From archaeological sites to natural reserves, from remote villages to culinary heritage where ancestral traditions are preserved and exposed, we cover the whole range: Lebanon reveals itself to its youngsters.

We organize daily trips which combine the historical with the natural; we link the exploration of the past with the discovery of its environment. We aim at introducing younger people to Lebanese history in a distinctive approach. We have developed our own educational method proving that learning is fun.

Our team leads participants to visit the antique monuments of Lebanon, while acquainting them with their ancestral traditions through diverse art workshops that include painting, drawing and handcrafting.

Every outing is thoroughly organized; we take care of every single detail and invest time and effort to turn each trip into a pleasurable and unforgettable experience.

Basic trips: to discover and understand your country

• Tripoli and the Cedars:  Discover a 1000 years old city with its souks, mosques, churches and castle. Walk in the shades of Lebanon’s national emblem, and learn about the Sumerians myths.

• Byblos and Batrun: Walk with the Phoenicians, learn about their trade with Pharaonic Egypt, discover their myths and the creation of the alphabet. Explore a 19^th century city and discover the exceptional traditional Lebanese houses.

• Beirut: Discover the hidden face of the Lebanese capital. Uncover its wealthy history and its unique architecture, life style and cuisine.

• Sidon and Tyr: experience the life in one of Lebanon’s most preserved cities and discover traditional crafts. Visit one of the biggest roman urban settlements outside Rome. Discover the glorious and genuine architecture.

• The Shuf: Hike under old Cedar trees of Baruk natural reserve and discover the 18th and 19th century villages and palaces of Mount Lebanon. Visit Beiteddine palace in 18^th century costumes, and search for Deir el Kamar’s hidden beauty.

• Rashaya and Hasbaya: visit a castle where emirs are still living. Walk in a 19^th century preserved village and discover the castle that witnessed the birth of Lebanese independence.

• Baalbek and ‘Anjar: Witness the glory of the biggest temples in the world, study its architecture, and live its history in Roman costumes. Visit the old city of Baalbek where historical and social traditions have been preserved for 300 years. Discover the Only Umayyad city in the world; learn about the trade routes and the secrets of architecture.

Discovery trips

• Ehden and the Cedars: walk in Ehden’s natural reserve. Enjoy your visit in the village; discover the old churches and houses and experience extreme sports (climbing, rappel). Stop at the famous cedars and visit Gebran’s museum.

• ‘Amiq Terbol and Tanaayel: discover the fertile Bekaa valley; learn about agriculture, dairy products and birds. Visit a traditional mud house in Terbol.

• Fossil hunting: find out the history of our planet while hunting for fossils in Faqra, Haqel.

• Jezzine and Maaser el Shouf: discover the charm of a 19th century Lebanese mountain village and its outstanding nature. Enjoy a walk in a cedar forest and take a tour on the bike in the streets of an old village.

• Bsatin el ‘Ossi and Douma: Learn about flora and fauna and visit a traditional Lebanese village.

• Hermel and the ‘Assi: go on a safari for a day, raft in al ‘Assi and enjoy the wild side of Lebanon.

Heritage weekends

• Walk the North:

Day 1, the coast: cities and temples

Discover Lebanon’s coastal cities, visit their monuments, learn about their history and lifestyle and taste their cuisine. Visit temples and monasteries and enjoy meeting the locals.

Day 2, mountains & valleys

Discover the Qadisha valley; learn about Ehden, the old village and the natural reserve. Walk in the Cedar forest and meet Gebran Khalil Gebran in his museum.

• Discover the Lebanese Emirate

Day 1: Deir el Kamar & Beiteddine

Discover the former capital of the Lebanon, learn about traditional architecture and find out about the history of the Emirs of Mount-Lebanon while visiting the palace of Beiteddine.

Day 2: Maasser village and reserve & Bsous

Enjoy the beauty of the biggest reserve in Lebanon; discover the village of Maasser el Shuf and the old palaces in Baadaran. Learn about the silk industry in Bsous.

Day 3: Shuf:

Go hiking under old Cedar trees, learn about Lebanon’s national emblem and discover the 18^th and 19th century villages and palaces of Mount Lebanon. Discover traditional food of the Shuf, assist in its cooking and learn about the traditional architecture and fashion of the region.

• Experience Green Lebanon:

Day 1: Chtura – Wineries – ‘Amiq – Qaraoun

Discover the fertile Bekaa plain, go bird watching in Amiq, hiking around the Taanayel lake, discover the process of making dairy products and wine.

Day 2: Taanayel – Terbol – Baalbek

Hike in the Taanayel reserve, discover eco-friendly architecture and visit the mud house museum in Terbol. Discover the biggest roman temple ever built and enjoy a walk in Baalbek.

