Hermel, Lebanon

This northern Lebanese region is no vacation destination. With a sprawling 3,009 km2 area and over 416,000 residents, Baalbek-Hermel Governorate is Lebanon's largest and poorest province. The influx of 137,788 Syrian refugees has further strained its fragile infrastructure. Violence from the Syrian civil war has also spilled over, especially around the town of Arsal. Bureaucratic headaches are a persistent issue here. On the plus side, the governorate's political landscape is diverse, with the opposition Baalbek Madinati party capturing 46% of the vote in recent elections. Overall, Baalbek-Hermel is best suited for those seeking an authentic, gritty slice of Lebanese life, not a glamorous vacation.