The Cedars (Ehden/Cedars)

The mountain itself is modest, and you need to be realistic about that. With 733m of vertical and roughly 11km of skiable terrain across six lifts, you're looking at a small resort—think a single peak rather than a sprawling valley system. Annual snowfall averages 193cm, which is decent for the Middle East but means you'll be working around variable conditions and potential thin spells mid-season. The terrain is beginner-friendly with gentle slopes and baby runs, plus some steep off-piste for better skiers, but after four months you'll have lapped every run multiple times. This isn't a place where you'll discover new terrain in week 12; it's better suited to someone who wants to improve technique on familiar ground or isn't primarily motivated by endless skiing.

Living costs are genuinely low—groceries run around LBP 25,000 weekly—but accommodation is the catch. The Cedars itself isn't a town; it's a collection of hotels, chalets, and nightclubs, and there's no staff housing provided by the resort. You'll be renting from the ~10 hotels and motels in the area at $170–$250 per night (~£126–£185), which adds up quickly over a season. Bsharri, a proper village with shops and restaurants, sits just 15 minutes away and offers everyday amenities, but you'll need reliable transport. Beirut airport (BEY) is 130km away—roughly a two-hour drive—so getting in and out of the country is manageable but not quick, and you'll want to sort your own transport rather than relying on resort shuttles.

Here's the hard truth: there's no formal seasonal worker program at The Cedars. Unlike major resorts, there's no dedicated ski school hiring, no staff accommodation deals, no structured community of seasonaires. Jobs are informal and local—ski lessons through local shops, work in snack bars, hotels, and restaurants—and the people doing them are primarily Lebanese residents from surrounding areas, not international workers. If you're a beginner wanting to learn to ski while working, the terrain suits you perfectly, but you'll be finding your own job, your own housing, and building your own social circle rather than joining an established seasonaire community. If you're looking for a traditional season experience with staff housing, job placement, and a built-in international community, you'd be better served at Mzaar, Lebanon's larger resort.