At 800 metres above sea level, the Chouf is cooler than the coast — about 10 °C below Beirut on a summer day. May, June, and September are the perfect months: warm, dry, clear views across the valley. July and August are warm and pleasant for visits but the festival weeks book out the village. Winter can be cold and damp, with occasional snow blocking the higher roads; the palace stays open but the festival is silent.