Intro to the Forest: A Nature Retreat in North Lebanon 🌳 ☔
How a pine forest in Kobayat, Akkar became Horizon Pines, a nature retreat in North Lebanon built among the trees. Part one of our building story.
A Pine Forest in Kobayat, Left Alone for Decades
A quick note before the story: we run Horizon Pines, a small campsite in Kobayat (also spelt Qoubaiyat), in Akkar, North Lebanon. This series of posts tells how it came to be, starting with the thing that was here long before we were: the forest.
For decades, this land remained untouched: raw, wild and full of promise. It sits at about 1,100 metres, just below Mar Gerges Chwita, and the tall pines form a green ceiling overhead. Sunlight filters through the branches in shifting patterns of light and shadow, and when you walk under the trees there is a kind of stillness that reminds you what it means to breathe deeply again.
The air is cooler here than on the coast, especially at night, and after dark the sky is properly dark, which is why stargazing is one of the simple pleasures of camping in Kobayat. None of that was designed by us. It is simply what the forest offers, and it is what first made us want to share it.
The village around it has its own long story. Kobayat is one of the largest villages in North Lebanon, with a strong Maronite heritage and traces of Phoenician, Roman and Byzantine times. Its name is linked to the Aramaic “Qbayya”, meaning large water pools, and olive groves, vineyards, apple orchards and cherry farms surround it. If that side interests you, our post on the history and heritage of Kobayat goes into more detail.
Early light on a stone terrace among the pines at Horizon Pines in Kobayat.
Before the Campsite, There Was the Forest
Horizon Pines isn't just a forest; it is the beginning of a vision: to protect this place, keep it as it is, and share it with others. Before the campsite, before the glamping tents, there was simply the forest itself. It was our inspiration, our foundation, and our reminder of what living lightly on the land really means.
That idea shaped every decision that followed. We built inside the existing pine forest rather than clearing it, with stone paths, stone terraces and outdoor seating fitted around the trees. We have written about that separately in how we built Horizon Pines without cutting trees. If you are looking for eco camping in Lebanon, that is the honest version of what “eco” means here: the forest came first, and the campsite was made to fit it.
The photos in this section show where that led: tents pitched under the pines and a covered area for shared meals, all sitting among trees that were here long before us.
It also meant accepting a few limits. There is no Wi-Fi. There is 24-hour solar electricity for lighting and charging, and good 4G coverage, but the reason to come here is the trees, not the screen.
We would rather be clear about that from the start. A campsite in Lebanon’s mountains will never be a hotel, and ours does not try to be one. What it can offer is shade, quiet, cool evenings and a forest that has been left largely as it was.
Tents and the covered dining area, set among the existing pine trees.
Where the Story Goes Next: A Nature Retreat in North Lebanon
Here we begin our story, among the roots and pine needles, in the soft hum of the forest that invites you to listen closer. Horizon Pines is more than a destination; for us it has been a journey back to balance, to simplicity, and to the heart of Lebanon’s wild north.
The next posts follow the work step by step: clearing the overgrown land, then building terraces, foundations and shared facilities, and finally how the campsite came together.
Today that nature retreat in North Lebanon is open for the season, roughly April to October. You can stay in one of our premium yurts, which have a private bathroom and a kitchenette; in a Lotus Belle tent, our round canvas option for glamping in Akkar; or bring your own tent for family and friends camping. Groups and scout troops of 20 to 120 people have their own area too.
Getting here is simpler than many people expect. Kobayat is about two hours from Beirut and about 30 minutes from Tripoli. The last stretch of road is a little rough, but an ordinary car manages it, and parking is free inside the gated property.
We are also building chalets. They are not open yet, so if you are interested, ask us on WhatsApp about opening. Whatever you choose, the forest is still the main reason to come.
Planning a stay? See the yurts or ask us about availability on WhatsApp.
A stone terrace at the campsite by moonlight, under a dark night sky.