📋 SUMMARY
📅 Date: Sunday 07.12.2025
⏰ Timing: From 8h00 am to 6h00 pm
📍 Meeting Point: Nahr el Mott, before Wooden Bakery (location will be shared via WhatsApp) – PLEASE BE ON TIME ⏳
🌟 Day Highlights:
🥐 Breakfast Stop at a local bakery to fuel your adventure
🍳 Program:
🚶♂️ 🏞️Moderate hike in Maaser El Shouf & Botmeh with Jeddo Raji, with stories & tales – Village tour (Approx. 8 km, moderate level)
🍽️ Traditional culinary experience at Jeddo Raji’s house — savoring foul, fatteh, balila, eggs in fokhara, Arak and more.
👉 Meals are à la carte (pay for what you order).
🚌 Transportation: Comfortable air-conditioned bus
💵 Contribution: $30/person – includes program, guides & transportation (excluding food & drinks). Please bring the exact amount.
📲 Reservation: Book ASAP before Friday 05/12/2025. A 50% down payment is required via Whish Money to confirm your spot.
❌ Cancellation Policy: After Friday 05/12/2025 – 5h00 pm, a 50% fee applies.
📌 Important: Participants must acknowledge having read the important information on the event page.
📞 For Info & Reservation
📱 Roula: 03-95 32 97
📱 Gio: 71-72 37 70
OVERVIEW
🌲 Join Green Steps for a special journey at Maaser El Shouf with Jeddo Raji 👴 !
🚶♂️ 🌄 From sunrise to sunset, we wander the trails of Maaser El Shouf & Botmeh, guided by Jeddo Raji’s timeless tales. Between mountain whispers and village charm, we pause to savor the soul of Lebanon — foul, fatteh, balila, and more, a feast woven with tradition. A day of footsteps, flavors, and stories, where nature and heritage meet at the table. 🍽️🌲👴
Book your spot now!
WHAT TO EXPECT
🍳 Morning Kickoff: Breakfast Stop to fuel up for the journey ahead at a local bakery in Maaser El Shouf.
Scenic hike through the wild beauty of Maaser El Shouf and Botmeh, returning on a loop trail back to Maaser El Shouf.
🌲We’ll begin from the “ملقى السواقي” area, walking through rich biodiversity of trees and plants, towards the natural cave “مغارة الضبع”, which we’ll have the chance to explore. Along the way, we’ll stop by the ancient oak tree “سنديانة قرنيا” to make a wish beneath its branches. 🌳✨
The trail embraces breathtaking views of surrounding mountains, hills, and valleys. Throughout the journey, we’ll listen to Jeddo Raji’s tales and stories about the ancestors of the village, adding a cultural touch to the adventure.
The hike concludes with a village tour, followed by a traditional culinary experience at Jeddo Raji’s house — savoring foul, fatteh, balila, eggs in fokhara, Arak and more.
👉 Meals are à la carte (pay for what you order).
📏 Trail Specs
🛤️ Path Type: Dirt trails & forest tracks
📏 Distance: Approx. 8 km
🧭 Difficulty: Moderate
⛰️ Altitude Range: 1'050 m → 800 m → 1’050 m
📉 Total Descent: 250 m
📈 Total Ascent: 250 m
🧑🤝🧑 Guided Hike: Led at a moderate pace by Jeddo Raji
📣 IMPORTANT INFORMATION
🎒 What to Bring:
👟 Hiking shoes👕 Comfortable clothes
🧥 Windbreaker or warm jacket
🧢 Hat & 🕶️ Sunglasses
🎒 Backpack💧 At least 2L of water (refillable bottles encouraged ♻️)
🌞 Sunscreen 📸 Camera
🥪 Light meal (dry fruits, energy bars, sandwich, drinks)
🪪 ID card & insurance card
😊 Smiley face & ⚡ full energy!
🎉 Bonus Fun: Join our interactive quiz & general knowledge contest during the trip!
🏆 The winner will receive an exciting prize!
📌 Important Notes
💰 A 50% down payment is required to confirm your booking — payable via Whish Money
❌ Cancellations after Friday, 05/12/2025 – 5:00 PM will incur a 50% charge of the full contribution
🌱 This is an eco-friendly event — please bring a refillable water bottle instead of single-use plastic
⚠️ Participation is at your own responsibility
🧭 Please respect the hiking ethics shared by Green Steps
🚭 Smoking is not allowed during the walk
🐾 Pets are not allowed on this hike
🌦️ In case of force majeure, the program may be subject to change
📞 For info & reservations:
📱 Roula: 03 953 297
📱 Gio: 71 723 770
🌿 About the Trail & Our Commitment
Together, Maaser el Shouf and Botmeh offer a blend of wild nature, biodiversity, and cultural heritage. Hiking between them reveals caves, ancient trees, panoramic mountain views, and stories of ancestors — making them ideal destinations for eco-tourism and authentic Lebanese experiences.
🌲 Maaser el Shouf:
•Altitude: 1200–1950 m above sea level, about 57 km from Beirut.
•Nature: Part of the Al-Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve, home to millions of cedar, oak, and pine trees. UNESCO recognized it as a biosphere reserve and a “zero pollution” village.
•Heritage: Roman ruins dating back to 450 BC, old olive presses, red-tiled houses, and Mar Mikhaël church.
•Character: A peaceful rural village with traditional architecture, natural springs, and a strong connection to Lebanon’s cedar forests.
🏡 Botmeh:
•Altitude: Around 1200 m above sea level, 55 km from Beirut.
•Heritage: Known for its old stone houses, historic church, and an ancient grape press.
•Nature: Famous for the oak tree “Oum Al-Charatit”, pine woods, geological caves, fossils, and natural springs.
•Charm: A small, authentic mountain village surrounded by biodiversity and traditional rural life.
🌲 To offset the carbon emissions of this event, two cedar trees will be planted on Falougha Mountain, contributing to Lebanon’s reforestation efforts.
🌍 This event is organized by Green Steps, a nature-focused initiative by the NGO “Oaks & Cedars”, promoting eco-conscious exploration and community engagement.
Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in Ashrafieh, Contests in Ashrafieh, Meetups in Ashrafieh.
