The Great Outdoors

Too much time spent in Beirut can leave the impression that Lebanon, which prides itself as the region’s greenest country, is a vast and unsightly concrete jungle. Well, not yet, anyway. Head to either of the country’s two nature camps, La Reserve in Mnaitra or Sharewood Camp in Al Khalleh, and be reassured that breathtaking landscapes still remain. The camps’ purpose is to encourage appreciation of Lebanon’s unspoiled nature by way of outdoor activities, such as mountain climbing, caving, trekking, mountain biking, rappelling, archery and horseback riding. “Adventure travel is what we do here,” says Paul Ariss, proprietor of La Reserve, which was established five years ago. At an altitude of 1,400 meters, La Reserve has access to 40 million m2 of impressive mountainous terrain. Sharewood, which started operating last June, is at an altitude of 1,000 meters and has ample wilderness at its disposal. “We want people to know