Alyasa Village: A mountain getaway with soul

Hidden among the mountains of Jbeil, surrounded by majestic trees and colourful flowers, a guest takes a stroll in the afternoon, delighted by birdsong and the gentle ringing of goat bells in the distance. That is the country charm that draws people to book a stay in Alyasa Village. The mountain getaway combines the comfort and services of a boutique hotel with the warmth and intimacy of a guest house.. The 14,000-square-meter property in Saqi Rechmaya, Jbeil comprises eleven accommodation units across four buildings, set on the El Khazen family land surrounding the historic Mar Elishaa Church, the inspiration behind the name Alyasa.

“Normally in the mountains, you either have a guest house or a hotel, we are somewhere in between”, says Rita Chbeir, the Management and Marketing Consultant of the boutique hotel.

The intimate atmosphere stems from personalized service and a close-knit team whose shared mission is to make every guest feel at home.

We work closely with local farmers and producers to offer an experience that reflects the authenticity of the region.

At Alyasa, comfort is defined less by material indulgence than by the sense of stillness and belonging guests take home with them. “It is not something you can touch or see”, shares Rita. “We offer a complete experience in the mountains, a space where guests can really disconnect from the hustle and bustle of life and connect with nature and with themselves and with the simple pleasures of slow living. This is what I would define as luxury today”. Guests have access to thoughtfully designed rooms, a heated pool and outdoor Jacuzzi, wellness facilities including a gym, sauna, steam room, a padel court, and expansive gardens.

A feeling of awe

The El Khazen family’s history is deeply woven into Alyasa’s identity. At its heart stands the private Mar Elishaa Church, built in 1151 and lovingly preserved by successive generations of the family. Once part of the Maronite Archdiocese, the church played an important role in the spiritual life of the Lehfed region. Recently restored, it continues to welcome the annual Feast of Mar Elishaa, celebrated every year on 13 June.

Alyasa Village was built around the church that inspired its name.

While the village itself is newly created, many of its tables, decorative pieces and furnishings were carefully sourced from the El Khazen family's ancestral homes, allowing the property's heritage to live on in subtle and meaningful ways.

Guests repeatedly describe leaving Alyasa with the feeling that they had been welcomed into a family rather than simply checked into a hotel,. “I don’t know why, but everyone who steps in Alyasa gets a pleasant surprise as if they weren’t expecting to see what they see or feel what they feel. They discover something they weren't expecting, and they leave with a feeling they find difficult to describe”, says Rita.

As they were preparing and executing a photoshoot in the village, the photographer, with his assistant in tow, took his first tour of the grounds. He was so inspired by what he bore witness to that day that he decided to switch the location of his engagement to Alyasa. He coordinated with his family and his fiancée’s to agree on a date since he was adamant to hold it there.

Weddings have naturally become an important part of Alyasa's story. The village offers four distinct celebration venues, three outdoor settings and one indoor space, each with its own atmosphere, capacity and character. From a poolside setting framed by the mountains to an olive grove pergola, a garden beside the historic church shaded by a majestic oak, and an indoor dome with retractable walls, every celebration is shaped by the beauty of its surroundings.

The rhythm of a day at Alyasa

Special occasions aside, if someone had only twenty-four hours to spend at Alyasa Village, Rita would tell them to arrive in the afternoon just as the gardens begin to glow in the golden light. “You will see different shades; it is so romantic, peaceful and calming that you can’t get enough. Now you are primed to do everything else”, advises Rita. After the discovery walk, she would have a drink by the pool to watch the sunset. In the mountains, it has a beauty all its own.

She would then have dinner in the same spot, enjoying the quiet, the stars and the night, then head to her room and have a peaceful night’s sleep.

In the morning, she’d have coffee on her balcony with its breathtaking view of the trees and enchanting lanscape. “I would do some reading there, then go for a hike since there are so many nooks to discover. I would come back to spend all day by the pool until the evening, and if I can repeat those twenty-four hours, I readily would”, Rita says with a playful laugh.

Breakfast is served at The Olive Garden, where homemade labneh, jebneh baladieh, jams, olives, garden-grown zaatar, fresh manakish, hot bread, keshek, foul and eggs with awarma arrive on generous traditional trays.

Wonder in discovery

Where places to explore are concerned, Arz Jaj and the museum of Boutros Farhat with its breathtaking garden sculptures are at the top of the list. “My very favorite is the Mar Abda church in Jaj. It is gorgeous inside, and there’s an enormous oak tree next to it covering an unbelievable piece of land with its shade, it’s a miracle from nature”, says Rita. The area is overflowing with enormous cedar, oak, and pine trees, some are eight hundred years old at Alyasa Village.

In a country full of beautiful destinations, Alyasa Village leaves a lasting impression.

Despite its walls, gardens, and the décor being beautiful, the property’s real charm lies in its people. They are the heart of the place and its differentiating factor. They work with joy and devotion. “In the words of the owner, Alyasa is theirs”. In that loving environment, the staff transmits this belonging to the guests, enticing them to come back and repeat the experience.

Sometimes groups end up becoming friends after a day or two there. The comfort and peace are contagious, and visitors drop all pretense and obstacles at the doorstep to share in the life-affirming experience at Alyasa.

One guest and his wife were so pleased that they booked all weekends till the end of September.

I’ve traveled the four corners of the world, but I always end up coming back here because I’ll never find another place like Alyasa. The generosity of the souls that are there struck me.