Lebanon
Middle EastLevel of surfing
Beginner
Quality of surf
Average
Call code
961
Net code
ib
Area
10452
Coastline
225 km
Climate
Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers
Hazards
War / Conflict
Best Months
October - December
Population
4099000
Currency
Lebanese Pound (LBP) Lebanese pounds per US dollar - 1,507.5 (2006)
Time Zone
EET (UTC+2) DST EEST (UTC+3)
Special Requirements
Private Beaches, Special Pass / Permits, Lengthy VISA Process
surfing
NASA: The Lebanon; 2004
Sir and Sidon to the south of Lebanon have really only now been discovered by Australian surfers travelling to Lebanon to visit distant relatives. The points around these towns are being watched with much interest to assess long term surfability and frequency.
The main timings for the sirocco and mistral swells and winds are in the Northern Hemisphere Autumn and Spring (March and November) This would probably be the best time to plan your Mediterranean surf trip, though sitting this far east in the sea will give you the best chance of catching any swell generated from favourable weather systems.
Another source of swell is the storm cells of the North Atlantic. Many of these cells descend along the Irish coastline and then outwards along the Atlantic Coast. Occasionally certain cells in Winter (Dec-Jan) can sweep across southern Spain and into the Med. This is a rare but notable event that can send swell hurtling in a 360 degree radius, lighting up points and reefs that see rideable surfing options maybe once or twice per year.
what to pack
Cserlajos: Nike Cortez 'TB trainers; 7 January 2007
Essentials: sunscreen in summer; good walking shoes. No need to worry about cash - plenty of ATM's in the cities.
Make sure you pack according to the season. Going in winter will require warm clothes. In summer it can ger very hot and humid, so take some cooling clothes. Windproof and waterproof clothes will be good. As usual, bring all medical things u need with you, as in some remote parts of the country it can be difficult to get them.
All the gear if you plan to camp: a good sleeping bag and tent that are good for very low temp; special gas container u can use for heating food and water; a sturdy backpack or a cargo pack with a good daypack. Invest in a portable water filter or at least take some puri-tabs or boil the water.