• Meet Adonis & Ashtarout

Day 1: Nahr el Kalb – Jeita – Faqra (Bridge & temple) :

Discover how history meets geology in Naher el Kaleb and visit Jeita grotto. Hike and search for fossils under Faqra’s natural bridge and visit its roman temple.

Day 2: Afqa – Mashnaka – Yanouh – Jbeil

Discover the myth of Adonis and Achtarout in Afqa, visit the grotto and temples while listening to the legend. Learn about organic agriculture in the valleys. Visit Jbeil and discover its archeological site.

• Fossil hunting: find out the history of our planet while hunting for fossils in Faqra, Haqel.

• Jezzine and Maaser el Shouf: discover the charm of a 19th century Lebanese mountain village and its outstanding nature. Enjoy a walk in a cedar forest and bike in the streets of an old village.

• Bsatin el ‘Ossi and Douma: Learn about flora and fauna and visit a traditional Lebanese village.

• Hermel and the ‘Assi: go on a safari for a day, raft in al ‘Assi and enjoy the wild side of Lebanon.

Heritage weekends

• Walk the North:

Day 1, the coast: cities and temples

Discover Lebanon’s coastal cities, visit their monuments, learn about their history and lifestyle and taste their cuisine. Visit temples and monasteries and enjoy meeting the locals.

Day 2, mountains & valleys

Discover the Quadisha valley; learn about Ehden, the old village and the natural reserve. Walk in the Cedar forest and meet Gebran Khalil Gebran in his museum.

• Discover the emirats

Day 1: Deir el Kamar & Beit el Dine

Discover the old capital of Lebanon, learn about traditional architecture and listen to the stories of the Emirs of Mount-Lebanon while visiting the palace of Beit el Dine.

Day 2: Maasser village and reserve & Bsous

Enjoy the beauty of the biggest reserve in Lebanon; discover the village of Maasser el Shuf and the old palaces in Baadaran. Learn about the silk industry in Bsous.

Day 2: Shuf: Go hiking under old Cedar trees, learn about Lebanon’s national emblem and discover the 18^th and 19th century villages and palaces of Mount Lebanon. Discover traditional food of the Shouf, help in making it, and learn about the traditional architecture and fashion.

• Beqaa:

Day 1: Chtoura – Wineries – Amiq – Qaraoun

Discover the fertile Bekaa, go bird watching in Amiq, hiking around the Taanayel lake, discover the process of making dairy products and wine.

Day 2: Taanayel – Turbol – Baalback

Hike in the Taanayel reserve, discover eco friendly architecture and visit the mud house musuem in Terbol. Discover the biggest roman temple ever built and enjoy a walk in Baalbek.

Meet Adonis & Ashtarout

• Day 1 Nahr el Kalb – Jeita – Faqra (Bridge & temple) :

Discover how history meets geology in Naher el Kaleb, visit the Jeita grotto and go hiking and searching for fossils under Faqra’s natural bridge and visit the roman temple.

• Day 2. Afqa – Machnaka – Yanouh (valley organic agriculture) – Jbeil

Discover the myth of Adonis and Achtarout in Afqa, visit the grotto and temples while listening to the legend. Learn about organic agriculture in the valleys and visit Jbeil and discover its archeological site.

The event, called “Children’s day at the Museum” was funded by the UNESCO and the Italian Cooperation in Lebanon.In November and December 2011, a total of 1500 students from schools all around Lebanon visited the National Museum with Biladi and took part in special workshops specially developed by Biladi for youngsters.

The educational circuits:

• Circuit I: discover Lebanon’s history through 20 objects displayed at the museum.
• Circuit II: the Phoenician civilization: letters and objects.
• Circuit III: trade in the Mediterranean through history.
• Circuit IV:

1. - The museum’s alphabets
2. - The art of mosaics
3. - The art of sculpture
4. -Jewelry through history

• Shouf: Go hiking under old Cedar trees, learn about Lebanon’s national emblem and discover the 18^th and 19th century villages and palaces of Mount Lebanon. Discover traditional food of the Shouf, help in making it, and learn about the traditional architecture and fashion.

• Beqaa: In green and yellow fields, discover the fertile Bekaa valley. Discover man’s impact on the soil and learn about agriculture, dairy products and birds. Bird watching in Amiq, hiking around the Taanayel Lake, discovering the process of making dairy products

• Hasbaya-Rashaya: live the beauty of southern Lebanon; discover a unique ecosystem, charming villages, welcoming faces and an exquisite cuisine. Learn the story behind the Lebanese independence struggle.

• Faqra: Go searching for fossils, hike under Faqra’s natural bridge, and then discover mountain agriculture, and collect pears or apples in Faraya.

