Around Town

Al-Kwakh (meaning 'huts' in English) is a village in the northern region of the Bekaa. There, you'll find the charming Al-Kwakh Eco-Lodge, a responsible tourism destination run by a group of local women. Spend the night in one of three houses powered by green technology, with mud chimneys, traditional Bedouin bedding made from goat hair, and ceilings made of juniper wood. For dinner, sample the delicious cuisine cooked by your local hosts and made from locally grown, organic products. Call ahead for reservations and directions.

Located inside the beautiful, Bel Azur Hotel, this National Geographic diving centre received a 5 star rating from the Professional Association of Divers International (PADI). Courses in diving are available for children and adults, as well as theory and practice courses to earn a PADI license for open water diving.

Founded in 1868, this Archaeological Museum housed inside the American University of Beirut, provides an overview of the development of man in Middle East from the Early Stone Age to the Islamic Period. Here you'll find an impressive display of rare, ancient artefacts, such as pottery, coins, blown glass, busts, flint tools, weapons, jewellery, musical instruments and sculptures.

Beirut by Bike offers customers of all ages a wide selection of bicycles and cycling kits, available to rent and for purchase. We suggest biking along the Corniche, from Ain El Mreisseh to Raouche - a popular and scenic path for joggers and bikers alike.

This adventure club aims to connect nature and adventure enthusiasts throughout Lebanon. To do this, they organize snowshoeing, cross country skiing, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, paragliding, caving, paintball, motorcycle rides, and camping excursions throughout the year. To keep up to date with upcoming events, check their facebook page or call.

With diving equipment for rent and private diving instructors on staff, this is one of the best diving schools Lebanon. Located in Beirut’s stylish Mövenpick Hotel, the Calypso Diving Club offers scuba diving courses and one-time dives for both shore and boat dives for men, women and children aged 8 and older. There’s wreck exploration, underwater scooters and videography.

The story of Castle Moussa begins with the story of a boy named Moussa Abdel Karim Al Maamari. When young Moussa was in grade school he told his teacher that he dreamed of one day living in a castle. The teacher thought the idea was ridiculous and proceeded to beat Moussa in front of his classmates, who all laughed and ridiculed him. Traumatized by the humiliating event, Moussa made it his life goal to prove his teacher wrong and build himself a castle. As an adult, he built Castle Moussa entirely by hand - an impressive feat, that took him 60 years to complete. This place has a moat, a drawbridge, medieval style ramparts - oh, he went all out. And inside his fabulous castle Moussa recreated scenes of daily life in Lebanon with wax figures - walking through this place is like walking through the surreal dream of a 10-year-old boy. One room houses a miniature representation of Noah's Ark, there's a life size recreation of The Last Supper, a number of rooms house Moussa's large gun collection, and there's the occasional large display case of daggers, swords and Bedouin jewellry.

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Club Thermique offers daily courses in paragliding as well as tandem flights, snowboarding and skiing trips from December to April, and hot air balloon excursions. In addition, they regularly organize hiking, climbing and mountain biking excursions throughout the year that will take you through Lebanon's valleys, mountains and archaeological and tourist sites.

This responsible tour company operates here in Lebanon. They have an excellent local and multilingual (English, Arabic, French and German) team on hand to take you on eco-friendly tours and adventures throughout the country. Activities offered include hiking trips, cultural tours, outings focused on Lebanese wine and cuisine (mmmm!), as well as cross-country skiing excursions. They even invest all their profits into sustainable development projects throughout Lebanon, allowing travellers to have fun and at the same time support the local community. Call for a schedule of upcoming events and excursions or check out the CYCLAMEN page on www.tlb-destinations.com.

Located smack dab in the middle of Gemmayzeh's buzzing bar & club packed Gouraud Street, Cyclosport is Beirut's most popular bike shop. Here you can rent bikes by the hour and spend an afternoon cycling the city streets, or you can purchase your very own, shiny new city or mountain bike. You'll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for you.

Open all year round, 24 hours a day, the Dbaye Fishing Club provides boat rentals and fishing lessons to fishing aficionados and seafood lovers. If you're experienced, you can rent and pilot a boat yourself, all of which are fully equipped with fishing equipment. But if you're not quite as sea-savvy, never fear - they also offer boating lessons, and experienced, professional skippers who will pilot the boat for you if you're not up for learning yourself. If fishing isn't your thing, you can also just rent a boat and cruise down Lebanon's beautiful coast, taking in the sights and occasionally docking in coastal towns to explore a bit more on foot. Keep up to date with special deals and upcoming events by checking their facebook page.

This group offers people the chance to improve their lives and discover new areas of their country through outdoor activities and ecotourism adventures around Lebanon. No matter your level of fitness, or your interests, you'll be able to find something you enjoy, be it hiking, biking, caving, or guided visits. They also customise packages for private groups upon request. Call or email discoverbeyond@gmail.com to receive updates on upcoming trips.

Every Tuesday, farmers and merchants gather in this small alleyway to sell their homemade goods and fresh produce. Jars of honey and jam stand alongside fresh fruits and veggies, all cluttering the colourful tabletops of the friendly vendors. There's even a delicious selection of wholegrain saj that shouldn't be missed. After you've done your shopping, grab a coffee at Bread Republic and spend the rest of the afternoon continuing to appreciate the tasty sites, smells and colourful customers from a comfortable chair in the café's perfectly situated outdoor seating area.

Founded by Karim al Khatib, Ecovillage is a sustainable, eco-friendly resort where adults and children alike can enjoy Lebanon's nature at it's finest. Rent a tent or a cottage at fabulously affordable prices, and spend the days taking part in organized activities like pottery making, painting, and rock climbing. Also offering healthy, organic meals, courses in relaxation such as yoga and Tai Chi, swimming in a natural lagoon, and hours of hiking with a professional guide through the green hills of the Chouf, Ecovillage can make for a truly special vacation.

An authentic ranch in the middle of nowhere. They offer horseback riding and a number of other activities for both adults and children like archery, mountain biking and paintball. But camping is the thing you must try.

This 6000 square meter public garden makes for a pleasant splash of green in the centre of Downtown Beirut. Named for the famed Lebanese American poet, artist and writer, Gibran Khalil Gibran, this beautiful outdoor space features a bubbling fountain, two circular lawns, trees and flowers, and of course, a bust of Khalil Gibran himself.

It's not a wax statue - it's silicone! The Hall of Fame houses 50 statues of world famous people in the political, artistic and cultural fields, and uses mechanics to make some of them move, talk or sing.

Unleash your inner athlete 24/7 at Hoops Club, where adults and children can rent full basketball, football, badminton, ping-pong and tennis courts or take lessons. For the more artistic and creative, this fitness club also has trained guitar, painting and dance teachers giving private and group classes.

Far and away the best kept of all the gardens in Beirut, Horch Tabet Garden is an immaculate modern space filled with decorative pools and clean-cut lawns - perfect for an afternoon picnic. Recycle bins, a true rarity in Beirut, are placed throughout the park so keep it clean and make good use of them!