Lebanon Traveler
August 2023
We head up to the mountain retreat and reveal five reasons to stay at Bkerzay this summer. Full Article
Nestled in the beautiful Shouf region, Bkerzay promises a welcomed break from everyday life. Bkerzay ecovillage is set amid glorious oaks, pines, and olive trees. The 200,000-square-meter estate borders the magnificent Horsh Baakline forest, where visitors can reconnect with nature and enjoy various hikes that vary in difficulty.
Harper’s Bazaar Arabia
July 2023
Lebanon, Welcome Back: 8 Hotels That Make Any Guest Feel at Home Full Article
“ Ramzi Selman envisaged this marvellous retreat in the Chouf mountains to revive indigenous craft and native architecture. A scatter of free-standing accommodation in local stone dimple lavishly groomed expanses. The architecture is simple but not simplistic, and as sustainable as it is seductive. Clean lines, Spartan purity and a sense of space inform the ambience. Ramzi’s own private villa is a glamorous affair with pool and tennis courts demonstrating how traditional architecture can be elevated and Bkerzay’s homemade pottery has also gained international renown. Ramzi – who also happens to be Amal Clooney’s cousin – is perhaps the best-connected man in all of Lebanon and when he is not jet-setting the globe he can show you around, telling tales of the Chouf princes’ swashbuckling valour.”
Lebanon Traveler
November 2022
Ranked One Of The 14 High-end Guesthouses In Lebanon Full Article
Bkerzay is an eco-friendly conservation project that aims to preserve the natural beauty of Lebanon. The guesthouse was integrated into the surrounding nature in an environmentally conscious manner without removing a single tree. At Bkerzay, guests are invited to indulge in culinary experiences, relax by the pool, attend a pottery class or immerse themselves in the world of wellness at the private spa and hammam.
Les Sentiers de Bkerzay by Ramzi Salman
December 2021
“En les suivant, les chemins de Bkerzay mènent à Ramzi Salman”, OLJ, Carla Henoud Full Article
“En les suivant, ces sentiers de Bkerzay mènent à Ramzi Salman, ou est-ce le contraire ? En tout cas, l’union entre ces deux énergies, comme un amour inconditionnel et réciproque, a donné naissance à cet ouvrage que l’auteur, comme il l’avoue, a mis « en réalité 50 ans à écrire ». Tout comme il aura, quelque part, mis 50 ans à construire cet éco-village ancré au cœur du Chouf sur un domaine de 200 000 m2. « Un projet de préservation et de revitalisation de la montagne, de ses villages et de ses villageois, » comme il le définit.”
TAKREEM FOUNDATION
December 2021
Environmental Development and Sustainability Award Full Article
“En ces temps difficiles où les Libanais ploient sous les crises, Ricardo Karam a voulu donner un message d’espoir à la fois pour le monde arabe mais surtout pour le Liban, qui doit rester, selon lui, en dépit des souffrances actuelles, le symbole de la civilisation, de l’excellence, de l’ouverture et de la foi dans l’avenir. Le discours qu’il a prononcé devant une assistance prestigieuse, dont la princesse Ghida de Jordanie et de nombreuses personnalités diplomatiques, a d’ailleurs été axé sur ce point. La voix pleine d’émotion, il a rappelé que le Liban resterait au cœur et le cœur du monde arabe, provoquant un tonnerre d’applaudissements.”
Tripadvisor
2020
2020 Travelers’ Choice Winner
“Congratulations Bkerzay on being a Travelers’ Choice Winner. Each year, we comb through reviews, ratings, and saves from travelers everywhere, and use that info to award the very best. You’re part of an exclusive group, and we want to help you celebrate (and promote) this major accomplishment.”
Contemporary Class
February 10th, 2020
6 stunning yet socially responsible hotels in the Middle East Full Article
“This is Lebanon, but not as you may know it. Just a 50 minute drive from party city, Beirut, Bkerzay is entirely different in atmosphere and vibes. All accommodation is build using traditional stone, and furnished with vintage finds. They also use solar power, recycle their water and - perhaps most impressively - the entire complex was built without the removal of even one tree. Surrounded by woodland and olive groves and, Bkerzay is the perfect retreat from city life - a place to sit back and unwind.”
