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program
Join renowned spiritual teacher Shiv Charan Singh and a group of like-minded men on the Annual Men’s Walk, in September 2024—and for the first time in the Middle East—in the majestic mountains of Lebanon, amid the biblical Cedar trees and the pine-scented forests of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Building on previous Annual Men’s Walks, including in Corsica, Portugal and Italy; Immersed in Lebanon’s rich history in the Middle East’s ‘Cradle of Civilization, not-for-profit Lebanon Men’s Walk 2024— inclusive (5 full days)—will explore how men in particular can move more through pain and anguish to forgiveness, love and compassion.
Throughout the series of Annual Men’s Walk, the objective has been to search for ways to be better, more ‘centered’ men, clearer in purpose and vision; motivated and encouraged to give and contribute more to ourselves, to our loved ones and to our communities.
In the mountains and valleys of Lebanon, surrounded by a rich tapestry of ancient religious and sectarian communities; under the warm September Mediterranean sun and bounded by Lebanon’s delicious vegetarian cuisine, Shiv Charan Singh will guide this group of men through the five days of Kundalini-yoga practices, themed discussions and dedicated walks, including one day of historical and cultural sightseeing on the antique cities of Byblos and Beirut.
Participants can also use this occasion to explore Lebanon in their own time, before or after the five days, and discover all that this ancient, mystical land has to offer, including the spectacular Greco-Roman sights of Baalbek in the lush Beqaa Valley, and the ancient Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon.
This will be an Annual Men’s Walk to remember, full of growth-opportunities, nature and delicious meals; for some—perhaps—a turning point in their lives, for others another milestone to being a better man.
Shiv Charan Singh is a spiritual teacher, steeped in the traditions of Kundalini Yoga. Karam Kriya, the school he founded, means ‘total action through which our karma is brought to completion through the application of spiritual consciousness’.
Through the philosophy and practice of Karam Kriya, Shiv Charan Singh is deeply committed to guiding students in their spiritual growth, so they can bring spiritual awareness into their everyday lives and develop their full potential as human beings – to become the best they can be.
He is the author of several books on different aspects of spiritual life including human communication, the mystery of numbers (Let the Numbers Guide You) and poetry.
As a renowned teacher of Kundalini Yoga since 1980 and a Lead Teacher Trainer for the KRI accredited Kundalini Yoga Aquarian Teacher Training Level I & Level II, Shiv Charan Singh mentors training programmes worldwide.
— Day 00 – Wednesday 11 September 2024
- Travel-in day.
- Our bus will leave from central Beirut (Paul Café, Place des Cannons) @ 1800. You cannot miss this. If you miss this bus, you will need to organize your own transport to the Douma Club, Douma village, which will cost around USD200.
- You must land in Beirut no later than 1430 local time to allow time to get to central Beirut no later than 1800. If you do not think you can meet this requirement, then it is recommended that you come to Lebanon at least one day beforehand, e.g. Tuesday, Sept. 10.
- Overnight accommodation can be arranged for as little as USD50 per person in the downtown area and walkable to the bus pick-up point. Central Beirut is fairly small and quite walkable. This will be at your own cost. Getting to central Beirut from the airport is very straight forward and is by taxi at roughly USD20.
— Day 01 – Thursday 12 September 2024
- Rise and shine! Morning Sadhana, the yogic practice of exercise and meditation at 0600, followed by breakfast at 0930
- After breakfast, drive by bus to our Day 1 hike in the Tannourine area.
- Packed lunch will be provided. More details about the hike will be provided later.
- Back at the Douma Club around 1800
— Day 02 – Friday 13 September 2024
- Rise and shine! Morning Sadhana, the yogic practice of exercise and meditation followed by breakfast
- After breakfast, drive by bus to our Day 2 hike.
- Packed lunch will be provided. More details about the hike will be provided later.
- Return to our accommodation for supper.
— Day 03 – Saturday 14 September 2024
- Rise and shine! Morning Sadhana, the yogic practice of exercise and meditation followed by breakfast
- After breakfast, drive by bus to our Day 2 hike.
- Packed lunch will be provided. More details about the hike will be provided later.
- Return to our accommodation for supper.
— Day 04 – Sunday 15 September 2024
- Rise and shine! Morning Sadhana, the yogic practice of exercise and meditation followed by breakfast
- After breakfast, drive by bus to our Day 2 hike.
- Packed lunch will be provided. More details about the hike will be provided later.
- Return to our accommodation for supper.
— Day 05 – Monday 16 September 2024
- Rise and shine! Morning Sadhana, the yogic practice of exercise and meditation followed by breakfast
- Check out at 0930 and drive down the mountain back to the coast, then head south to the ancient city of Byblos, where we will tour and have lunch.
- The cost of lunch is included in the fees but NOT the cost of entry into the ancient, historical part of Byblos.
