- 18:05
It’s uplifting to see the Lebanese mountain peaks gradually covered in white, but how is the ski season kicking off? What are the expectations? And what about the overall prices for ski lovers?
Since the beginning of January, four out of five ski resorts in Lebanon have already opened, only a few days apart. Weekday prices typically range from $30 to $40, rising to $40 to $65 on weekends, depending on the resort (for details, check the sidebar or the ski station websites), with different rates for children and passes excluded. The slopes at Faqra Club remain closed “due to insufficient snowfall,” according to the Lebanese Tourist Projects Company (Solipro).
The Mzaar Ski Resort in Kfardebian opened its doors on January 3. “We opened the resort 15 days earlier than last year,” says Nicole Wakim Freiha, the group’s marketing and development manager. “We have an exceptional team tirelessly working to safely prepare the resort and provide our guests with a wonderful experience,” she adds.
The inauguration of the largest ski resort in the Middle East, offering 100 km of marked trails with natural snow, was “meticulously planned and secured,” explains Freiha. As a matter of fact, the number of skiers was “limited to 1,000,” on opening day, but this limit has gradually increased, she reports. However, the resort is currently operating at “70% of its capacity due to a lack of snow at the base of the slopes.”
Elie Fakhry, co-owner and director of the Cedar Ski Resort, shared a similar sentiment, expressing his “great happiness” at the strong turnout on December 31 for the resort’s opening, despite the limited snowfall so far this season.
Making Skiing Accessible Beyond a Niche Group
Although skiing is often seen as an expensive sport, especially in Lebanon, where a series of crises, including a 95% devaluation of the national currency, have persisted since 2019, ski resort operators are tirelessly working to make skiing more accessible to the broader public.
As explained by the marketing and development manager of Mzaar Ski Resort, “We introduced highly competitive Early Bird Season Passes to winter sports enthusiasts well before the snow arrived.” These advantages allowed early skiers to enjoy the slopes ahead of the crowd, particularly on opening day, with between 1,000 and 1,500 skiers, ensuring maximum safety and minimizing accidents, as explained by Freiha. Moreover, these passes also allowed skiers to avoid long lines.
Similarly, Fakhry is committed to encouraging more people to ski. While he acknowledges that skiing is the “most expensive” sport, he emphasizes that, given the “challenging circumstances, it’s crucial to offer affordable rates to encourage skiers,” while also taking travel distance into account.
In response to concerns about high prices, Freiha justifies the rates by pointing out the “significant costs” involved in running a ski resort, particularly for generators, due to the unreliable electricity supply from Electricité du Liban (EDL).
To address this issue, various special offers are regularly available to skiers “both on weekdays and weekends,” ensuring that skiing remains accessible to more than just a “niche” group, Freiha reassures.
Regarding half-day ski passes, the marketing and development manager mentions that they will be available “once snow coverage is complete and the entire resort is open.”
January: A Surprisingly Springlike Climate
Although the Domaine des Cèdres resort opened its doors on December 31, with hotels and chalets “fully booked” and “ski slopes and dance floors buzzing on New Year's Eve,” the season was unexpectedly interrupted shortly after, says Fakhry. “The unusually mild and spring-like weather has certainly complicated things,” he adds.
Such weather conditions are “almost unheard of, with temperatures reaching around 14 °C, likely due to climate change,” he noted.
Despite this situation, optimism remains. “Even though the season began later this year, visitors will still come to the Cedars, particularly with the new (positive) political developments in the country,” asserts Fakhry, referring to the election of a president after more than two years of vacancy at the helm of state, and the appointment of a new prime minister.
He hopes that these “positive news” will attract tourists, ensuring a profitable season.
It's a hopeful vision we all share—one that writes a new chapter not just on the slopes, but, more importantly, for the country. We all need it.
How much does a ski day cost on average?
Cedar Ski Resort
Weekdays: $30
Weekends: $40
Mzaar Ski Resort
Weekdays: From $30, with Baby Access at $25 depending on the area.
Weekends: From $45 to $65 depending on the area, with Baby Access at $40.
Zaarour Club
Weekdays: From $35 ($30 for children)
Weekends: $55 ($45 for children), according to their Instagram page.
Laqlouq Ski Resort
Only 2024 prices are available on their Instagram page, and their phone number is not responding. The resort had to close its slopes due to weather conditions.
Faqra Club
Slopes are currently closed to the public, with prices to be posted on their website once they reopen.
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