The Baskinta Literary Trail (BLT) The dramatic landscapes surrounding Baskinta have inspired generations of Lebanese writers to produce an impressive body of literature. The lofty peaks of Mount Sannine to the east, and the shadowy depths of the Jamajem Valley to the west, have captured the imagination and nurtured the talents of world-acclaimed literary figures such as Mikhail Naimy, Amin Maalouf, and Abdallah Ghanem. Some of their best poetry and story-telling find geographical and cultural bearings in the mountains, valleys and villages of this picturesque region nestled in the foothills of Mount Sannine. Through the Baskinta Literary Trail (BLT), the people of Lebanon pay tribute to the distinguished writers and poets of the Baskinta region.

The BLT is a novel idea with something for everyone. It combines hiking with opportunities to discover the cultural and literary landmarks of the area. The trail, 24-km long, is dotted with interpretative panels designed to inform the visitor about the region’s poets and novelists who lived and worked here. The trail also leads the hiker to the Abdallah Ghanem Cultural Center, a modern facility that caters to literary events in the area and offers visitors an open-air amphitheatre overlooking the valley. Visitors may start their hike at any of the designated BLT entry points indicated on the map. However, those who wish to discover all the enjoyments of the BLT should plan to spend two or three days in Baskinta and the nearby villages of Ain el Qabou, Kfar Aqab, Wadi el Karm, and Boqaatat Kenaan The dramatic landscapes surrounding Baskinta have inspired generations of Lebanese writers to produce an impressive body of literature. The lofty peaks of Mount Sannine to the east, and the shadowy depths of the Jamajem Valley to the west, have captured the imagination and nurtured the talents of world-acclaimed literary figures such as Mikhail Naimy, Amin Maalouf, and Abdallah Ghanem. Some of their best poetry and story-telling find geographical and cultural bearings in the mountains, valleys and villages of this picturesque region nestled in the foothills of Mount Sannine. Through the Baskinta Literary Trail (BLT), the people of Lebanon pay tribute to the distinguished writers and poets of the Baskinta region.

The BLT is a novel idea with something for everyone. It combines hiking with opportunities to discover the cultural and literary landmarks of the area. The trail, 24-km long, is dotted with interpretative panels designed to inform the visitor about the region’s poets and novelists who lived and worked here. The trail also leads the hiker to the Abdallah Ghanem Cultural Center, a modern facility that caters to literary events in the area and offers visitors an open-air amphitheatre overlooking the valley. Visitors may start their hike at any of the designated BLT entry points indicated on the map. However, those who wish to discover all the enjoyments of the BLT should plan to spend two or three days in Baskinta and the nearby villages of Ain el Qabou, Kfar Aqab, Wadi el Karm, and Boqaatat Kenaan.