit Mar Semaan Monastery and Rafqa hermitage and museum.


• Our hiking trail will start inside an amazing pine forest, passing by many little churches on the way before reaching the crest of a hill of a beautiful pine forest above Hamatoura monastery.
  The view from the crest is breathtaking, overlooking the holy valley Qadisha and the monastery beneath.


• We’ll have the chance to visit the beautiful monastery, then we’ll take a set of curvy ramps and stairs that lead to the bottom of the valley where we keep walking near to the riverbank of Qadisha Valley where lies the Power Station of Qadisha.


• During our hike, nature lovers will enjoy the surrounding views.

The trail is of level 5+

Total Circuit length: 12 Kms

Altitude: 1’100 m – 350 m

Downhill : 750 m

Effective hiking time: 4 hrs

The hike will be guided by an ecotourism specialist at a moderate rate.

 

• Please bring with you some snacks, fruits or vegetables. We are going to have our lunch in nature.

 

 

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
§ Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, you must PUT A MEDICAL FACE MASK IN THE BUS and when needed.

• Needs for the hike: hiking shoes, hiking stick, hand sanitizer, medical face mask, warm jacket, hat, backpack, WATER bottles of 2-liter min, sunglasses, sunscreen, camera, meal (dry fruits, energy bars, sandwich), ID card, insurance card, smiley face, and full energy.


• General knowledge contest and quiz related to the area with a prize for the participants

 

N.B.:

• Cancellations without prior notice of 24 hours require a payment of 50% of the full contribution


• A minimum of 20 persons is required for the trip to be feasible


• Hikers are advised to participate in the hike to their own responsibility


• Hikers are asked to follow hiking ethics provided by Green Steps


• Hikers are asked to follow Covid-19 preventive measures


• Smoking is not allowed during the hike


• In the case of force majeure, some modifications may occur to the program

For info and reservation:
Roula : 03- 95 32 97
Gio : 71-72 37 70

Information about the region

Kousba is a beautiful village located in Koura district, North of Lebanon, at an altitude of 500 m. It’s 84 kms from Beirut. On its northern side lies the monastery of Our Lady of Hamatoura, built in the rocky hollow of a high cliff that overlooks the holy valley of Kadisha.
Reaching the monastery of Hamatoura is quite a nice adventure.

Event of Green Steps by the NGO “Oaks & Cedars”. The contributions of this event will go to the reforestation of Lebanon.