Ever flowing history
A river for a cult Nahr Ibrahim is a perennial river rising from the springs at Afqa and Ruwais. It flows down abruptly through the valley and eventually reaches the Mediterranean Sea, south of the city of Jbeil.
The French orientalist Ernest Renan considered this valley as the most remarkable region of Lebanon.
This river was known throughout history as the river Adonis, being associated with the Phoenician myth of Adonis and Astarte. According to the myth, the god Adonis was killed by a wild boar while hunting and his blood flowed into the river, which still commemorates the event by turning red every year in Spring. During the Phoenician and Roman periods, the inhabitants of Byblos celebrated this occasion each year by holding a pilgrimage through the valley to the temple of Astarte at Afqa.
Quick overview
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Opening days
Open daily
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Opening times
From 8:00 a.m till 5:00 p.m
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How to reach
By car/bus:
From Beirut Airport to the Chouwan entrance by private transportation. The total distance is approximately 51 km.
You can reach the viewpoint through a moderate hike of approximately 1 km. - Web
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Reservation & Price
Visitors need to book the guided tour, lunch and accommodation in advance
Bookings can be done over the phone or through the website
Services
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Visits
20 local guides
3 local guards
Available in
French, Arabic
Additional Info
Jabal Moussa Biosphere reserve entrance fee:
4 USD adults over 16
2 USD children under 16
Please gear up with hiking shoes, hiking stick (optional), backpack, energy bars, 1L of water/person, sunscreen
Make sure to inform us in advance if you have a health condition
Suggested periods
- Autumn
- Spring
Visiting Rules
Basic rules:
No hunting
No picking flowers and plants
No smoking or lighting fires
No pets