Snow groomers prepare the slopes at the Mzaar Kfar Dibian resort. (Credit: Photo provided by the resort)
After several consecutive snowfalls in recent days in Lebanon, some ski resorts are already ready to welcome their first guests of the season this week.
The Cedars Resort, above Bsharri, is the first to officially open. And there’s no waiting. After a first trial day on Tuesday, which allowed teams and skiers alike to confirm the safety of the slopes, the entire resort opened to the public on New Year’s Eve, despite unfavorable weather conditions. In total, 11 km of slopes are available.
No increase in prices at the Cedars
"Because of the chosen date, we’re seeing low turnout for this first day, but a few athletes are already out on the slopes," said resort director Elie Fakhry in remarks to L'Orient-Le Jour.
He hopes this opening will last for the winter, as a storm is expected in the coming days, which should help the snowpack hold up despite mostly mild weather. To encourage visitors, the resort has decided not to increase prices despite overall upward trends: A day pass will cost $40 on weekends and holidays and $30 on weekdays.
Mzaar resort will open this weekend
The Mzaar resort in Kfar Dibian will be the second to open, effective Saturday.
However, it has chosen to wait for the stormy winds to pass, a source at the resort told our publication.
After an evaluation of the snow cover, "at least 80 percent of the entire slopes," stretching over 40 km, will be open. That proportion may evolve by the end of the week.
"The patrol teams have prepared the area, the marking is done — now all that's left is for the storm to determine the snow level," says the resort, which expects a strong kickoff, thanks in part to expatriates who came home for the holidays this year.
According to Mohammad Choucair, president of the economic bodies, the number of vacationers arriving in Lebanon for the holiday season will exceed the “400,000-person threshold.”
To make the most of this influx, Mzaar Ski Resort will not, at least for now, impose a daily attendance limit, as it did at the start of last year.
Prices for a weekday pass range from $45 to $55, and from $50 to $80 on weekends.
Zaarour counting on the cold spell
Because its base is located at a lower altitude (1,645 m) than the other two, Zaarour resort still can't give an exact date for the launch of its 2026 season, but is also hoping that the weather in the coming days will build up the current 30 centimeters of snow at the bottom of the slopes. Carol Murr, CEO of Zaarour Ski Resort, remains hopeful.
She points to the current cold snap sweeping Europe and hopes Lebanon will benefit from it as well. If so, "an opening this weekend" could be possible, she told L'Orient-Le Jour. As for rates, prices remain unchanged: a day pass costs $35 on weekdays and $55 on weekends and holidays.
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