AGENDA

Deir Mimas-Qala’at al-Shaqif Highlights with Dale Corazon-Lebanon Explorers

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Sports & Outdoor,

4, March 2023

South

Hiking Trip to Deir Mimas with DALE CORAZON - LEBANON EXPLORERS

                                    Jesus stayed one Day there

Trail by Dale Corazon,

HIKE LOCATION : Deir Mimas/Nabatieh/In the South

============= 620 meters above sea level. /103 km from Beirut.



WHEN : Saturday, March 04, 2023

ENCOUNTER PLACE        : Saint Abda Church parking facing the New-bridge, Jal El Dib @ 7:30 AM

Driving directions to Saint Abda Church:       https://www.google.com/maps/place/Saint+Abda+Church+-+Jal+El+Dib

Or Martyrs Square at Al-Nahar Bldg., Beirut Downtown @ 7:45 AM

FEES:

13 $ /person including transport, professional guides, and pictures.

Children 18 years old and younger will have a discount of 10%. (12 $ /person)

Make your group of 5 persons (& more) and get a 20% discount (11 $ /person).

Optional transportation by your own vehicles 600,000 LL/person

There is 20.000LL Extra Entrance fees to the Beaufort Castle.

Don’t forget your Lebanese ID. Foreigners must bring their passports.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT:

Deir Mimas (also spelled Deir Mimas, Deir Mamas, and Deir Mimmas) is a picturesque town. Named in honor of Saint Mamas, the town overlooks the Litani River and the medieval Beaufort Castle to the west and the snow-capped summits of Mount Hermon to the east.

In addition to the cultivation of grapes, and figs, Deir Mimas continues to be a major producer of olives and olive oil with 4 old mills, 52 water sources and a waterfall. We can find there Tabsoun (طبسون), it is the Lebanese name for the Rock Hyrax a small furry brown animal, unique in its morphology and social life.

Qala'at al-Shaqif, "Bel Fort" or "Beau Fort" in French, Shaqif Arnun or Qala'at al-Shaqif in Arabic means Castle of the High Rock. It was a Crusader fortress captured by Fulk, King of Jerusalem, in 1139. Saladin captured it in 1190, and 60 years later it was returned to Crusader control. In 1268 Sultan Baibars captured the castle. In the 17th century Fakhr-al-Din II took the castle as a part of his network of fortifications, overlooking the plane of Marjeyoun, the Litani river and the Nabatieh region.

HIKING LEVEL. 1 to 3 for easy, 4 to 6 for intermediate, 7 to 9 for strenuous

Level 4 is intermediate; It is a beautiful and safe walking path of just 6 KM. We will all begin from the village and head to the vast forests to visit the Deir Mimmas (1404 A.C.) located at the upper part of litany river. The stunning mountainous landscape, with trees seemingly defying gravity and growing on extremely vertical slopes, is impressive. We will encounter many olive trees aged thousands of years, we will visit the Waterfalls, Tabsoun and pass-through trees and bushes. The last part of this trail is ascendant.

At this point, we will split into 2 groups, and level 4 will have a walk in the village crossing water sources, old houses and old narrow stone staircases and at the end we will take the bus to Tallet Allie to meet the other group.

Level 5 (11 Km) will walk a vertical trail to Tallet Allie. Your eyes will capture panoramic views, even Cyprus, Israel and Syria can be seen from this spot. You will return back on another route to meet Level 4 and walk along a track rich in beautiful views.

Later on, you will visit “Beaufort Castle”, a historical fortress in “Arnoun” village overlooking the whole region.

Deir Mimas hike is not just a hike; it is a cultural tour as well.