Things to Do in Faraya and Faqra: Summer and Winter

Faraya, Faqra and Mzaar are one mountain with two personalities. From mid-December to early April it is Lebanon's ski base. From June to September it is where Beirut comes up to breathe. This is the working list of what to actually do, from eight minutes down the road, sorted by season and by who you are with.

In winter

• Ski or snowboard at Mzaar Kfardebian, the largest resort in the Middle East. Lifts run 8:00–15:15 on weekdays and 8:00–15:45 at weekends; buy passes online to skip the Saturday queue.
• Rent gear at the Mzaar parking (Soho Ski Shop, from 6:45) or at the Faraya roundabout (Charles Sports, from 6:30, usually cheaper).
• Take a snowmobile tour when there is enough snow; ProX Riding Club and Helmets On run guided routes above Faraya.
• Après at ODIN by the slopes, or a quieter drink at L'APRÈS. For dinner, Chez Cheker in Kfardebian does rustic Lebanese around big fireplaces and stays open all year.
• Stargaze from the patio on a clear, cold, moonless night. Winter skies here are the clearest of the year.

In summer

• Swim in RedRock's three shared infinity pools (mid-June to 30 September, 10:00–19:00) or, with a call ahead, at Faqra Club and the hotel pools up at Mzaar.
• Walk the Chabrouh dam loop above Faraya: two easy kilometres, no shade, good for every age. Do not swim in the reservoir.
• Visit the Roman temples of Qalaat Faqra beside Faqra Club, then the Kfardebian natural bridge for an easy half-day.
• Hike the plateau: RedRock's own paths, the walk toward Bqaatouta, or the ridges above for a real day out. Download an offline map first.
• Ride an ATV or buggy with a guide above Faraya; two hours is enough for a first time.
• Catch the Faqra Kfardebian International Festival in late July and early August, and Les Jardins du Mzaar events through the season.
• Walk to the bio-farm and fallow-deer reserve inside RedRock in the early evening.

With children

The Chabrouh dam loop, the deer reserve and the pools cover most of a family day. The Roman ruins are uneven limestone, fine for older kids who can walk on rough ground. In winter, Mzaar's beginner terrain is broad and the ski school is well established. Chez Cheker and several Faraya restaurants have playgrounds; ask when you book a table.

At night

The mountain goes dark early and the sky does the rest. At 1,600 metres with almost no street lighting, the patio at The Nest is already a dark-sky seat: give your eyes twenty minutes and skip the full moon. The fire pit, a bottle from the counter and a board game finish most evenings. If you want noise, ODIN runs late on ski weekends.

When it rains or blows

Faraya's restaurants and cafés are eight minutes down the road, and the drive itself is part of the day. Back at the chalet there is a 55-inch TV with Netflix and the regional apps, a Bose speaker, a shelf of board games, radiant heat, and power that stays on however the weather turns.

Where to base yourself

Everything above is within fifteen minutes of The Nest at RedRock, Faqra. Mzaar is eight minutes up, Faraya eight minutes down, the ruins and Faqra Club three minutes away, and the pools and deer are a walk. Check dates and rates if you want a base that sits in the middle of all of it.