Visitor reviews for Mzaar Kfardebian Ski Resort

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• March 10, 2010
  Khaled Majdalani from UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
  

  Lebanon has excellent ski slopes (Mzaar Kfardebian) with a nice climate and beautiful lanndcape and topography. Regretfully, it is mismanaged.
  I think everyone of us should contribute with their bit to improve. Otherwise, we are at a stand still.

• February 28, 2010
  Tony ABI ATMEH from LEBANON
  

  Skiers and Lebanese,
  I thank god every day because I was born in Lebanon. A country that has it all. However, I feel ashamed when we criticize this poor country in public and we never mention its beauty. Cheer up skiers you have the best slopes ever and the best snow (e.g Mzaar Kfardebian). Stop denying, stop being negative! Cheer up and say our slopes are the best and they will become. Mzar (Mzaar Kfardebian) is not that far from the Alps organization. I guess what we lack is faith.
  Taa (20 years of ski experience in the Alps).

• February 11, 2010
  wadih from LEBANON
  

  I have been skiing in Mzaar Kfardebian (Faraya) for 10 years now.
  The slopes are great. They are the best in Lebanon but the snow quality is not always good because the temperature rises quirky after the storm. The best time to ski at Mzaar Kfardebian is right after the storm (2 to 3 days max). Fortunately the storms are frequent during the period going from January to mid February.

• February 04, 2010
  christopher from CYPRUS
  

  Ok, our slopes in Cyprus are the worst, but at least they open them. I am here at Mzaar Kfardebian with 4 friends and for the last two days the slopes are shut down. The first day it was windy, the second day is snowing a lot so bad visability and lets see what they are going to say for tommorow. We have paid to come here for 5 days and we may ski only for two. I can say anything about the slopes but they seem to be ok if they open them. They are probably too lazy to work over here or something... lol.

• January 28, 2010
  Robstein from ISRAEL
  

  Well, Mzaar Kfardebian is one of the best ski resorts on the Mediterranean. The other one being the Cedar resorts. We are lucky to have Lebanon in this region for skiing. But also if you are in Europe, Lebanon ski slopes could be a nice alternative as Lebanon can offer both the shore with the sea with its just beautiful as well as skiing...

• January 25, 2010
  Fouad from LEBANON
  

  The best place to ski, have fun, great food, amazing pistes, wonderful weather, best world class hotels...is, with no doubts, Mzaar Kfardebian...
  To be honest, not only Mzaar Kfardebian, all of Lebanon rocks!

• January 21, 2010
  Carl B from KUWAIT
  

  My wife and I are Australians working in Kuwait. We have been snowboarding for almost ten years. We have boarded in Turkey, Cyprus (what a joke), Bulgaria, Austria and Australia.
  For the last 6 years we have gone to Mzaar Kfardebian (Faraya) at least once, sometimes twice a year for 7 to 10 days at a time. We stay at some wonderful apartments opposite the lifts called Farayot operated by a fantastic couple: Aziz and Maria. We have found Mzaar Kfardebian (Faraya) to be comparable if not better than all of the other places we have boarded with the huge exception of Austria. Austria has better snow, longer runs, modern lifts and a buzzing Apres-Ski. But it is a long way away and a lot more expensive.
  I agree with some comments on the management of the ski slopes. Paper lift passes are ridiculous, lifts are old and break down a lot and there are no jumps or fun boxes anywhere.
  However, I would recommend Mzaar Kfardebian (Faraya) as a cheap, fun place to board in the Middle East.
  Carl B

• January 19, 2010
  Rita from AFGHANISTAN
  

  I believe that the resort of Mzaar Kfardebian is good but the security is very, very, very bad. If an accident happened to you (especially during the week days) you can die. My comment is based on a bad experience last year. I felt down with a serious injuries and I reached the hospital after 4 hours. It is really a shame. I don't recommend the place to anybody.

• January 19, 2010
  Pascal from UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
  

  Don't expect much from Mzaar Kfardebian (Faraya) ski slopes, after all, this is Lebanon. Half the things are out of order, the second half will work only half of the time. Blame it on the electricity, generators, batteries..etc. Mzaar Kfardebian (Faraya) slopes and equipments lack maintenance and good management.
  By the way, don't be fooled by the beauty of the pictures, things are worse when you're on the ground!

• December 27, 2009
  karim from LEBANON
  

  I go to Faraya Mzaar (Mzaar Kfardebian) literally every weekend, and I stay in the Mzaar Intercontinental all the time as well. For starters, the hotels gives off such a strong home-like feeling with its ambiance I think it's one of the best hotels I've ever seen, the management is VERY polite and well organised, but as for the slopes, the thing about Faraya is tht if you want to have a good time, you must rely on yourself. Where the chairs take you, you go off course, finding your own path on great powder. These mountains are gorgeous and easily accessible only being around an hour away from Beirut. And for your information, the reason the piste rouge are not groomed is because the slopes are too steep that the snow grooming machines cannot go over them and that's what makes it so fun! Faraya (Mzaar Kfardebian) rocks ok? End of story.

