The latest in a long line of festivals and special events to bring excitement to Lebanon this summer, Le Festival du Bonheur (or the Happiness Festival) has just kicked off in Ain Saade.

The town’s name can be translated as ‘Spring of Happiness’ and it certainly looks set to be bubbling with fun and excitement this weekend. Usually a fairly quiet suburb, tucked away in the pine forests that cover the hills overlooking Beirut, it now finds itself buzzing with activity.

Organised by local business UrbanArt, the festival promises to deliver something exciting for all the family. In addition to movies, music and art, it also offers special entertainment for kids and a parade of floats and performers. The more extreme option of bungee jumping is also on offer – something that’s sure to get the adrenaline pumping, even if you’re just thinking about taking the plunge!

Ain Saade is located just 10km outside of the capital itself, meaning it’s very easy to get to from any Beirut hotel in the centre of town. A trip to this picturesque little town can be the perfect break from city life and is definitely worth a visit, even when the festival wraps up this year.

We at Lebhotels.com love the idea of a festival dedicated completely to happiness! It’s truly a noble cause. For everyone attending, we wish you a taste of purest Bonheur!

If you’re interested in other festivals taking place in Lebanon, there are some other big events to be aware of. The Ehdeniyat Festival started a couple of weeks back and runs until August 28. The Mzaar Summer Festival is also well underway but wraps up next week.

If the idea of bungee jumping whets your appetite for an extreme experience, there are also plenty of ways to satisfy a craving for adventure:

• A Bird’s Eye View of Beirut
• ATV tours around Lebanon
• Boat Excursions from Beirut
• Paragliding Flight Over Jounieh
• Skywalking – Parcours Aventure

There are plenty of Beirut hotels available in the centre of the nearby city, which can cater to your every requirement. Whether you’re looking for a bargain hostel bed, or a pampered luxury experience you’re sure to find something for you at a price that’s right.

This summer’s Ehdeniyat Festival is now underway! This annual event – held in the North Lebanon town of  Ehden, nestled between the peaks of the surrounding mountains – takes place in both winter and summer. The brainchild of Mrs. Rima Sleiman, it is organised and run by a locally based NGO called Al Midan.

The festival, which has its roots in the local community’s traditions and love for the surrounding environment, started life in 2004 and has taken place on several occasions since then. The vision is to provide a platform for local people, but especially youths, to express themselves by sharing their love of various topics.

The events taking place more or less fall under one of the following four topics:

• Environmental activities
• Cinematographic activities
• Handicrafts
• Astrologic activities

Acts this year include Helene Segara, whose sold-out performance last night marked the official start to the festival, Tino Favazza, Bond, Arthur Satyan, Jahida Wehbe, Oussama Rahbani, Hiba Tawaji, Carole Samaha and Ilham Al Madfai. There’s also a week activities completely aimed at kids, so parents can be confident in the knowledge that there’s something on offer to keep the little ones entertained.

The festival runs from now until the August 28, so there’s still plenty of time to get involved if you’re keen to take part in a bit of culture.

In addition Ehdeniyat, Ehden has much more to offer to tourists. Its proximity to Mount Makmal and Kornet el Sawda, the highest peaks in Lebanon, offer plenty of opportunities for following Lebanon’s best hiking routes. The natural surroundings are inrecidbly impressive, with beautiful views afforded by Ehden’s significant elevation.

History buffs will be fascinated by the town’s ancient ruins, that include remnants of a Greek presence from thousands of years ago. The holy sites and places of worship, that continue to be used to this day, are also well worth a look.

Ehden is around 100km north of Beirut, meaning that staying in a hotel in Beirut is an option, but a hotel in Tripoli – just 30km to the West – may be a better bet for those who wish to visit Ehden. Alternatively, Bcharreh and the area surround Lebanon’s famous Cedars, is also an excellent choice. There are many outstanding Cedars hotels that can provide excellent accomodation, with Ehden jsut a short journey away to the north.

With so much to see and do as part of a visit to Lebanon, the hustle and bustle of moving from place to place can feel a little overwhelming at times. While there are plenty of adrenaline-pumping experiences on offer, it’s sometimes easy to forget that the best experiences are often the simplest and that the best way of seeing some of a country’s most unique sights is the old-fashioned way: walking.

The Qannoubine Valley - a great destination for hikers. Photo by David Holt, Flickr.

Lebanon boasts a huge variety of fantastic hiking routes, which make the most of its outstanding natural features and rich history. With the right preparation, planning and guidance, most of these routes can be enjoyed throughout the year. High temperatures during the summer months may be daunting, but getting up early to catch the sunrise or hiking through the twilight are both great options. Summer is also a great time to plan some routes for the autumn, when things start to cool off, making long walks easier.

