LMT 15 Baskinta el Chakhroub - Mtein

Trail length 16,5 km

North to South
From Baskinta el Chakhroub to Mtein
Total ascent 690m
Total descent 1200m
Level of difficulty Difficult (6h30)

South to North
From Mtein to Baskinta el Chakhroub
Total ascent 1200m
Total descent 690m
Level of difficulty Difficult (6h30)

Option 1: the BLT (from Mikhael Naimi’s tomb to Baskinta)
Retrace your steps on foot or by vehicle to the point near Michael Naimi’s tomb. Then take the dirt road (like option 2) and follow the three-color blazing, walking to the bottom of Wadi el Delb. Pass the hill lake on the left-hand side before reaching the end of the agriculture road. Continue downhill to the paved road which you approach from the Sannine side. Walk one hundred meters along it before turning right to reach the river bed after the HAD information panel and then continue along the same path and across the small bridge. From there, you start an easy ascent, counting 830m from the bridge before you take another un-cleared path which leads to an agriculture road on the left.

Option 2:
Walk on the BLT-LMT trail towards el Mtain and section 15. Then go along the same main road, leaving it after 500 m to take the dirt road on the left. Follow the three-color blazing until you reach the official LMT blazes before continuing on to el Mtein. At the BLT-LMT sign, climb up the agriculture road until you reach the paved road by the spring. Continue straight up and take the right to a dirt road, at some point leave again this road and take a steep decent on a gravel road, turn left and walk on a stone wall reaching along the water pipe (it’s slippery in places and has steep sides) before following the goat trail until you reach the roman ruins of el Jaouz. Then follow the footpath which overlooks the valley before crossing the stream and climbing up towards the Bqellai hill lake. Continue walking below it before taking the dirt road up to the main el Mtain-Zaarour road. Go a few meters on the paved road before taking a left turn onto a footpath which follow an unused water canal and two houses. once you walk past the second house walk few meter and take an un clear water canal, you will reach a dirt road, than turn left on another dirt road, follow the steep descent to reach a paved road, turn left into a pine forest to reach the el Mtain – Aintoura main road. Cross it and walk downhill towards el Mtein village, passing by the molasses (dibs) press and Ain el Manzoul. Then follow the paved road until you reach the historic main square of el Mtein.

Important to know
- There are many difficult passages along this section: the trail consists of dirt and paved roads, water pipes and goat paths.
- This section is completely marked. 
- If you plan to walk alone, please inform the LMTA about the dates of your trip at info@lebanontrail.org and ask for the GPS track.
- For your stay, contact the guest house or the guide few days before you start your trip.

Getting there
From Beirut to Baskinta, take the coastal highway to Antelias and then join the main road up to Bikfaya. After passing through Bikfaya, turn right onto the road to Kenchara, Bteghrine and Wadi el Jamajem. Once you enter Baskinta, go over the roundabout and continue to Chakhroub until you reach the BLT signs.

To reach Mtein, go straight through Bikfaya and climb up to Dhour ech Choueir and Mrouj. In Mrouj, turn right to el Mtain where the trail starts at the main square. The LMT is accessible from el Mtain and Baskinta. The roads are paved and public transportation is available.

Source: Lebanon Mountain Trail Association