From Land to Campsite: Building Our Facilities in Kobayat 🏞⛺

Preparing the Ground in Kobayat

This is the third post in our building story. In the previous one we cleared the overgrown land and set out the first camping area. Once the land was ready, it was time to bring Horizon Pines to life, here in Kobayat, in Akkar, North Lebanon.

Our site is on a hillside, so much of the work at this stage was about the ground itself. The photos in this section show what it looked like: an excavator preparing the slope, stone steps forming a retaining wall, stone retaining walls going up, and steel reinforcement, plumbing and wooden formwork for foundations.

It was slow, physical work, and most of it is now out of sight. What you notice as a guest are the stone terraces, stone paths and outdoor seating. What you do not see is everything underneath that holds them in place. On a slope, level ground is what makes a campsite usable: somewhere flat for tents, for tables and for people to sit together in the evening. Throughout, we kept to the same rule as before: build inside the existing pine forest, without cutting trees. For us, that is what eco camping in Lebanon has to mean in practice.

What We Built: Shared Facilities for Camping in Kobayat

Our aim at this stage was simple: a campsite in Lebanon where families and groups could arrive and find the basics already in place, instead of having to bring everything themselves. What we built:

• A shared kitchen area for cooking and shared meals. Guests bring and cook their own food; most do their shopping before arriving.
• Two bathrooms and four showers, with hot water.
• A covered meal area and a meeting area for shared meals, gatherings and activities.
• Power. At first a generator gave us reliable electricity while we worked toward solar power.

One practical note from this stage still applies: the site has running water, but the tap water is not drinkable, so please bring your own drinking water.

These shared spaces are what make group and scout camping work for 20 to 120 people. Campers also use the site’s shared bathrooms and hot showers, and campers and Lotus Belle guests share the kitchen area. Each Lotus Belle has its own private bathroom next door.

Around these we added the simpler things that make a stay easier: fire pits and BBQ stations for cooking outdoors, and first aid on site. The nearest hospital is about 1 km away, which is reassuring for families and for anyone bringing a group. If you are organising a troop, our scout camping guide explains how a group stay works.

The Dream Ahead, and Where It Stands Now

When we first wrote this post, we listed three things we hoped to add. Here is where each one stands.

• Tents for travellers arriving light. Done, in a simple form: with family and friends camping you can pay $15 per guest per night for a tent and mattress provided, instead of $10 with your own tent. Bedding is not included, so bring sheets, pillows and covers.
• Solar power for the site. Done: Horizon Pines now has 24-hour solar electricity for lighting and charging. There is good 4G coverage but no Wi-Fi.
• Chalets and glamping tents for families and couples wanting more comfort. The glamping part is open. Our premium yurts have a private bathroom and a kitchenette, and our Lotus Belle tents are round canvas tents with a private porch facing the pines. If you are looking for glamping in Akkar, those are the two options. The chalets are being built now. They are not open yet, so ask us on WhatsApp if you want to hear when they open.

Horizon Pines has opened its gates, and every current stay is open for the season, roughly April to October. We are not open in winter. Booking is directly by WhatsApp or phone, and a 50% deposit reserves your dates. The final post in this series looks at how the finished campsite came together.

Planning a stay? See the yurts or ask us about availability on WhatsApp.