Once considered the Paris of the East, Lebanon fell off the tourist map when it disintegrated into civil war in 1975. The word is slowly getting out that travel to Lebanon is now not only possible but surprisingly free of hassles. Lebanon packs a lot into its modest borders: ancient cities, Roman ruins, luxurious ski resorts, bucolic charm and Islamic architecture are just the start. Culturally, too, Lebanon is crammed full of complexity, with the kind of full-on religious and social diversity that has monoculturalists in other countries claiming it can only lead to social breakdown - sadly, in this instance, Lebanon did not prove them wrong.

The handful of foreign visitors now finding their way to Lebanon are mostly well-heeled package tourists. Independent travellers are a bit of a rarity, but are made to feel welcome. The Lebanese are genuinely hospitable towards strangers and are not shy of inviting travellers into their homes. If you're interested in the history of the region and want to see how Lebanon is striving to rebuild itself, now is a good time to visit.

Warning

The border with Israel, down the extreme south and southeast of Lebanon, remains a highly flammable area. Long teetering on the edge of violence, this zone of tension has seen increased fighting between Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based resistance movement, and the Israeli army. Though the militants' aims do not include harassing - or killing - tourists, travellers are nonetheless advised to stay well away from these border areas, in particular the Fatima Gate and Shebaa Farms regions, where firings of missiles and mortar rounds are not uncommon.

Full country name: Republic of Lebanon
Area: 10,452 sq km (4076 sq mi)
Population: 3.5 million
Capital city: Beirut (pop: 1.5 million)
People: Arabs, Palestinians, Kurds, Armenians
Language: Arabic, (official), French, English, Armenian
Religion: 60% Muslim, 40% Christian
Government: Republic
President: Emil Lahoud
Prime Minister: Rafiq Hariri

GDP: US$15.8 billion
GDP per head: US$4500
Annual growth: 3%
Inflation: 5%
Major industries: Agriculture, banking, construction, tourism
Major trading partners: Saudi Arabia, EU, UAE, US

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