• December 19, 2009
  Ron from LEBANON
  

  Take it easy guys. With the relatively short ski season in Lebanon and the unstable situation during the last few years, it is not economical for a resort like Mzaar Kfardebian to invest much into new infrastructure. Ski vacation in Mzaar resort is not expensive compared to European ski resorts. We have room nights starting from $55 per person. Check some options on skileb.com

• December 17, 2009
  anonymous from LEBANON
  

  Gilou Tabet, I think people like you don't know what they are saying.

  Faraya is simply amazing, magic, perfect for all tastes, all ages..

  The spirit there is great, the restaurants and hotels are as well

  You can compare it to top ski destinations

• December 16, 2009
  anonymous from LEBANON
  

  If you have a lot of money to spend, Faraya (Mzaar Kfardebian) is the right place to be!
  There is a magic you cannot find any place else!

• December 16, 2009
  Anthony from LEBANON
  

  I've been skiing/snowboarding now for 12 years... And each time I attend the Mzaar (Mzaar Kfardebian) resort... Lately, I felt like this domain got so boring, especially that no new updates were made to the slopes and my friends and I managed to ski in other domains (Cedars, Zaarour)... Cedars was amazing but so far from Beirut, as well as Zaarour was like the lamest domain (not to mention that the manager yelled at me because I was trying to freestyle=P)... Anw, after a self-experience, I found out that Mzaar (Mzaar Kfardebian) slopes are some of the best slopes in the world (I snowboarded in Canada, USA, France)... However, the slopes can't be, literally compared to the Alpes slopes or the St.Sauveur slopes because of the fine powdery snow that is always pumped on the slopes in Canada and France. Plus, the Alpes and Canadian slopes are really maintained each year, as well as many snowparks are built to satisfy the enthusiasm of the eager skiers/snowboarders, who, in Faraya, manage to build their own jumps... We really do hope that the management of "Faraya-Mzaar" (Mzaar Kfardebian) takes into consideration our comments and complaints and maintain, update, reconstruct new slopes, as well as old amazing slopes!

• December 15, 2009
  Anonymous from AFGHANISTAN
  

  I have skied all over the world and I have to admit that Faraya is a great place to ski, I just hope the management/owners will change in this lifetime because it is really VERY BADLY managed!
  I mean paper tickets? Season pass: you have to beg the management for it and it's only issued by ONE PERSON! You have to go to the management! Why one cannot buy it from the counter immediately?
  Simply because it's another corrupted "typical Lebanese" institution!
  Slopes closed because of bad weather? "piste rouge" is never ready because it's dangerous!? Why there are "pisteurs" (patrols)?
  And the most important is the VVVIP refuge slope!!! and pretentious ridiculously over priced tickets! St.Moritz in Switzerland was cheaper!
  Start closing the slopes at 3 and kicking people out!
  ...and much more
  I just want to ski without any hassle nor confronting any bureaucratic!
  I still Ski in Faraya and won't go anywhere else. Look at the Cedars slopes and others, one cannot compare!
  Change the management and Faraya will always be PARADISE !
  Not to mention the "apres ski" in Faraya.

• November 27, 2009
  Zeid from FARAYA from LEBANON
  

  Please for all people from Faraya and not from Faraya, when you enter to this website leave a comment about our country (Faraya).
  Faraya is the best ski resort in the word.

• April 04, 2009
  Christian Bitar from LEBANON
  

  I have skied in a few places in Europe and in North America, and I still consider the Mzaar (Faraya) as one of the best slopes in the world.

• March 24, 2009
  John M from KUWAIT
  

  I came to Mzaar after a colleague took a school trip to Les Elfes. Apart from an unfortunate storm which took out two days, the skiing was better than average European ski areas with very good hotel management. Slope grooming might have been better at Mzaar, and the lifts, although old, seemed to be well maintained. There's a shortage of apres-ski at Mzaar, but apart from that, Lebanese people were more than welcoming and there aren't many drunks to spoil your day. In short, plenty here for competent skiers, families and groups. Loved it.

• March 03, 2009
  Eddie Maalouf from LEBANON
  

  It's a pity to see my fellow Lebanese making harsh comments about the state of the slopes in Faraya Mzaar considering the state of the country itself. I for one, having lived abroad for the past 25 years, continue to manage to steal a couple of weekends a year to escape to Faraya Mzaar with the family to ski. Despite what you read in other comments, I must admit that the resort is absolutely amazing. All kinds of slopes with great value for money. The real problem is that we could do better in terms of maintenance and lifts but management would probably need to increase the tariffs. I am sure this would result with more Lebanese complaining about the cost as opposed to praising the betterment of the slopes. Either way, I thank the people operating on minimum wages to keep the slopes as they are.
  For the non Lebanese, try Faraya Mzaar and you will love it.