Here’s a list of just a few of our favourite hikes:

• Al-Chouf Cedars Nature Reserve Hike – 50km outside of Beirut, this huge nature reserve is home to a wide array of species and is the ideal destination for lovers of the natural world. A guided hike through its foothills and forests is the perfect way to get back to nature.
• Hiking from Laklouk to Balaa Pit – This route takes walkers through the Tannourine Cedars nature reserve to experience some of the most unusual sights in all of Lebanon. The village of Balaa is home to a huge cavern, or sink hole, which provides a staggering backdrop to walks in and around the area.
• Hiking in the holy valley of Qannoubine – One for history lovers. The Qannoubine valley is an area steeped in tradition and is home to churches, convents and caves that have been used as places of worship for centuries. Above 900m in elevation, this is a challenging hike, but one that can be appreciated by all who take part.
• Reach the Highest Summit 3088m – This is the ultimate; a journey to the very highest point in Lebanon. Departing from the Cedars ski resort and getting an early start is the best way to enjoy the climb. The views from the top are beyond compare.

Hiking in Lebanon is an experience that can be enjoyed by just about anyone, but common sense does apply. Prepare in advance and always bring suitable clothing, sun protection and water.

After a day of hard walking, what better way to unwind than pampering yourself in a top Beirut hotel? Curling up in a soft bed is the ultimate tonic, and while you may have sore feet for a while, the memories will last forever!

Another summer of festival events in Lebanon is in full swing!  If the Baalbek International Festival and the Byblos International Festival weren’t enough, The Beiteddine Art Festival will also draw crowds and ignite artistic imagination in a sumptuous setting of rich cultural heritage.

The Beiteddine Art Festival takes place in the Beiteddine Palace, a magnificent structure that dates back 200 years and hidden in the Chouf mountains of Lebanan, just 30 miles south of Beirut.  Highlights of its regal architecture include lush courtyards, graceful arcades, and magnificent front gates.

The Inner Courtyard of the Beiteddine Palace is the regal setting for Beiteddine Art Festival

The story behind the festival

2011 will mark the Beiteddine Art Festival’s 26th anniversary.  The first annual festival was held in 1985, in the the context of war, as an audacious experiment of culture’s ability to triumph amidst turmoil.  Against the odds, the first few years of the festival were successful, and now the Beiteddine Art Festival has grown in prestige to become a leading cultural event in the Middle East.

Through the support of both public and private sponsors as well as a loyal audience that returns year after year, the festival has grown healthily.  Each summer about 50,000 spectators fill the palace’s courtyards to enjoy an impressive variety of both performing arts and fine arts exhibitions.

The details for 2011

This year, the Beiteddine Art Festival will feature a world-class line-up of performers and artists, both of Lebanese background and international acclaim.

The events are ongoing from June 24 through August 4.  Have a look at the program and don’t miss out on this beautiful celebration of art in culture in Lebanon.

Friday June 24 – Saturday June 25
Sabah: the musical!
A glamourous and fantastical musical, tracing the life of Lebanese pop icon Sabah

Friday, July 8
Roberto Alagna
Renowned Sicilian tenor singer of French and Italian opera

Friday July 15 – Saturday July 16
Kadim Al Sahir
Iraqi musician, composer, singer, songwriter, and cultural ambassador for peace

Tuesday July 19
George Benson
Award-winning American jazz guitarist and soul/R&B musician

Friday July 22
Babel (words)
Contemporary dance performance with choreography by Sidi Larbi

Wednesday July 27
Ibrahim Maalouf and his quintet Diachronism
Beirut’s own trumpet virtuoso with a five-piece brass accompaniment

Saturday July 30
Stabat Mater
A 13th century Christian and Muslim hymn of praise to the Virgin Mary

Thursday August 4
Farida and the Iraqi Maqam Ensemble
The voice of Mesopotamia” with Omar Mounir Bachir on Oud

In visual arts, the exhibitions of Sabah and Reza Abedini will be on display during the course of the festival,  June 24 to August 4.

Don’t wait til the last minute to book your Lebanon hotel.  The summer season is busy and rooms fill up fast!  Make your trip complete with our exciting Lebanon activities and tours.

Photo courtesy of wikimedia/blingbling10

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Baalbek, known to the Ancient Greeks as Heliopolis or ‘City of the Sun’, is home to one of the world’s greatest collection of antique ruins. The temple complex contains fantastically preserved examples of ancient architecture, its various buildings dedicated to the Romanized versions of gods from civilizations dating back thousands of years.

In addition to its colossal historical value, this ancient site has, in recent years, become synonymous with contemporary cultural events. Since 1955, it has been home to the annual Baalbek International Festival, one of the most famous and popular events of its kind in the entire region.

The Bacchus Temple at Baalbek - backdrop and venue for the Baalbek International Festival. Photo courtesy of Heretiq, Wikimedia Commons

In the past, the BIF has played host to such various luminaries as jazz legend Miles Davis, soul icon Nina Simone and ‘first lady of song’ Ella Fitzgerald. By providing a platform for the performance of music, dance and theatre, it has done much to establish Lebanon’s rightful recognition as a supporter of both domestic and international cultural development.

