Dear hikers,
Join us this time to discover another beautiful village in West Bekaa - Rachaya el wadi especially on the 5th of October in order to support that village and participate in their event (8th mouneh and molasses festival).
Rachaya el-Wadi is located in the heart of the valley of “ Wadi al-Taym”, at the foot of Mount Hermon and the altitude range between 850 and 1600m.
Syriac origin, "Rishoyo", meaning "The first".
Visitors are quickly conquered by its picturesque setting, its rich heritage, the generous welcome of its inhabitants and the skills of its craftsmen silver jewelry manufacture. The center is characterized by a beautiful, paved souk which extends over 250 m. Rachaya also stands out for its traditional Lebanese houses, some of which are typical of the region with their small windows on red-tiled roofs. On the heights of the village, stands the historic citadel of Rachaya that testifies to its rich and long history, culminating at the independence of Lebanon in 1943.
Description of the event:
1- Departure at 7:15 am from Jal Dib
2- 30 mins stop at Chtaura for breakfast.
3- Guided tour at Niha Roman temple
4- Our Lady of Joy - Zahleh (Russian architectural style)
5- Clos St Thomas wine tasting
6- visiting the molasses mill to check the process of making the molasses and supporting the locals
7- Visit mouneh markets (foodstuff and ingredients from the farmer directly, such as olives and olive oil, labneh, zaatar, kichk, honey, molasses, jams, wine and arak...
8- Live concert like dabkeh & music will take place near the municipality piazza inside the old souk.
Brief description of the event:
First, we will start by a guided tour at Niha and Hosn Niha located to the north of Zahleh; four Roman temples were constructed there between the 1st and 3rd century A.D. The lower 2 two temples are situated on the edge of the settlement, whilst the upper 2 temples are 2 kms above is known as Hosn Niha.
Following that, we will head to Zahleh to visit the Church of Our Lady of Unexpected Joy after a Russian icon tradition, the sanctuary is dedicated in Arabic as سيدة الفرح غير المنتظر
Built in a distinctly Russian architectural style characterized by gilded onion domes, the construction took place between 2019 and 2024 and was funded by Christian foundations and private benefactors. The consecration was celebrated on the 18th of May 2025, the service gathered hierarchs of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and the Moscow Patriarchate.
Our next destination, will be wine tasting at Clos Saint Thomas, a family-owned estate founded in 1990 by Saïd Touma & developed
with his son Joe-Assaad, Clos Saint Thomas (marketed as Château
Saint Thomas) is located above Qab Elias in the Beqaa wine area. The property cultivates approximately 650.000 square meters of vines on hillsides at around 1.000 meters in elevation, thus fulfilling the required conditions prized for large day-night temperature fluctuations that preserve freshness. The establishment is known both for reviving Lebanese heritage grapes and for crafting full-bodied matured reds.
Lebanon’s first 100% Pinot Noir producer and an early champion of 100% Obeidy, Clos Saint Thomas has an output reaching 450.000 bottles per year, a production volume that reflects both local range and export outcome.
Last but not least, Rachaya el Wadi features grape molasses (Dibs el'inab) festivals, often combined with Mouna (traditional food preservation) celebrations, particularly in October during the grape harvest season. These events take place in regions like Rachaya and include activities such as grape harvesting, mouneh markets offering local products, live music, and demonstrations of grape molasses production from local farmers.
The Purpose of the festival is to support local farmers and producers and promote agritourism in the region.
1- Molasses Production Demonstrations: Events may feature demonstrations of the traditional method of making grape molasses
2- Mouna Market: A market selling traditional Lebanese foodstuffs and ingredients, including olives, olive oil, zaatar, honey, and grape molasses, often sourced directly from farmers.
Keep on exploring! 🙂
Early reservations are highly recommended by confirming your attendance to the event; Call Daniel on 70-196750 (whatsapp-viber-sms-messenger) or through accessing our website www.vincalibanotica.weebly.com and also VINCA LIBANOTICA page, group and instagram.
N.B.:
- Date: Sunday October 05, 2025
- Destination: Rachaya el Wadi
- 80 kms away from Beirut
- meeting point in jal dib & downtown Beirut
- Plz don't smoke during the event
- Breakfast stops on the road
- we can pick up people on our way
- Lunch during the festival in Rachaya el Wadi
- Follow the guide instructions
Meeting points:
1- @ 7:15 am: jal dib near DHL and Banque Libano Francaise facing the Canadian embassy (we can pick our hikers that live on our way)
2- @ 7:30 am: near Al Amine Mosque downtown Beirut.
Departure: 7:15 am from Jal dib (plz be on time)
7:30 am from Al amine mosque Beirut (plz be on time)
Breakfast stops on the road
Required materials: comfortable clothes, backpack, hat, 3L of water, running shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, healthy snacks.
Fees: 25 USD or equivalent to the LBP market rate (including transportation, guidance, but does not include medical insurance)
Entrance fees:
- Clos St Thomas: 5 USD
- Niha Temple: - Lebanese: 50,000 LBP
- Arabs: 150,000 LBP
- Foreigners: 300,000 LBP
Lunch a la carte during the festival in Rachaya el Wadi
Group of 6 will benefit from 1 free invitation
For info and reservation, call:
Daniel Salameh 70 196 750
KEEP EXPLORING, STAY HEALTHY AND THANK YOU FOR NOT SMOKING ON OUR TRIPS.
Also check out other Festivals in Ashrafieh, Music events in Ashrafieh, Entertainment events in Ashrafieh.
