“In Lebanon, you can ski in the morning and go to the beach in the afternoon.” So goes the old cliché that every travel guide and Lebanese host love repeating.

What a waste that would be. Forget this piece of cram-travel advice, which, as a matter of fact, is strictly theoretical: if you can ski, it means it’s winter. And winter is too cold for the beach. Instead, slowly savour Bcharré, a mountain village that seems to have been plucked right out of the Swiss Alps.

Or, more appropriately, from a fairy tale.

At an altitude of 1650 meters, Bcharré is close to the Qadisha Valley, roughly fours hours from Beirut. The road leading to it is among the most scenic in the country, adorned with snowy peaks, canyons, olive groves, vineyards and valleys.

You can begin your visit exploring the town’s steep streets, peeking inside stone-built Maronite churches, shopping for home-made chocolate, or even being invited for tea and cake at the home of a friendly local, like we were. Other attraction include a Phoenician tomb dating back to 750 BC, and the 500-meter long Qadisha Grotto.

At night, the city is motionless. But since the town’s population is mostly Christian, alcohol is amply available in every little corner shop. Buy a few bottles of Ksara and Kefraya wines, some nuts and hommos, and invite the small hotel crowd for a few drinks around the oil furnace of the cozy hostel Tiger House.

The next day you can combine two activities. The first is a visit to the Kahlil Gibran museum, which honours the Bcharré native who gave the world The Prophet. Thous he chose the US as his home, he came back to his hometown for his eternal rest. In addition to the impressive collection of Gibran’s paintings, the museum enjoys a privileged view of the region.

From there, take a taxi to the cedar reserve, which in fact harbours only a few of Lebanon’s iconic trees. Beside it is a ski hill, which was totally empty during our visit in mid-December. It’s a chance to see snow while enjoying pleasant temperatures.

On the way back, wave away the taxis. The walk down the winding mountain road has stunning views of the area. Few places have such a scenery concentrated in a two-hour walk. Back at the hotel, another well-deserved round of Lebanese wines.