14 incredible places to go hiking in Lebanon

All too often we get caught up in the fast paced city life of Beirut and forget to find time to escape into nature. Fortunately, Lebanon boasts incredible mountains, forests, rivers, waterfalls and lakes that are just waiting to bring us back to a place of zen when we remember to make the trek.

Here are 12 of our favorite hiking destinations in Lebanon.

The northern district of Akkar is home to 1000-year-old forests of junipers, oaks, cypresses, cedars and Cilician firs.

This incredible patch of nature was the first unofficial reserve in Lebanon and is also home to several historic sites such as St. John's rock-cut hermitage and chapel.

The source of numerous mountains springs, Sannine stretches an impressive 2,628 meters above sea level in to the sky.

Located within the Besharri and Zgharta districts of northern Lebanon, the valley's name comes from the Aramaic for "holy."

Situated in Tannourine, the waterfall is perhaps one of the more iconic hiking destinations in Lebanon.

The reserve is Lebanon's largest, stretching from Dahr Al-Baidar in the north to Niha Mountain in the south.

Ranging in altitude from 1,200 to 2,000 meters, the nature reserve is situated on the upper north western slopes of Mount Lebanon.

Jezzine is full of great hiking destinations such as the Bkassine Pine Forest and one of Lebanon's highest waterfalls.

Located in the Kesrewan area, the reserve offers several different maintained hiking trails to choose from.

Picturesque Lake Chouwen serves as the ideal starting or ending point to any hike through Adonis Valley.

Adventurous hikers won't want to pass up the chance to hike to the top of the region's highest peak.

Located northeast of Tripoli, Kobayat offers some of the most bio-diverse landscapes in the region and is home to one of the best naturally preserved cedar forests in Lebanon.

One of Lebanon's favorite skiing destinations in winter, Kfardebian offers amazing landscapes for hikers throughout the rest of the year.

And for the truly bold and adventurous, there is the Lebanon Mountain Trail extending 470 km from Andqet in the north of Lebanon to Marjayoun in the south. The incredible trek takes hikers through more than 75 towns and villages at altitudes ranging from 670 meters to 2,011 meters.