About
The country is very varied. The different types of climates and landscapes alternate quickly. Sometimes five kilometers is enough to drive in a completely different landscape.
Clothing
In Beirut you can walk around with short sleeves, also in the Muslim part. You don't have to cover your arms in the other Christian villages and cities either. Do not provoke in the Islamic or Druze villages and towns. Headscarves are only needed in mosques.
Last updated 26 May 2021 by Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.beEdit
Visa
The visa policy of Lebanon differs quite a lot per nationality.
Source: Wikipedia.
Last updated 20 Mar 2021 by Cycle PlanetEdit
Bike shops (1)
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Sleeping
Staying with locals
The people are very hospitable and you are invited when night falls and there is no hotel in the village.
(Formal) camping
The campsite at Amchit is recommended, cheap, clean and beautiful views. A nice alternative to Byblos (accommodation is very expensive there).
Ho(s)tels
Hotels are of reasonable to good quality almost everywhere. Prices are quite high, especially in the Middle East.
Wild camping
Wild camping is possible, but almost unnecessary in such a small country.
Last updated 26 May 2021 by Bas IdsingaEdit
Safety
Traffic
It is actually too busy for cycling along the narrow coast. Many big highways and people drive like idiots. It is allowed to cycle on the motorway, there is a wide, reasonably clean hard shoulder, which is good for cycling. It is not pleasant cycling. 10 kilometers north of Beirut you can temporarily cycle along the boulevard, then a service road follows through villages along the coast to Byblos. Watch out for taxis and buses. They often misjudge the cyclist's speed (or they don't want to see the cyclist) and cut you frequently.
The roads in the Bekaa Valley are low-traffic. From the airport, which is located south of Beirut, the first part is quiet, a few kilometers quite busy and then you can cycle to the center of Beirut via the coast.
Last updated 26 May 2021 by Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.beEdit
Food and drink
Lebanon's cuisine is world famous. Mezze, a collective name for various snacks and sauces, you can eat in any restaurant, such as malttabal (a delicious smoked eggplant pasta) and hummus (mashed chickpeas with olive oil).
Main dishes are often with meat, which we know from our Turkish restaurants, such as kebab and shawarma or falafel. Lebanon has good fish restaurants along the coast and trout farms in the Bekaa valley that are also restaurant and hotel. You can also buy a lot of snacks, often bread with shawarma, falafel, hummus, or fries and tomato. Furthermore, many pizzas for sale, which is a good breakfast. Try the Lebanese pizza with thyme and poppy seeds. Bread is often round and flat and old quickly. Snacks are very cheap.
Drinkable water
Water is available in plastic bottles. In the mountains there are many springs with wonderfully pure water. People drink a lot of coffee and tea, and soft drinks, beer and wine are also available everywhere.
Last updated 26 May 2021 by Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.beEdit
Vaccinations & health
Mandatory vaccinations
If you come from a yellow fever area, yellow fever vaccination is mandatory.
Useful vaccinations for cyclists
A DTP vaccination is recommended, as is protection against Hepatitis A. Typhoid fever vaccination is recommended when traveling longer than 2 weeks.
Last updated 26 May 2021 by Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.beEdit
Other
Best time to cycle
Spring and fall are ideal. Summer is too hot and muggy, especially on the coast and in the Bekaa valley. In winter there is a lot of rain along the coast and in the mountains. In April and May it can still be very cold in the mountains.
Last updated 26 May 2021 by Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.beEdit