• February 24, 2009
  Gilou Tabet from LEBANON
  

  I have been skiing in Faraya for 14 years. At the beginning Faraya was improving every season, especially with the opening of the Warde area.
  We were very proud and excited about Faraya.
  For the last 5 years, the ski resort is falling down, the good slopes are never groomed ( Nabil, Piste Rouge), the lift "Rouge" opened for the first time this year one day on February 14th.
  I think the managers should be ashamed, instead they are very proud. Everything is mediocre, the lifts are so old that everytime there is strong wind, the slopes have to remain closed.
  I don't think that they have spent a dollar on improving the ski station for at least 5 years at Faraya, if not more. They should close. I will never recommend anybody to come and ski here.
  It could be such a nice place, it is a nightmare.
  We should all go on strike, not buy tickets anymore and complain. This cannot continue.

• February 24, 2009
  anonymous from LEBANON
  

  Faraya could be a great resort but it is not. For people who love skiing, it is very frustrating. The greatest slopes are never open and they always have an excuse. The snow on these slopes, after one day of fresh snow, have to be packed, but nobody cares. We could have wonderful slopes but there is never a day with everything working. The ski management at Faraya is a disaster. The night life is probably great but skiing should come first. Even when just 2 slopes are open because of bad weather conditions, the prices remain the same; what a shame. Sometimes I feel like skiing midweek, but I never do. Disappointed though: closed lifts, bad snow, bad snow packing.

• February 22, 2009
  Fares from LEBANON
  

  Faraya Mzaar is great with nice slopes, good snow and friendly people but my stay at Intercontnental Mzaar was like a nightmare. With bad management and bad communication it's unfair for it to be a 5 stars hotel.

• February 16, 2009
  Georges Kassab from LEBANON
  

  Faraya is a great resort for on and off slope skiing; the powdery snow is a must try. The domain at Faraya is pretty big and you've got plenty of options for jumps and freestyle.

• February 14, 2009
  Elias Saadeh from LEBANON
  

  Faraya is one of the best skiing resorts. It grants you a high snow quality, that is renewed each 7-10 days from mid-December until mid-April. You will always find near a meter and a half of snow during this period, with sunny days and temperatures varying between 2 and 7 degrees. I highly recommend Faraya-Mzaar, not only for skiing but for all the activities you can do (snowboarding, riding ATV's, skidooing and even just building a snowman. Friendly people there, fantastic views and after skiing at Faraya, you can enjoy an uncomparable vibrant nightlife in Beirut, the city classed number 1 in NewYorkTimes.com summer destinations for 2009.

• February 09, 2009
  anonymous from LEBANON
  

  These guys are putting efforts to come up with such a resort (Faraya), not to mention its extension at warde. You have this huge resort in a country where the raw materials and the technologies required are scarce. So thank you so much for all Faraya guys for the huge efforts they are putting every year and every season to allow us to spend the most beautiful days skiing. I think we should all pray for the weather to help them, it is no more raining as it should be and maybe one day we wont be able to ski in Lebanon. Hope this won't happen.

• February 02, 2009
  Rania Abboud from LEBANON
  

  I am Lebanese and it has been about 10 years since I skied.
  I am going to Faraya each weekend with my daughter and the slopes are good.
  It is not a great resort for skiing but for Lebanon it is the best.
  I highly recommend Faraya, not only for skiing but for all the activities you can do.

• January 28, 2009
  Alistair Duffin from UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
  

  Hi skiers. I have just returned from a 4 days trip to Faraya. I am a fan of Mzaar resort. For 3 times in a row our holiday to Faraya was organized by skileb.com and we had plenty of nice souvenirs. Well done everybody. Al.

• January 06, 2009
  Karim Atassi from LEBANON
  

  Every winter I go to Faraya every weekend and snowboard. It's amazing. Great snow, great slopes, not crowded but lifts are old and slow (kinda scary=D=P). I recommend it. But what I'd really recommend is the Faraya Mzaar intercontinental hotel. It's great. I stay a weekend up there once per winter. Amazing rooms, amazing views. Extremely comforting and the feeling of waking up in a wooden warm room, with a bright window of snow is something I can't describe. It's all worth it.

• January 09, 2008
  Gabrielle from NETHERLANDS
  

  Since 2003 I go to Faraya: 2008 will be my 6th season. I live in Damascus and love to go there for weekends skiing. I say the scenery is great: views on the Med and on Beirut from the slopes; closeby ancient Roman temple and a beautiful arch in the rocks. In March and April you can ski on what they call "Firn" in Austria in the mornings and have an icecream on the seaside in Beirut in the afternoon. There is skiing for all levels incl kids and plenty of off-piste as well. I recommend for a long weekend only if you are more then advanced. The lifts are slower and older, but sufficient. Plenty of hotel choices for different budgets.

• December 25, 2006
  Abdullah from JORDAN
  

  I went their with my family... It was my first time, and it was amazing by all means... I'll really reommend it.. ;-)