Maaser el Shouf

Maaser el Shouf is a rural mountain village situated at an elevation of 1,200 meters in Mount Lebanon's Chouf District. Located 55 kilometers southeast of Beirut, the village sits along the western slopes of Mount Barouk, directly adjacent to the Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve. The community retains traditional 19th-century stone architecture, terraced agricultural fields, and small-scale wineries.

Travelers visit primarily to access the reserve's ancient cedar groves, hike mountain ridge trails, and experience rural Lebanese village life. The village features a central plaza housing the reserve's administrative headquarters, local olive oil cooperatives, and family-run guesthouses.

The climate is Mediterranean with mountain influences. Summers (June to August) are warm and dry with daytime temperatures averaging 24°C to 28°C and cool evening breezes. Winters (December to February) bring cold temperatures ranging between 2°C and 10°C, accompanied by heavy rainfall and periodic snowfall at higher elevations. Spring and autumn experience moderate temperatures between 15°C and 22°C.

By Air

Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) is the sole commercial airport in Lebanon, situated 53 km northwest of Maaser el Shouf. Airlines serving BEY include Middle East Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Lufthansa. Flight durations from regional hubs include 1 hour 20 minutes from Cairo, 3 hours 30 minutes from Dubai, and 4 hours 30 minutes from Paris. Taxis from the airport to Maaser el Shouf cost between $50 USD and $70 USD (4,500,000 to 6,300,000 LBP) and take approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.

By Bus

Public transportation relies on shared minivans leaving from Beirut's Cola intersection. Minivans depart every 15 to 30 minutes for Baaqline or Baqaata in the Chouf District. The journey takes 1 hour 15 minutes and costs 250,000 to 300,000 LBP ($2.50 to $3 USD). From the Baqaata bus drop-off, take a local private taxi for the remaining 14 km to Maaser el Shouf, which takes 25 minutes and costs 450,000 to 900,000 LBP ($5 to $10 USD).

By Car

From Beirut, take the A1 coastal highway south toward Damour (20 km). Turn east onto Route 30 (Chouf Main Road) and drive through Deir el Qamar, Beiteddine, and Moukhtara before reaching Maaser el Shouf. Total driving distance from Beirut is 55 km, taking 1 hour 15 minutes under normal traffic conditions. An alternative route from the Bekaa Valley follows the M45 Damascus Highway to Chtaura, then heads south through Kefraya and over the mountain pass.

By Train

No train service. Passenger rail operations across Lebanon ceased in the 1970s.

The core of Maaser el Shouf can be covered on foot. Accessing the cedar forest entrance (3 km uphill from the village plaza) or neighboring villages requires a vehicle. Local taxis can be hired through guesthouses; short trips within the village cost $3 to $5 USD (270,000 to 450,000 LBP), while trips to neighboring Barouk or Beiteddine cost $10 to $15 USD (900,000 to 1,350,000 LBP). Ride-hailing apps like Uber operate in Beirut but do not service internal trips within the Chouf mountains.

• Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve (Maaser Entrance): Main access point to the high-altitude cedar forest containing ancient Cedrus libani trees, including a specimen estimated at over 2,000 years old. Entry fee: 10 USD (~900,000 LBP) for foreign visitors, 5 USD (~450,000 LBP) for Lebanese nationals.

• Park House: Reserve headquarters situated in the village center. Provides trail maps, guide reservations, and exhibits detailing local biodiversity. Entry fee: Free.

• St. Michael Church (Mar Mikhael): Historic 19th-century Maronite stone church located near the central plaza. Entry fee: Free.

• St. Michael Winery (Domaine de Maasser): Cooperative winery producing small-batch wines and traditional arak from high-altitude vineyards. Wine tasting and cellar visits cost $5 to $10 USD per person.

• Ottoman Water Mill: 19th-century stone mill and bridge structure located along the ravine stream bed just below the village center. Entry fee: Free.

• Hike the Lebanon Mountain Trail: Follow Section 19 (Barouk to Maaser el Shouf, 14 km) or Section 20 (Maaser el Shouf to Niha, 13 km) along mountain ridges with views over the Bekaa Valley.

• Snowshoeing: Rent gear at the Park House between December and February to trek through snow-covered cedar groves.

• Mountain Biking: Rent mountain bikes at the reserve office to ride high-elevation dirt roads connecting Maaser el Shouf to Ain Zhalta.

• Harvest Activities: Participate in local agricultural work such as apple picking in September or olive harvesting in October through local farm stays.

• Al Fundok Restaurant: Mediterranean and regional Lebanese dining in a restored stone building. Serves organic salads, grilled meats, and mountain meze. Price: $15–$30 USD per person.
• Em Boutros (Le Restaurant): Traditional village eatery specializing in raw kibbeh, grilled lamb skewers, fatoush, and home-cooked seasonal stews. Price: $12–$25 USD per person.
• St. Michael Winery Restaurant: Terrace venue serving cold meze platters, saj bread, and grilled dishes paired with house wines. Price: $15–$25 USD per person.
• Village Bakery (Furn): Local bakery making fresh manakoushe topped with wild thyme, labneh, or minced meat. Price: $1–$4 USD per item.

• Birds Guesthouse: Simple family-run lodging popular with hikers. Offers clean private rooms and shared home-style meals. Nightly rate: $35–$60 USD.
• La Casa Antigua: Restored traditional stone guesthouse with private bathrooms, central heating, and garden views. Nightly rate: $70–$110 USD.
• Al Fundok Boutique Hotel: Heritage hotel with 23 rooms, landscaped gardens, an on-site restaurant, and complimentary mountain breakfast. Nightly rate: $95–$160 USD.

• Maaser Organic Honey: Wild thyme and cedar honey produced by local beekeepers, sold at the Park House ($10–$15 USD per jar).
• St. Michael Wines & Arak: Locally bottled red, white, and rosé wines ($8–$20 USD per bottle) and anise-flavored arak spirit.
• Rural Women's Cooperative Products: Homemade jams, za'atar spice mixes, sun-dried tomatoes, and distilled rose water sold in the village center.

• Barouk (7 km north): Neighboring village with another major cedar reserve entrance and freshwater springs.
• Moukhtara (12 km west): Historic village featuring the Jumblatt Palace estate and stone bridges along the river valley.
• Beiteddine (18 km northwest): Site of the 19th-century Beiteddine Palace complex with Byzantine-era mosaics and Ottoman courtyard architecture.
• Deir el Qamar (22 km northwest): Former capital of Mount Lebanon with stone palaces, cobblestone streets, and the 15th-century Fakhreddine Mosque.
• Kefraya (25 km east): Bekaa Valley village famous for Chateau Kefraya vineyards and winery tours.