Lebanon Mountain Trail | |
---|---|
Length | 470 km (290 mi) |
Use | Hiking |
Difficulty | Easy to moderate |
Season | All year round |
Website | https://www.lebanontrail.org |
The Lebanon Mountain Trail (LMT; Arabic: درب جبل لبنان) is a long-distance hiking trail in Lebanon. It extends from Andaket in north of Lebanon to Marjayoun in the south along a 470 km (290 mi) path that transects more than 76 towns and villages at altitudes ranging from 570 to 2,073 meters (1,870 to 6,800 feet) above sea level.
The LMT passes through UNESCO heritage sites, nature reserves, and protected areas, and consists of footpaths, dirt and paved roads, river crossings, and a wide range of terrain types. Though there are campgrounds along the trail, Lebanon does not have much of a camping culture, so backpacking on the LMT usually means hiking sections of the trail between villages and staying in a B&B or guesthouse overnight.
Projects like the LMT are important for Lebanon during the country's financial and political turmoil. In 2019, hikers spent over $100,000 in villages along the trail, creating a major incentive for locals to preserve and protect their heritage.[1]
Most of the trail can be freely accessed by anyone. A permit is only required for the southernmost part of the trail, which foreign visitors can get from the office of the Army Security Service.