Listen to the article
The “Tour of Lebanon” is currently in its eleventh edition. Every year, a group of passionate cyclists get together to cycle around Lebanon for four days.
The bicycle touring adventure, which prioritizes the experience over competition, is organized according to the rules of the art by Bassam Imad, an architect with a passion for cycling.
“This activity appeals not only to cycling enthusiasts but also to those who enjoy exploring and discovering new things. Cycle touring offers you the joy of biking without the pressure of achieving specific results. It is ideal if you’re not looking for competition. This activity is therefore accessible to a larger number of people, i.e. anyone who is willing to cycle during an outdoor outing. So, several years ago, I decided to bring them together and organize several circuits that attract more and more enthusiasts every year.” Imad says.
“We started in 2012 by organizing the ‘Cedars Tour’ followed by the ‘Tour du Liban’ in 2013, which have become two legendary tours in Lebanon,” he goes on to say.
The organizer wants to promote ecotourism as an income-generating opportunity for rural communities, but he also wants to plead with the Lebanese authorities to build cycle paths to guarantee the safety of cyclists throughout the country and encourage the use of bicycle as a means of daily transport. “We want to cultivate a cycling culture in Lebanon so that cycling becomes an everyday mode of transport that combines adventure and everyday life in a safe, healthy and sustainable way,” Imad enthusiastically adds.
“The lack of this culture is a handicap, some drivers are aggressive towards cyclists, not to mention the large number of unpaved roads that complicate our journey,” he further stated.
This year, 19 cyclists, including six women, got together to embrace the challenge of cycling across Lebanon. Four cyclists traveled from abroad to partake in this unique experience. Coming from different backgrounds — a dentist, an ophthalmologist, an engineer, a physiotherapist, an architect, a computer scientist, a bookseller, employees of pharmaceutical or logistics companies, a sports club owner, a personal trainer — these cyclists, eleven of whom embarked on this tour for the first time, swiftly created a small community of solidarity, despite differences in age. Haytham, the youngest cyclist, is 26, while Samir, the oldest, is 62.
Sibylle, a Swiss human rights specialist well-acquainted with Lebanon, embarked on the route for the first time, because “it was worth doing and discovering the country in a different way,” she says. She travels 14 km every day to and from work.
Rony, a Lebanese expatriate who returned to Lebanon six months ago, had always dreamed of doing this tour, viewing it as “a personal challenge.” Imad is doing it “for the sport, to discover nature and make new friends.” For Hazar, a young Syrian woman, cycling represents freedom, “I leave all my worries behind on my bike; with each challenge, I feel better.” Patricia finds the tour a great way to “discover her wonderful Lebanon, new regions and meet new people.”
This year’s route consisted of four stages, each spanning 464 km, with six to nine hours of cycling per day and an average daily calorie burn of 4,000 calories. “Each cyclist pedals at their own pace, free from the pressure of achieving results, but being in a group stimulates and encourages everyone to push their limits,” Imad explains.
The first stage saw the cyclists travel from Beirut to Qobayet, beginning in Hazmieh, then heading north along the coastal road, passing through Jounieh, Jbeil, Batroun, Chekka, Tripoli, Abdeh, Chadra, Andqet, and finishing in Qobayat to complete a 153km route with a total vertical drop of 1650m.
On the second day’s agenda was the Bekaa region: Qobayet-Zahlé via Chanbouk, Charbine, El Hermel, Qaa, Baalback, Rayak and finally Zahlé to enjoy a delightful dinner at Berdawni. A 143km route with a total vertical drop of 2150m.
Day three saw the cyclists heading south, from Zahlé to El-Marj, then Jobb Jennine, Qaraoun, Sohmor, Marjaayoun, Kfar Kila, Meis El Jabal, Bent Jbeil, Ain Ebl, Rmaich and stopping at Aalma El Chaab to complete a route of 154 km that witnessed a total altitude difference of 1850m.
On the fourth and final day, the cyclists returned to Beirut via the coastal road, traveling from Aalma El Chaab to Hazmieh via Naqoura, Sour, Saida, Khaldé, thus completing a distance of 114 km that witnessed a total altitude difference of 600m.
Other tours are organized throughout the year, including the Cedars Tour (2-3 days, 300 km), the South and West Bekaa Tour (2 days, 220 km) and the Qadisha Tour (2 days, 220 km), as well as other circuits depending on circumstances, such as the North and Akkar circuit and the Qaa circuit, among others.
