TOURLEB
Ever since we moved to Montreal fifteen years ago, we heard it all concerning Lebanon (from Lebanese and non-Lebanese alike): "But isn’t it a dangerous place to go to?" "I have never been in this region, it is not Lebanon" "You ski in Lebanon?" "You have the sea?" "Oh! You can do extreme sports in Lebanon?" "You have Roman Ruins?" "No way! There is no such thing in Lebanon!" We heard it all, we tell you.
Having visited many different countries, we have come to realize how hard it is to truly experience a country in a short time. It is even harder when the trip is organized and when you are on the roof of a bus with 30 people who are all passing comments and judgment.
We travelled many destinations between these two extremes and came to realize that there is a huge demand for customized/personalized travel.
This is why, after having offered this service on a “freelance” basis, we decided to make it a business with all the necessary tools used to promote it and to develop it.
We know Lebanon from East to West, each and every nook and cranny. We have visited all of the country, many times, and we have enjoyed almost all that it has to offer. So when we recommend something it’s not just because they say it’s nice, it's because we have tried it and know, for a fact, that it’s worth it.
We have contacts all over the country, so accommodations, transportation, activities, food and lodgings have no secrets for us, no matter where in Lebanon you want to spend the night. From the 5 stars hotel to the "modestest" camping site, to bed and breakfasts or guesthouses, we take good care of you.
“We” means Nada Raphael and Joelle Sfeir.
Nada Raphael is the founder of Tourleb. She is its thinking head and its beating heart.
With a very diverse resume and a heart that beats for her native country, she brings to tourleb her unwavering love for Lebanon and all that it holds.
Her knowledge of the country stemmed from her book “Hyphen Islam-Christianity” published in 2009. She also is a journalist, a DJ, a film director (she has her production company and has released many documentaries), and a photographer (with many photo exhibits behind her, presented in Canada, Europe and Lebanon of course).
Nada Raphael’s right and left hands is Joelle Sfeir, with whom she has worked on many previous projects of which “Hyphen Islam-Christianity” (Joelle co-wrote and co-directed the project).
Joelle Sfeir studied Land development but has been working for 10 years in communications, editing, copywriting and writing, and event organizing in Lebanon and Canada.