Best Time to Camp in Lebanon: A Season-by-Season Guide
The best time to camp in Lebanon, season by season: camping in spring, summer and autumn in Kobayat, what to pack for cool nights, and why we close in winter.
Camping in Lebanon in Spring: April and May
A disclosure first: we run Horizon Pines, a camping and glamping site in Kobayat, Akkar, so this guide is written from our own site at about 1,100 metres. The camping season in Lebanon's mountains, as we run it, goes from roughly April to October. We are closed in winter, so the real question is which of spring, summer or autumn suits you.
Spring is when we open. The forest is green, the paths are fresh after the winter, and the site is at its quietest. It is a good time for walking: the forest paths around the site are the easiest. For longer walks, the Qammouaa area and the Beino reserve are names you will hear locally; ask locally about current access and conditions first, and use lebanontrail.org for Lebanon Mountain Trail routes.
The trade-off is the weather. April and May nights in the mountains can be properly cool and the weather can change quickly, so pack more warm layers than you think you need. If you are camping in your own tent, bring sleeping gear meant for cool nights.
Who spring suits: walkers, couples, and anyone who wants the forest to themselves. If you are new to camping and worried about cold, a yurt is the comfortable option: the walls are insulated and you have a private bathroom with hot shower a few steps from your bed. Our first-timer's guide to camping in Akkar covers the rest of the preparation.
Tents and hammocks around a stone fire ring under the pines, the kind of quiet spring morning the start of the season brings.
Camping in Lebanon in Summer: June to August
Summer is the busiest part of the camping season in Lebanon, and it is easy to see why. When the coast is hot and humid, the height makes a difference: days are long, and the evenings at 1,100 metres are cooler and pleasant for sitting outside. Even in August, bring a warm layer for the night.
Choosing a stay in summer: the yurts have six large windows with cross-ventilation and a ceiling fan, which helps on warm afternoons, plus a fridge in the kitchenette. If you are camping, pick shade under the pines for your tent and keep food and drinks out of the sun. Groups of 20 or more can look at group and scout camping.
This is when families and groups come. Children use the playground, groups gather around the fire pits and BBQ stations, and the dark night sky makes for good stargazing. If you have children, our family camping guide covers what to pack and how the campsites work.
Summer is also Kobayat's liveliest season, with the Kobayat Festival's music and culture nights and the celebrations at Saydet el Ghessaleh. Our post on Kobayat as a summer escape has more on both.
Two cautions for summer camping in Lebanon. First, the pine forest gets dry, so use the fire pits and BBQ stations rather than making your own fire, and be careful with anything lit, including cigarettes. Second, because summer is the popular season, it pays to settle your dates early if they are fixed. A 50% deposit reserves the stay, and cancellations are accepted at least 7 days before arrival.
Summer is family season: children together among the pines, and a camping pitch with a rental tent and outdoor seating.
Camping in Lebanon in Autumn: September and October
For many people, autumn is the best time to camp in Lebanon. The summer crowds thin out in September, days can stay comfortable for walking and picnics, and the site becomes calm again. Evenings get crisper as October goes on, so the warm layer becomes essential rather than optional.
Autumn suits couples, small groups of friends, and anyone who wants a quieter weekend. It is also a good season for a Lotus Belle tent: the canvas is all-weather, bedding is provided (bring your own towels), and the porch faces the pines. For more on choosing between tent and solid walls, read glamping vs camping in Lebanon.
Packing for any season:
Warm layer: nights are cooler than on the coast in every month we are open.
Drinking water: the tap water on site is not drinkable.
Food: guests cook their own, so shop before the mountain road. There is a shared kitchen area, fire pits and BBQ stations.
Shoes with grip: the paths are stone and forest floor.
Cash: smaller businesses in the area are often cash-only. We accept cash, OMT, Whish, PayPal and Wise.
Whichever season you pick, check-in is from 3:00 PM (late arrivals until 10:00 PM) and check-out is by 11:00 AM, and one night is welcome. For ideas on what to do once you are here, see things to do in Kobayat and Akkar.
Planning a stay? See camping at Horizon Pines or ask us about availability on WhatsApp.
Evening sun through the pines, a sign of the calmer autumn weeks before we close for winter.