This year’s festival, which commences on July 7, offers attendees a dramatic selection of entertainment to choose from, including:

• From the Days of Saladin – a musical play accompanied by orchestra and dancers
• The Boris Eifman Ballet Theatre of. St Petersburg
• The Gershwin Piano Quartet
• Abdel Rahman El Bacha

All acts will be performed against the unparalleled backdrop of Baalbek’s temple buildings, or within the incredible interior of the Bacchus Temple itself.

Baalbek is located some 90km to the East of Beirut itself. Most visitors will prefer to stay in Beirut hotels and make the round trip to BIF events (which takes around 90 minutes), but it’s also feasible to stay in other Lebanon hotels and make the journey to the temple site. Performances start at 8pm sharp, so be sure to allow plenty of time.

We recommend booking your accommodation in advance to avoid disappointment as hotels fill up quickly at this time of year.

Beiruuuut, are you ready to shoooogle? Yup you heard us right! Shoogle here, shoogle there, everywhere shoogle shoogle! Besides bringing you the best deals for hotels in Lebanon, we thought of spicing things up a bit and voila:

Part of the Reel Festivals’s mission to expose Lebanon to the Scottish culture and vice versa, the Music Hall Beirut invites you to an unparalleled celtic fusion performance by Shooglenifty – shoogletresting don’t you think? The shoogling part is besides enjoying an extraordinary night you get to nab a great deal at one of the hotels in Beirut, check them out:

*Intercontinental Phoenicia Beirut at $291/night

*Movenpick Hotel and Resort Beirut at $184/night

*Etoile Suites Hotel Downtown Beirut at $150/night including breakfast

*Four Seasons Hotel Beirut at $445/night

*Le Gray Hotel Downtown Beirut at $345/night

Ladies and gents,  are you ready for Summer?! Well, not so fast, we’re not officially there yet but the signs are everywhere: hotels in Lebanon are getting all hyped for the upcoming tourist influx, Beirut city is warming up with all kinds of events and we at Lebhotels.com just got a new A/C for the office, yey!

A picture is worth a thousand words, isn’t it? Well get ready for a night of unparalleled trance exuberance with duo DJs Cosmic Gate mostly known for hits like “Body of Conflict”, “Under Your Spell” and “Not Enough Time”. Special appearance by Aruna, so we expect a live performance of “Under Your Spell” among others.

So if you’re still indecisive about your weekend plans, make sure not to miss the Cosmic Gate event at the Forum de Beirut. Now that’s what to do. Where to stay? The choices are plenty! You’ve got hotels in Gemmayze such as the Port View Hotel Beirut at $54/night including breakfast, hotels in Hamra such as the Mayflower Hotel at $80/night including breakfast or the 35 Rooms Hotel at $100/night including breakfast, hotels in Achrafieh such as the Golden Tulip Hotel de Ville at $118/night including breakfast, all at a close perimeter from the event.

Looks like April will be showcasing some of the region’s most cultural events and unbelievable package deals for hotels in Lebanon and April’s fools will be the ones missing all this action.

The Metropolis Cinema Beirut has gained a reputation of being a cultural hub; it constantly strives to bringing new festivals to Lebanon and the latest addition comes from Denmark with a very promising program starting tonight.

A good meal with good company after a good movie are just the perfect ingredients for an enjoyable night. Also make sure you benefit from the best deals for hotels in Beirut such as the Albergo Hotel Achrafieh at $273/night, the Port View Hotel Gemayze at $54/night including breakfast and the Golden Tulip Hotel de Ville Beirut at $118/night including breakfast.

We always have a treat for music lovers, just like we continuously strive to bringing you the widest selection of hotels in Lebanon for your business trips or family vacations.

The 11th edition of Irtijal, the festival of experimental music, kicks off this April 5th at Masrah Beirut, Ain El Mreisseh. The festival features renowned local and international artists who will be enchanting your ears over a period of 4 days.

Ain El Mreisseh is definitely worth exploring specially with its fabulous corniche, restaurants and cafes. Some of the best hotels in Beirut are located there such as the Intercontinental Phoenicia Beirut starting $291/night, the Palm Beach Hotel starting $128/night including breakfast, the Parisian Hotel Beirut starting $100/night including breakfast and the Charles Hotel starting $81/night including breakfast.

We’re kicking off the sunny warm month of April with lots of new additions to Lebanon hotels and a series of groundbreaking events in Beirut city.

On April 1, Beirut’s infamous underground club a.k.a BO18 will host Richie Hawtin’s techno prodigy Marc Houle for a night of minimal exuberance that promises to leave you dancing until dawn. Opening and closing sets by Lebanon’s own Ronin & Nesta and Gunther & Stamina.

Discover the city at night or spend the weekend in the most vibrant city in the Middle East at one of these hotels in Beirut:

*Port View Hotel Gemmayze: rooms starting $54/night including breakfast.
*Le Gray Hotel Beirut: rooms starting $345/night.
*Golden Tulip Hotel de Ville Achrafieh: rooms starting $118/night including breakfast.