On the Ground
The National Reference for Trails
The LMT Association has moved beyond trail management to become the national authority on trail standards and development in Lebanon.
Our 18-year track record serves as a proven model for how long-distance trails can be successfully maintained and integrated into rural landscapes.
Our technical expertise is currently being institutionalized at the highest level.
We are proud to be pioneering the first official National Trail Standards in collaboration with LIBNOR (The Lebanese Standards Institution), a landmark initiative designed to protect our natural landscapes while enhancing the outdoor experience. This partnership ensures that the rigorous technical, safety, and environmental specifications developed by the LMTA will serve as the formal benchmark for trail projects across the entire country.
By integrating global benchmarks curated from world-class trail systems in Switzerland, France, and the USA, we are establishing a rigorous framework for all new trail development. These standards ensure that every path is built to last, prioritizing sustainability and safety to keep our mountains accessible and pristine for everyone who hits the trail.
The LMT Geotrails
Discover Lebanon’s Geological Wonders
From the rugged heights of the Jbeil mountains to the unique landscapes of Akkar, our geotrail networks offer an immersive journey through millions of years of history.
In Jbeil, these trails act as a gateway to Lebanon’s deep past, featuring massive Jurassic limestone cliffs, intricate cave systems, and the world-renowned marine fossil beds that reveal an ancient sea floor frozen in time. These routes highlight how the shifting earth shaped not only the physical peaks but also the cultural heritage of the high mountains.
In Akkar, our latest developments in Mechmech and Qammouaa, supported by the LMTA, guide hikers through Lebanon’s largest Nordmann Fir forest. These trails reveal a different side of the country’s origins, showcasing ancient volcanic structures, dramatic karst landscapes, and diverse fossil records.
Together, these paths serve as an outdoor classroom where the physical and cultural landscape meet. By tracing the epochs that shaped our terrain, these trails invite adventurers to connect with the scientific and natural heritage that makes the Lebanese landscape so extraordinary.
List of Geotrails:
- EHMEJ – EL AAQOURA GEOTRAIL
- EHMEJ – BALOUAA BAATARA GEOTRAIL
- JAJ NATURE RESERVE GEOTRAIL
- JORD EL AAQOURA GEOTRAIL
- MESHMESH GEOTRAIL
Protecting Lebanon’s Natural Heritage
At the Lebanon Mountain Trail (LMT), we believe that every step taken on the trail is an opportunity to connect with the delicate pulse of our natural heritage. Our mission extends far beyond trekking; we are committed to the promotion and protection of Lebanon’s unique biodiversity. A central pillar of our work is managing the LMT as a conservation corridor. Rather than just a walking path, the trail serves as a dedicated protected space that safeguards our mountain ecosystems from encroachment and urban expansion. By maintaining this continuous ribbon of nature, we provide a safe haven where species can thrive undisturbed. Through vibrant education programs for children and continuous awareness campaigns for adults on our social media, we empower every generation to become lifelong guardians of these high-altitude sanctuaries.
Our conservation efforts are currently rooted in high-impact initiatives, such as our project in Baskinta dedicated to protecting endemic flora species. The mountains of Lebanon host a breathtaking array of life.
Hikers may encounter the majestic Lebanon Cedar (Cedrus libani), the rare Lebanese Violet, and the vibrant Wild Peony blooming in the rocky terrain. This landscape is also home to iconic fauna, including the Striped Hyena (Lebanon’s national animal), the Rock Hyrax, and soaring migratory birds like the Lesser Spotted Eagle.
By treating the LMT as a vital conservation space, we ensure that Lebanon’s ecological identity remains resilient and flourishing.
Embracing Wild Edible Plants
The Lebanon Mountain Trail is a living pantry teeming with wild edible plants that have sustained our mountain communities for generations.
