January 7, 2026 Prabhat Dewangan
Nidal Majdalani’s journey is one of courage, passion, and transformation. With two decades in finance with an MBA from the American University of Beirut, Nidal sought balance beyond the office walls. What began as weekend hikes for healing in 2010 grew into a deep connection with nature, and evolved into a self-funded mission to uncover and document Lebanon’s hidden gems, cultural heritage, untouched natural beauty, and trails through photography and storytelling. This vision took shape under her pioneering initiative Travelling Lebanon by Nidal Majdalani, a platform that became a beacon for those seeking to experience Lebanon beyond the usual tourist paths.
Her transformation was not a career pivot but a soul’s awakening. With every step across Lebanon’s forgotten trails and every click of her camera in remote villages, Nidal embraced a path of quiet devotion to nature, heritage, and storytelling, continuing to reshape how Lebanon is seen by both locals and international travelers.
A Vision Beyond Tourism
Majdalani’s purpose is to travel with intent, witness with respect, document with integrity, and share in real time. Entirely self-funded, her journeys support local communities and domestic tourism, shaping one of the most extensive archives of Lebanon’s landscapes, heritage, and culture, nearly one million photographs to date. Though an avid traveler whose reach extends beyond Lebanon, her focus remains rooted in telling her country’s story in full depth.
Her photography is meditative. Her lens captures children playing in streams, artisans at work, silent ruins, and enduring forests. She also tracks rare sky phenomena and the impacts of climate change on Lebanon’s landscapes, rivers and waterfalls. Each image preserves the essence of place and the deep connections between people and land.
Known as an explorer of Lebanon, she has hiked nearly every corner of her homeland. Her curiosity also extends beyond Lebanon, from travels across the Middle East to explorations in Europe, with a special focus on the UK. Wherever she goes, her ethos remains the same: appreciate, reveal, and support.
From her perspective, tourism must evolve. It should serve not only travelers but also places and people. She sees it as a force for regeneration, restoring ecosystems, supporting communities, and reversing damage. Her call is for roots over routes encouraging travelers to buy local, visit inland, and uplift rural areas. In this way, she resists the drift of emigration, reminding people that their homeland holds dignity, value, and identity.
Ecotourism and Environmental Advocacy
Since 2017, Nidal Majdalani has been a strong voice for responsible tourism in Lebanon. At a time when political and economic instability dominated headlines, she offered a counter-narrative of beauty, resilience, and pride. Her work and publications have consistently encouraged Lebanese citizens to rediscover their land, not just as tourists but as guardians of its heritage and environment.
She has collaborated with governmental and non-governmental organizations, contributing to tourism and environmental initiatives, while publishing more than 100 articles across prominent media outlets and newspapers, guiding travelers toward sustainable, conscious exploration. In July 2025, her expertise was recognized internationally when the Union for the Mediterranean invited her to Athens for its high-level regional conference on “The Tourism Sector: Employment-related Opportunities and Challenges.” Her growing reputation also opened the opportunity to attend and cover the World Travel Market in London this November.
For her, tourism is a force for renewal, a bridge between communities, cultures, and ecosystems. It is no longer just travel but a shared responsibility to preserve heritage, empower local people, and adapt to climate realities. Her vision defines tourism as regenerative rooted in stories of place, guided by respect for nature, and driven by human connection and continuity.
A Writer Rooted in Soil
As a freelance journalist, travel writer, and tourism expert, Nidal reached a milestone in 2024 by becoming the first Lebanese author and Lebanon’s destination editor to Lonely Planet’s Middle East Guidebook, bringing new sites and hidden gems into the international stage.
Her words, like her photographs, are grounded in local soil, challenging stereotypes and inviting readers to see Lebanon as a living land rather than a headline. Dr. Jenny Walker, Lonely Planet’s senior travel writer and mentor, praised her writing as “on message internationally, yet rooted in local soil,” noting her ability to meet complex editorial standards while radiating depth and positivity.
Inspiring Travelers and Shaping Perspectives
Since a decade, Nidal’s work has inspired countless travelers to reimagine Lebanon from international visitors to locals rediscovering their homeland. One young German traveler, for instance, reconsidered his view of Lebanon after discovering her Travelling Lebanon initiative and following her journeys in real time.
Through her publications, travel plans, guides, personalized itineraries, guided tours, deep local ties, and a strong online presence and collaborations, she approaches every journey and experience with empathy and curiosity, ensuring her content remains authentic.
Overcoming Challenges, Embracing Change
Nidal’s path has not been free of obstacles. Lebanon’s economic instability, political complexities, and social challenges have made her journey an uphill task. Yet, she has met these challenges with flexibility, resilience, and creativity, finding healing in nature, and sharing Lebanon’s beauty even in uncertain times.
Her resilience lies in adaptation, reshaping plans, and extending her explorations abroad, with focus on the United Kingdom. These shifts do not dilute her mission; they reinforce it. For her, exploration is not work but a way of living, breathing, and connecting through nature, heritage, and culture.
Legacy in Motion
Her work goes far beyond tourism; it is a mission to safeguard what is fragile, amplify overlooked voices, and preserve stories that keep landscapes and communities alive. She celebrates Lebanon’s identity in all its forms, using her lens and voice to protect what makes Lebanon unique.
At the heart of her story is the conviction that travel must safeguard the essence of place, not just the celebrated, but the overlooked. She believes no act of giving is ever lost, that every seed planted bears fruit, and that authenticity outlasts trends. Her work inspires pride, raises awareness, and advocates a deep sense of belonging.
For travelers, writers, and photographers alike, her story is a confirmation that when passion is met with courage and integrity, the path ahead always reveals itself.
She says, “Transformation arises from within by believing in your potential, cultivating your gifts, and stepping onto the path where the heart beats loud enough to awaken the soul. As the path unfolds, follow the signs and plant seeds of kindness and nurture wherever you go. Life is truly worth living when every step serves a greater whole.” Her journey started with quiet steps into the wild and continues on, anchored in Lebanon’s soil, extending outward, and leaving a legacy in motion.
Travelling Lebanon by Nidal Majdalani stands out for its depth and emotional resonance. It is not just about travel, it is about identity, memory, and preservation.
At its heart, Nidal Majdalani’s work carries the soul of Lebanon, unfolding as a map of belonging and a love letter to the land in all its breadth and depth.
Do follow her on Instagram
Subscribe: https://travellinglebanon.blog/ & www.nidalmajdalani.com
Nidal Majdalani - Travelling Lebanon 
Leave a comment