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package
We will be staying at the Douma Club in the quaint mountain village of Douma, in the heart of the Mount Lebanon mountains, surrounded by the lush terraces of oranges, lemons and figs. Nearby is Tannourine, home to Cedar of Lebanon trees and forests. At the Douma Club, there are 10 rooms, with 2 persons per room, so we are capped at 20 people. Douma is one of the best-kept secrets in the Middle East for a scenic village vacation. This picturesque mountain town is characterized by its traditional stone houses and narrow, winding streets. A quaint and ancient village within the Kfar Hilda valley, Douma immerses visitors in Lebanon’s rich history and the warmth of its people. With its serene atmosphere, stunning landscapes, and historical significance, Douma is a must-visit location for those seeking an authentic and off-the-beaten-path experience in Lebanon. Because Douma is such a standout destination, it landed a spot on the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s 2023 Best Tourism Villages.
Hiking in the Tannourine Area: Historically a place of refuge for the Maronites of Mount Lebanon, the village of Tannourine has several localities extending over an important difference in altitude. Tannourine enjoys an exceptionally rich ecosystem where mountains and valleys merge as far as the eye can see. The village comprises one of the largest and deepest cedar forests in Lebanon and is distinguished by its millennial heritage, as shown by a number of Byzantine and Crusader churches, some of which nestled in the valley. The village offers all year-round activities and festivals in an authentic rural setting.
Full board vegetarian meals
Total cost will be EUR 1,299 per person. That will cover:
- All local transport, by bus, from central Beirut up to Douma on Sept. 11, at 1800; all transport over the ensuring five days for hiking drop offs and pickups, and back to Beirut on Monday, Sept. 16, stopping off in Byblos for lunch. The transport will end in Beirut city center and Beirut Airport, for arrival at Beirut airport around 1700 local time.
- Accommodation at the Douma Club for five nights, checking in on Wed. Sept. 11, evening, and checking out on Monday, Sept. 16, morning
- All food and beverage; breakfast, lunch and dinner. On hiking days, lunch will be packed. It also includes lunch in a wonderful restaurant in Byblos on Monday Sept. 16. The food is all vegetarian, which, in Lebanon, is delicious. Beverages will be water and some soft drinks. For more on delicious Lebanese cuisine see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanese_cuisine
- All entry fees to the reserves for the hiking trails
● A guide if we are up to 13 people; two guides (as required by law) if we are 14 or more
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checklist
You may refer to the official portal of the UAE Government for the latest details on visa issuance.
Your booking confirms that you are medically, physically and emotionally fit to participate and accept any risk involved with a given activity.
- We request participants to secure the following prior to travel:
- Doctor’s certificate if under medical/psychiatric supervision
- Disclosure of food allergies
- Comprehensive travel insurance policy
Participants are responsible for their own well-being, safety, medical and other essential needs throughout the retreat.
The facilitators are not liable or responsible for any personal accident, injury, death, damage or loss or negligence of the contracted suppliers.
The retreat does not make any representation, warranty, or guarantee as to whether you will ultimately attain a cure for any health condition or disease.
- Local Transport – Please do NOT hire a car for or during the five days of the retreat, as bus-transport will be provided and is part of the fees. What you do before and after that, however, is completely up to you. Public transport (e.g. buses) is poor and not recommended. Taxis, however, are plentiful and relatively well-priced. Hiring a car in Lebanon is easy and relatively well-priced, and probably the only way to move outside of Beirut, but driving in Beirut/Lebanon is an experience. There are basically no traffic lights and it’s pretty much every man (or woman) for him/herself. You’ve got to have eyes in the back of your head!Electricity – Lebanon’s power grid is subject to constant cuts so please be prepared for this, which means bring a good power pack for your phone and a torch/lamplight. The Douma Club has a generator and solar power, so we are expecting adequate power.
- Visas – Most Europeans, for instance, can enter Lebanon visa-free and/or pick up their visas on arrival at Beirut airport, perhaps at a cost too. However, and well in advance, please check the website of your Lebanon Embassy and/or the advice of your own Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Flights – Many airlines, including from Europe, fly into the Lebanese capital, Beirut. The Lebanese airline, Middle East Airlines https://www.mea.com.lb/, has many flights. For perhaps cheaper, transit flights, check, for instance, https://www.turkishairlines.com
- Insurance – Participants are encouraged to have travel insurance prior to the Walk.
- Money – The local currency is the Lebanese pound. For many years, the pound was fixed to the dollar at a rate of 1,500LL (Lebanese Lire) to one US dollar. Since 2020, however, the pound or lire has been in free-fall and there are many different exchange rates, ranging now up to 100,000LL to the dollar (so it’s lost more than 90% of its value!). All this said, Lebanon now is a highly dollarized economy, meaning most things are quoted and paid for in US dollars, so you will need dollars cash and small bills. Bring your credit card but we do NOT recommend its use except in clear and to-be-advised circumstances. We will advise of how much cash money to bring, based on the five days of the retreat. Beyond that, it is up to you.
- Telecoms – Wi-Fi in Lebanon is not good, in part because of the narrow sub-sea cable and also because of power cuts. That said, you can subscribe to local internet packages but please look into this matter.
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