Global Solidarity Steps: How the Walk with Lebanon Initiative Kept a Nation’s Trails Alive Amid Conflict

When military conflict abruptly forced the cancellation of the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association’s (LMTA) scheduled April 2026 Thru Hike, the future of one of the Middle East’s premier long-distance hiking routes hung in the balance. The 279-mile (450-kilometer) trail, which winds from Andqet in the north to Marjeyoun in the south, traversing more than 80 towns and villages, is far more than a recreational path. It serves as a vital economic lifeline for rural communities, supporting local guesthouses, artisan producers, and environmental conservation projects.

Faced with the suspension of their flagship spring event, British artist Ali Pretty and her London-based arts organization, Kinetika, refused to let the trail fade into silence. Partnering with the LMTA, Kinetika spearheaded "Walk with Lebanon," a global solidarity initiative that transformed what would have been localized foot traffic in Lebanon into a worldwide movement. The campaign invited people across continents to hike in their home countries in tandem with the dates of the canceled Lebanese trek, using hand-painted silk flags to symbolize resilience, community, and shared humanity.

The Origins of "Mountains of Hope" and the Silk Flags Project

The genesis of Walk with Lebanon dates back to a 2024 collaboration between Kinetika and the LMTA. Known for utilizing community-driven batik silk painting to raise awareness about environmental and social issues—such as her "Beach of Dreams" climate walks in the United Kingdom and biodiversity art projects along Costa Rica’s El Sendero Pacifico Trail—Pretty connected with Takla Khoueiry, the LMTA’s environmental and education officer, at the World Trails Network Conference in Ottawa.

Khoueiry immediately recognized the potential of Kinetika’s methodology for the Lebanon Mountain Trail (LMT). Over several months, she gathered cultural stories, oral histories, and local drawings from communities situated along the trail’s 27 main sections. These narratives were subsequently transformed into vibrant visual designs. For instance, a flag representing the Akkar communities in the north incorporated illustrations of local cedar, fir, and juniper trees, the rare Lebanese hyena, traditional shepherds’ tents, and indigenous wells. Another flag, dedicated to the Rachaya-to-Hasbaya section, featured the local citadel, a historic mosque, an olive press, and the flowing Hasbani River.

Khoueiry traveled to London to work alongside Kinetika artisans, translating these intricate regional stories onto large, 3.9-square-foot (1.2-square-meter) silk flags intended to be permanently gifted to each respective community during the April 2026 Thru Hike.

From Local Hike to Global Movement: The Chronology of Solidarity

When the conflict between Israel and Lebanon escalated sharply in early March 2026, making the hosting of international hikers in Lebanon untenable, the LMTA canceled the spring Thru Hike. Rather than shelving the project, Pretty adapted the concept into a decentralized, global mobilization.

Utilizing social media and digital platforms, organizers invited international participants to walk in solidarity between April 3 and May 3, 2026. Each day of the global walks corresponded directly with a specific section of the LMT that would have been traversed on the ground in Lebanon. Participants were provided with digital readouts of the flags’ stories and encouraged to reflect upon five foundational philosophical questions posed by Bertrand Russell: Who are we? Where did we come from? Where are we going? How should we live? What is sacred?

The response was swift and geographically diverse. Over the course of a month, Walk with Lebanon registered 67 organized hikes executed by 32 distinct groups and organizations across more than 25 countries, stretching from Australia and Nepal to France, the United Kingdom, and beyond.

• Turkey: Ali Pretty herself initiated the physical solidarity walks by trekking along sections of Türkiye’s Lycian Way and Carian Trail, carrying the handmade silk flags and drawing curious local hikers into the fold.
• Nepal: Scottish artist Donna Campbell, who had originally planned to participate in the canceled Lebanese Thru Hike, joined Pretty in Türkiye before traveling to Nepal for a volunteer assignment. There, she organized a three-day hike along the Chisapani Nagarkot Trail while carrying a hand-embroidered mandala flag.
• France: In southeast France, French-Lebanese walker Azul Thome organized an 11-mile (18-kilometer) community walk in Châtillon-en-Diois. Recognizing the ecological ties between France and Lebanon, Thome engaged local residents—ranging from families with strollers to a 90-year-old participant—in workshops to create seven upcycled fabric flags depicting migratory bird species common to both regions.

Data and Local Impact of the Global Campaign

The numeric footprint of Walk with Lebanon underscores the depth of international solidarity. In total, participants carried the message of the LMT across diverse terrains worldwide. The project’s resonance prompted Kinetika to compile participant reflections, artistic responses, and historical narratives into a comprehensive 27-page commemorative magazine.

The initiative’s collaborative spirit extended directly into Lebanon later in the year. In September 2026, Ali Pretty traveled to Lebanon to conduct intensive batik workshops alongside Khoueiry. During these sessions, local community members took a direct, hands-on role in painting 11 additional flags designated for the LMT’s secondary side trails, bringing the total number of flags to 38.

Economic and Tourism Implications for Rural Lebanon

The LMTA, which marks its 19th anniversary in November 2026, has long positioned the trail as a cornerstone of sustainable rural development. The 279-mile path crosses approximately 80 towns and villages at varying altitudes, generating vital seasonal income for local guesthouses, family-run restaurants, and mountain guides.

While a June ceasefire brought a temporary halt to active hostilities, lingering security concerns, particularly in southern Lebanon, continue to affect the broader tourism sector. Despite these challenges, the LMTA successfully adapted its operational strategy, scaling back the autumn 2026 Thru Hike to weekend excursions while planning a full restoration of the official multi-week Thru Hike for April 2027.

According to Omar Sakr, executive director of the LMTA, the global visibility generated by Walk with Lebanon has provided an invaluable psychological and economic boost to trailside communities.

"Everybody loved the idea of the flags, the colors, the content, and the story of each," Sakr noted, explaining that the silk artworks are currently being utilized to promote the upcoming spring season. "If the situation continues as such, we expect high occupancy next year."

The culmination of the initiative is slated for the April 2027 Thru Hike, during which all 38 hand-painted flags will be formally revealed and permanently presented to the villages they represent. Organizers believe that the combination of international solidarity networks and grassroots community engagement has successfully insulated the trail infrastructure from deterioration, ensuring that Lebanon’s mountain heritage remains preserved for future generations.