Awaken & Yogi Ventures - Retreat Trek Day - Wadi Qadisha
A Meditative Journey celebrating 100 Years of 'The Prophet' by Kahlil Gibran
A Meditative Journey through Wadi Qannoubine
Celebrating 100 Years of 'The Prophet' by Kahlil Gibran
A soulful trek in the valley of saints
Join us for a poetic one-day nature retreat through sacred Wadi Qannoubine, in honor of 100 years since the publication of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet. We’ll walk the path of saints and mystics, meditating on Gibran’s timeless words in the very valley where he was born and buried. Along the way, we pause to listen, reflect, and meditate on passages from The Prophet — including “On Marriage,” “On Love,” and “On Joy and Sorrow.” Our hike will be infused with yoga, stretching, pranayama, and live handpan music, with scenic meditative pauses and storytelling woven throughout.
Facilitators: Serah & Nader + Rana & Manish Pole
Format
Hike, Meditation, Poetry, Music, Yoga, Connection.
Itinerary
6:00 AM: Departure from Beirut (if joining transport)
9:00 – 9:30 AM: Arrival & Check-In at Public Square Garden, Bsharri
Water, hiking sticks, snacks provided
10:00 – 10:45 AM: Visit to the Kahlil Gibran Museum
A chance to witness his original manuscripts, artworks, and tomb
2km drive to the starting point of the trail
11:00 AM: Guided Meditation in the Public Garden
Breathwork & grounding under the Cedars
Brief on trail history and day’s structure
11:10 AM: Begin Descent into the Valley of Saints
1.6km descent with sacred sites, Gibran quotes, and storytelling
12:00 PM: Pit Stop – Valley of Saint Elisha
Water refill + short rest
12:30 PM: Ancient Wooden Bridge Reflection Pause
1:20 PM: Ascent towards Mosses’ Gigantic Waterfalls
2:30 PM – 3:50 PM: Lunch at Abou Joseph
Authentic homemade Lebanese meal
Optional Awaken Live session (Google Meet) during / after lunch
RETURN & MUSEUM FINALE
3:50 PM: Phase One Transport back up to main road
4:10 PM: Drive to the Kahlil Gibran Museum (special after-hours entry)
4:30 – 5:30 PM: Optional second visit for those who missed the
morning
6:00 PM: Departure
What to bring
- Refillable water bottle / flask (at least 1L)
- Hat or cap
- Sunglasses
- Lightweight towel
- Small backpack (10–15L)
- Comfortable hiking shoes
- Personal mat or small cushion (for meditation)
- Sunscreen
- Extra t-shirt or light change of clothes
- Snacks or fruit (optional, we provide lunch)
- Light jacket or layer (in case it cools down)
- Personal ID
- Any personal medication (if needed)
Your Guides
Manish Pole
Manish Pole has been teaching for over 22 years and leads Himalayan Silent retreats, Teacher Trainings in India, Bali, UAE and speaks at Wellness Conferences globally.
Rana Abihayla
As co-founder of Awaken Wellness, Rana now leads retreats, trainings and mindfulness workshops.
Her creative offerings include Art therapy, Poetry based breathwork and movement sessions that help individuals and teams reconnect, regulate and express.
Let There Be Spaces In Your Togetherness
This journey is a bridge between poetry and pilgrimage — a rare chance to walk and sit in reverence of the landscapes that shaped Gibran’s soul.
TESTIMONIALS
I feel that the training offered a very genuine experience, no gimmicks, a complete focus on exploring yoga at its fullest. This training enabled me to gain a much deeper understanding of the philosophy and history of yoga, how to apply that to my life, and how to embed it within the classes I share as a teacher.
And here I am closing 20 years with Manish Pole, my Yoga teacher, coach, and a friend which makes my yoga journey unique, enriching and has shaped me to be what I am today. Another deeper aspect of his teaching style is the ability to connect YOGA philosophy with the practice which provides context and reasoning to why we are doing what we are doing.
My journey with the Yoga & Meditation Teacher Training began from a deep inner necessity, a longing to find more meaning in life, and a genuine thirst for clarity and inner peace. The online videos offer great flexibility, allowing you to move at your own pace. For me, this meant taking time for reflection and meditation, integrating the teachings rather than simply consuming information.
As a student of the M&YTT programme with Manish, and as someone who's known and learned from Manish over the years, I'm grateful and deeply appreciative not just for the depth of knowledge presented through the course; but also the spirit of enquiry and seeking that is sparked and fostered.
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