Biladi brings together a number of qualified and experienced educators, archaeologists, architects, sociologists, film makers and researchers. We pride ourselves as being pioneers in Lebanon in combining scientific learning and fun.

Joanne Farchakh Bajjaly, Biladi’s manager, holds M.A in archaeology and journalism. She started her career as a school teacher at Collège Saint Joseph Antoura and then left to dedicate her work to heritage at risk in Lebanon and Iraq by writing for several newspapers and magazines such as L’Orient-Le Jour and Archéologia (France) and Al-Akhbar. In 2005, she held a series of lectures in U.S. universities such as Harvard, Yale, Georgetown, Chicago, Stanford and Pennsylvania… She initiated the concept “Learning history is fun” and with the team elaborates this concept with every trip. She strongly believes in building bridges through the common heritage in the Lebanese society.

Philippe Bajjaly,  filmmaker, works on documentaries in Lebanon and the Arab world, mainly on issues concerning human development.

Georgette Frangieh holds an M.A in translation and is a tutor at the Jesuits University in Beirut. She works on learning language skills through games and participates in the conception of the school trips in order to combine more games for the trips of Biladi.

Our guides specially trained to the “learn and have fun” program developed by Biladi:

Roger Sakr, Biladi’s trip coordinator, is an M.A student at Saint Joseph’s university-Beirut, majoring in geography and environment and land development. Roger is fond of nature and is an active basketball coach.

Charles El Hayek, Biladi’s researcher, holds an M.A in history and Archaeology and works as a history teacher and researcher . Charles is fond of history and cultural heritage issues. He strongly believes that a better understanding of the past is the key to built and plan a better future.

Joelle Boutros, Biladi’s researcher, holds an M.A in Arab and Middle-Eastern history.

Nessreen Aweek, holds an M.A in archaeology and another one in English Literature. She worked for years as a school teacher and is an active member in her community.

Rabih Reaidi, a student majoring in mechanical engineering , Rabih is fond of Lebanon’s musical heritage and strongly believes that team work is the key to build a better society.

Yara Kurumilian, a student majoring in biology.

Vlad Kurumilian, a student majoring in architecture and a pianist.

Tanios Abi Khalil, majoring in architecture at ALBA, interested in the evolution of the latter throughout social, economical, ecological and cultural changes. Plans to major in urban planning with an ecological aspect, as well as the preservation of urban development while respecting heritage.

Mayssam El Hachem, a student majoring in archaeology.

Pauline Wheibe, a student majoring in archaeology.

Georgio Njeim, a student majoring in electrical engineering.

Our assistants specially trained to the “learn and have fun” program developed by Biladi:

Fares Damien, a high school student, Fares wants to major in archaeology and is passionate about history,  heritage, nature old books and writing.

Yvan  Adem, a high school students, passionate about history and nature.

Etienne Matar, a high school student.

Philippe Kurukji, a high school student, passionate about technology and history.

“Outdoor class”

• In November 2010, Joanne Farchakh Bajjaly held a training session for 15 history, geography and art teachers from 10 different schools at the archaeological site of Jbeil. The aim of the training was an “outdoor class on medieval architecture”.

“Heritage as an educational tool”

• January 2008, Joanne Farchakh Bajjaly held a training session for 20 history, geography and civil society teachers from 10 different schools. The aim of the sessions was to help teachers introduce “Lebanon’s heritage” in their different curriculums. The session was organized by the Lycee Franco-Libanais de Beyrouth and took place at Stade de Chayla – Beirut. We also provide training programs for NGO working with youngsters on self-esteem, civil education and history.

“Heritage as a tool for self-esteem building”

is our special program dedicated to various communities; it gives them the necessary tools to discover their own heritage, to understand it and to preserve it. The program has proven to be a success:

• Fom July 2009 to August 2009, in partnership with Safadi Foundation, Joanne Farchakh Bajjaly held  35 hours of training sessions for a group of 15 youngsters from Dahr el Moghr (an underserved neighborhood in Tripoli) (http://www.safadi-foundation.org). The project entitled “Discovering Dahr el Moghr’s Hidden Heritage” aimed at helping the youngsters discover the richness of their neighborhood in tangible and intangible heritage.
• In 2005 – 2006 b Biladi organised all art workshops for the Sustainable Democracy Center (SDC) Beirut, in their project “building bridges” http://www.sdclebanon.org/ the workshops aimed at helping youngsters present their ideas about solidarity and building bridges in clay workshops and to write short sentences and write them in mosaic.

Consultancies
We work on projects concerning Heritage Management and Awareness Building, as well as on eco-tourism and cultural tourism projects.
- For the Lebanon Mountain Trail (http://www.lebanontrail.org) we provided all necessary documents and information on archaeological sites and historical monuments in order to promote them (texts for the brochures and books) and ensuring their safety.