Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve

The Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve covers about 550 km² — roughly 5.3% of Lebanon's total land area — making it the country's largest nature reserve. It spans the Chouf and Aley districts and protects three separate Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani) forests: Barouk, Maaser el Shouf, and Ain Zhalta-Bmohray, together holding around a quarter of the country's remaining cedar trees. The wider reserve is also recorded to hold roughly 500 plant species, over 30 species of wild mammals (including wolves and wildcats), and around 200 bird species.

By Plane

Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY IATA) ~50 km.

By Car / Road

Accessible from Barouk, Maaser el Shouf, or Ain Zhalta villages.

By car between visitor centers. On foot via hiking trails.

• Ancient cedar forests – The largest surviving Cedrus libani stands.

• Visitor centers – Exhibits at Barouk and Maaser.

• Wildlife – Wolves, wildcats, birds of prey.

• Hiking – Marked trails of varying difficulty.

• Birdwatching.

• Nature photography – Especially in spring.

Picnic only inside the reserve.

Bring water; no facilities on the trails.

• Barouk – Gateway village
• Deir el Qamar – Historic village
• Beiteddine Palace – 19th-century palace