Ehden: where to stay, what to see, and when to go | Lebanon Rental
Ehden · guide
Ehden: where to stay, what to see, and when to go
A summer weekend in Ehden: the protected cedar forest of Horsh Ehden, the village square and Mar Sarkis, day trips to Bcharre, and chalets to stay in.
2 November 2026 · 2 min read · Lebanon Rental
Cool pine air in August, a protected forest of ancient cedars on the doorstep, and a village square that fills with music on summer nights. Ehden, high in the mountains of north Lebanon, has been the north's summer escape for generations. It is also a short hop from Bcharre, the Cedars of God and the Qadisha Valley.
Where to stay
We list three stays in Ehden: two chalets and an apartment. All three put you in the village or close to it, so you can walk to the square.
Wikipedia calls Ehden "The Bride of Summer Resorts in the North of Lebanon". The town sits at roughly 1,500 metres, and it began as a winter home for families from nearby Zgharta, before becoming mainly a summer resort.
It describes a moderate, dry climate, with July and August highs of about 28 to 29 degrees.
What to see: Horsh Ehden
Horsh Ehden is a forest of about 3,000 hectares, at roughly 1,300 to 2,000 metres above sea level. The Lebanese government made it a protected nature reserve under Law No. 121 of 9 March 1992, says the Ministry of Environment.
Pebble Rondo Chalet in Ehden
It holds cedar, fir, pine and elm, and plants found nowhere else. Trails are marked, and there are picnic spots, so you can walk for an hour or the whole day. Visitors can also expect ancient oaks, picnic spots and a real chance to see wildlife and endemic plants.
What to see: the village
Mar Sarkis, a monastery at Ras Al Nahr, has two churches that Wikipedia dates to the 8th and 12th centuries. Dozens of churches and monasteries have been built in and around Ehden over the centuries.
The village square, Al-Middan, hosts folkloric festivals every year and summer concerts almost nightly, according to Wikipedia. A statue and the coffin of Youssef Bey Karam are in Ehden, and a flower, Dianthus karami, was named in his honour.
How to get there, and day trips
The Gibran Museum and the old quarter of Bcharre are an easy day trip, as are the Cedars of God and the Qadisha Valley. Read our Bcharre and the Cedars guide to plan it.
Ehden is roughly 110 to 120 km from Beirut, depending on the route you take. Mountain roads are slower than the distance suggests, so allow time, leave early, and check the weather in winter.
When to go
Summer is the classic season, when the village is cool and the square is busy. The forest suits any warm month, and the nights stay fresh even in August.
Not sure which place suits you? Tell El M3allem your dates and group size, and we will find one near the square.