These plants are a cornerstone of our biodiversity, playing a vital role in the food security and health of rural villages along the trail. To honor this ancestral heritage, we integrate training and tasting sessions into our mission, celebrating staples like Qors’anneh (Eryngo), Khubbeizeh (Mallow), and Hindbeh (Dandelion) that define our traditional mountain cuisine. From the highly-prized spring Gundelia (Akkoob) to fragrant Wild Thyme, Shumar (Fennel), and Qorra (Watercress), we teach the importance of responsible foraging to ensure these species are preserved.
By balancing traditional knowledge with sustainable harvesting, we protect this “green wealth” while keeping our cultural traditions.
On the Ground
A Proud co-founding Member of the Med Trails Network (MTN)
The Lebanon Mountain Trail Association is a co-founding Member of the Med Trails Network (MTN), the first professional network of trail organizations, experts, and trail related groups across the Mediterranean.
While our paths do not physically connect across borders, we are united by a shared vision for the region’s hiking ecosystem.
MTN is a dynamic and growing movement; while we currently represent partners from France, Greece, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia, and Türkiye, the network continues to expand as new members and countries join this collaborative effort.
We believe that hiking tourism is much more than a way for outdoor enthusiasts to explore diverse landscapes and heritage sites; it also plays a key role in conserving biodiversity and cultural landmarks.
As one of the most efficient forms of sustainable tourism, the MTN helps protect our natural environments while providing a platform for trail managers to share expertise and support the Mediterranean’s rural communities.
By joining forces, we are ensuring the Mediterranean remains a leading destination for responsible adventure and cultural immersion.
MTN Board Game
Connecting the Lebanon Mountain Trail to the Global Community
As a co-founding Member of the World Trails Network (WTN), the LMTA is part of a global movement dedicated to the creation, enhancement, and protection of outstanding trail experiences.
The WTN serves as a primary hub for trail associations, advocates, and professionals worldwide, fostering the collaboration necessary for the betterment of trails on every continent.
By engaging with this international community, we contribute to key priorities such as the biennial World Trails Conference, the development of International Trails Task Teams, and the growth of the International Friendship Trails program.
Our involvement ensures that the Lebanon Mountain Trail is integrated into a global dialogue, advocating for a robust international trails tourism sector and the establishment of an official World Trails Day to recognize the importance of these paths worldwide.
Strategic Partnership with FFRandonnée
On September 3, 2024, a significant milestone was reached in the Lebanese mountains as the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association (LMTA) and the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre (FFRandonnée) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Represented by LMTA President Alfred Farwagi and FFRandonnée’s Director of External Relations Séverine Ikkawi, this agreement formalizes a commitment to cooperation between the two organizations and the two countries.
Through this partnership, the LMTA aligns with FFRandonnée’s decades of technical expertise to implement international standards for trail development, maintenance, and waymarking. This collaboration goes beyond administrative support; it is a direct exchange of professional know-how designed to strengthen the capacity of trail managers and ensure that the Lebanon Mountain Trail meets global benchmarks for quality and safety. By bridging our expertise with that of the leading authority on hiking in France, we are fostering a more resilient and sustainable future for trail tourism in Lebanon.
Friendship Trails initiative
The Friendship Trails initiative was developed through the World Trails Network as a way to connect trail organizations and long-distance hiking routes across different countries and cultures. Inspired by the concept of “twin towns,” Friendship Trails create partnerships between trails that share common values related to conservation, community engagement, sustainable tourism, and cultural exchange.
At its core, the Friendship Trails program seeks to promote International friendship and cooperation, Cross-cultural understanding through walking, Knowledge sharing, Sustainable tourism and local economic development, Environmental stewardship and conservation, Greater global awareness of trails and their cultural and natural heritage value.
The Lebanon Mountain Trail Association has actively participated in this initiative by establishing Friendship Trail partnerships with several international trails, helping showcase Lebanon’s natural and cultural heritage while fostering international collaboration and solidarity within the global trails community.
The LMTA currently has 5 Friendship Trails:
- Bruce Trail Conservancy – Canada
- Jeju Olle – South Korea
- Trilha Transcarioca – Brazil
- Crans Montana – Switzerland
- Sendero Pacifico – Costa Rica
Subscribe here to receive the yearly LMTA magazine and periodic Newsletters.