The New York Times
August 23rd, 2019
Exploring Lebanon’s Green Side Full Article
“Many of the country’s sustainable practices started in the countryside. One of the latest examples is Bkerzay, Lebanon’s largest solar-powered lodge driven by conservation. (...) [Bkerzay] has an unobstructed view of the Chouf region down below and is only about 16 miles from Beirut. He brought back vernacular architecture, from triple-arched windows to local stone, and decorated villas with a soulful mix of vintage furnishings, locally produced linens and pieces custom-made by nearby craftsmen.”
Babel Voyages
August 21st, 2019
Bkerzay, célèbre la beauté et l’artisanat du Liban Full Article
“Ainsi naît Bkerzay, un village d’hôtes perdu au milieu d’une nature préservée, dans un pays mangé par le béton. « Ce projet est une réaction positive au surdéveloppement du pays, à l’urbanisation sauvage, à la détérioration de l’environnement et du patrimoine qui ravagent le Liban » confie Ramzi. Avec Bkerzay, c’est un retour à la terre et à la nature qui s’opère, mais aussi aux racines. Ramzi entend ainsi faire revivre la beauté du Liban, mais aussi préserver la région et lui redonner vie pour que reviennent vivre ici les villageois qui avaient fui la région à cause de la guerre civile.”
Dish Magazine
March 19th, 2019
A travel guide to Lebanon Full Article
“At Bkerzay, nature has dictated the layout of the stone buildings that form a village-like arrangement. Paths and rooftops are lined with vibrant flowers and views open up to the Med in the distance. Built in traditional Lebanese style, Bkerzay recently opened but already looks and feels embedded into its hilltop landscape. Walk in the hills, lounge by the pool, spin the potter’s wheel, luxuriate in the studded-domed hammam and enjoy menus by the highly respected Beirut-based chef Hussein Hadid.”
Condé Nast Traveller (ME)
January 10th, 2019
The best sustainable restaurants in the Middle East Full Article
“This "eco-retreat" preserved nearly 170,000 square metres of greenery in the Chouf Mountains, creating a truly immersive eco-experience for its guests. Bkerzay's "zero-waste" restaurant also grows its own honey, thyme, and olives and has its own water purification system. You can enjoy authentic Lebanese fare with signature dishes like the Tabouleh Bkerzay all while overlooking a stunning vista of the Chouf Mountainside.”
Lonely Planet
December 13th, 2018
Alternative artistic experiences in seven great cities Full Article
“Winding your way through Lebanon’s forest-clad mountains to Bkerzay is almost as relaxing as feeling wet clay spin under your hands on the pottery wheel at the arts and craft studio of this eco-hotel and health-food restaurant. Run by master potter Ahmad Deif, originally from a tiny oasis in upper Egypt, and Lebanese architect and potter Maha Nasrallah, participants in Bkerzay’s pottery workshops throw together rustic pieces glazed in the traditional artisanal style of the region. A meditative afternoon spent here is enough to offset the glorious chaos of a Beirut city break.”
BREEAM
November 12th, 2018
BREEAM Code for a Sustainable Built Environment
“After a laborious set of measures implemented and documented, we have finally received the official BREEAM certificate for EcoBkerzay project.
The final score achieved is 57.4%, BREEAM Very Good! It is the first lodging project in the country to achieve BREEAM or LEED certification, and one of the highest ratings in Lebanon under BREEAM 2016, which is stringiest than previous versions of BREEAM or LEED.”
L’Orient Le Jour
September 28th, 2018
Bkerzay fait la fête! Full Article
C’est un lieu magique, aujourd’hui ouvert au public qui prend un plaisir évident à passer une journée à faire une marche, se prélasser au soleil, grignoter une mankouché face à la montagne ou prendre un cours de poterie dans les ateliers prévus pour cela. Car Bkerzay est surtout synonyme de poterie, un art que cette escale dans le Chouf propose depuis des années, avec des cours, des expositions et des journées qui lui sont consacrés.
The Switchers
April 9th, 2018
At this Lebanese ecolodge, sustainability is a family affair Full Article
“At Bkerzay, Lebanon’s largest eco-lodge, there is a story everywhere you look. There is the upcycled coffee table that, in another life, was used to transport baby elephants in India. There are the crochet-adorned curtains, a modern twist on the traditional Lebanese handicraft. Then there is the property itself — a testament to vernacular stone architecture, nature, and a business built around sustainability and the environment.”