Three houses, and no fourth.

We could fit more rooms on this ridge. We are not going to. Here is what there is.

The houses

  • La Grande's picture window at dusk, stone facade either side and the valley ridge catching the last light through the glass.

    La Grande

    Built against the rock face with a single pane running the width of the far wall. There is no art on the walls because there is nothing you would rather look at. The stove sits in the corner and takes about ten minutes to change the temperature of the whole room, and it is the only one of the three with its own kitchen.

    Best in winter, when the valley fills with cloud below you and the glass runs with condensation at the edges.

    Sleeps 2KitchenWood stove Valley windowWalk-in shower

  • La Grotta: a bed set into the raw rock niche, two lit lanterns on the ledge behind it and folded towels at the foot.

    La Grotta

    Carved back into the ridge, so three of its four walls are the mountain. It stays around eighteen degrees through August without anything mechanical, and sound does not carry into it at all.

    Sleeps 2King bedRock walls Cool in summerRain shower

  • Gemelli: two matching beds facing each other under the vaulted stone ceiling, the ensuite door open beyond them.

    Gemelli

    At the lower end of the property where the old grove starts, named for its two matching single beds rather than one shared one. The room for two people travelling together who are not necessarily sharing a bed, with a door that opens straight into the trees.

    Sleeps 2Twin bedsGrove access

What comes with the room, and what does not.

Firewood, parking, linen, towels, trail maps and the Wi-Fi password are all part of the house. There is no resort fee and there never will be.

Food is not. We have no restaurant, no kitchen service and no bar: no breakfast, no dinner, no room service. La Grande has a kitchen you cook in yourself; the other two houses do not. Douma is ten minutes down the hill and it eats well. Here is where we send people.

You can cook for yourselves outside, though. There is open ground with room for a barbecue and you are welcome to bring your own, gas or charcoal. We do not supply the grill, the coals or anything to put on them, and the terms set out where it is safe to light one.

There is also no pool, no jacuzzi, no sauna and no spa. Three stone houses, a terrace, a fire pit and a mountain is the whole list, and it is the point.

The Cap de Douma terrace under fresh snow, with the stone wall, fire pit and the valley beyond.

Before you book.

The house, firewood between November and April, parking, linen and towels, and as much of the trail map as you want. Food is not included and we do not serve any. Where to eat lists what is in the village.

Every house has a wood-burning stove, and we light it before you arrive in the cold months. La Grotta holds its temperature on its own because three of its walls are living rock.

Yes. Gemelli is built for it. The property has open rock edges and unlit paths at night, so children need watching after dark, the same as anywhere on a mountain.

There is Wi-Fi in all three houses and on the terrace. Mobile signal is good. We are not going to pretend otherwise, though most people stop checking after the first evening.

By car it is about an hour and forty five minutes from Beirut, the last twenty of it climbing. The final approach is paved but narrow. In deep snow we will meet you in the village.

Cap de Douma at night: the stone buildings and pergola lit from below, set against the dark limestone ridge.

Two nights is the right number.

One is not quite enough. Message us and we will tell you what is free.

Ask about dates