By Kaelan Young
It was the third day of a multi-day expedition across the Boukaat Loubnan Trails, and Gilbert Moukheiber sat beside a fire, surrounded by farmers, students, and shepherds.
They had just completed a long trek through Lebanon’s highlands and arrived at a remote shepherd camp near Ouyoun Orgosh, where shepherds had greeted the group with bread, labneh, and stories.
In that moment, Gilbert saw clearly the mission behind 33North, the organization he had founded: to create opportunities for meaningful connection through immersive outdoor experiences.
Rooted in Lebanon’s Wild Spaces
Gilbert’s connection to Lebanon’s landscapes began at a young age. He grew up exploring the mountains, joined scouting programs, and later served in the Lebanese Red Cross and Search and Rescue teams. His work also included emergency deployments, such as the 2023 earthquake response in Türkiye and Syria.
Years of guiding groups through Lebanon’s diverse terrain helped Gilbert envision a different kind of outdoor organization—one that centered on sustainability, cultural heritage, and community involvement. That vision became 33North, named for Lebanon’s latitude and inspired by the idea of linking people and place.
33North delivers outdoor programming in Lebanon, including snowshoeing, backcountry skiing, and multi-day trekking. The organization emphasizes cultural immersion, environmental sustainability, and delivering high-quality programs.
Each experience is adapted to the terrain and group dynamics, with an emphasis on low-impact travel practices and meaningful engagement with local communities. Participants are introduced to Lebanon’s living traditions, from rural hospitality to food heritage and historic footpaths, positioning the outdoor experiences as both educational and participatory.
Boukaat Loubnan Trails
Among 33North’s flagship initiatives is the Boukaat Loubnan Trails (BLT), a long-distance trail system crossing Lebanon’s mountain ranges and linking 50 communities.
Spanning approximately 400 kilometers, the BLT ranges in elevation from 800 to 3,088 meters, featuring sections of medium to advanced difficulty. The route follows a network of historic footpaths and unpaved roads, helping to reduce maintenance requirements. It traverses Lebanon’s highest peaks, including Kornet es Sawda and Mount Hermon, as well as deep gorges such as Wadi Jhannam.
The trail was conceived as a tool for cultural preservation, economic development, and community connection. The trail highlights diverse features such as Roman ruins, volcanic plateaus, and traditional agricultural practices like transhumance, which is declared by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
As part of its implementation, 33North collaborates with local stakeholders to equip guesthouses, train hosts and guides, and support regional tourism initiatives including workshops and culinary activities.
Risk Management
Like any organization offering outdoor experiences, Gilbert’s organization pays attention to safety-related aspects of outdoor programming.
Gilbert has led numerous expeditions, trained guides, and developed trail systems, often in remote, high-risk environments.
As part of his commitment to improving the quality and safety of his programs, Gilbert recently completed the 40-hour online Risk Management for Outdoor Programs training course from Viristar.
Since completing the training, Gilbert has established emergency action plans, as well as policies and procedures to manage specific risks.
The Viristar course, Gilbert stated, helped his team evaluate their programs in regard to risk management. “The Risk Domains Matrix and the emphasis on systems thinking were game changers,” he said.
Looking Ahead
Gilbert envisions 33North continuing to grow as a regional hub for responsible outdoor tourism, with the Boukaat Loubnan Trails gaining broader recognition as a national corridor for ecological conservation and cultural preservation.
For him, the long-term goal extends beyond building trails and running trips; he hopes to help ensure the outdoors in Lebanon remains a space for connection.
“We’re working to preserve Lebanon’s cultural heritage. My hope is that by walking these trails, people will understand the stories, the struggles, and the resilience behind them,” states Gilbert.
To learn more about 33North and the Boukaat Loubnan Trails, visit https://33-north.com/.
