There are many legends about the origin of the name of Gharifeh. It may come from Syriac, and means "cliff" or "extended mountains.

Gharifeh's elevation is 800 metres above sea level. It is 56 kilometers away from Beirut

The village is surrounded by high mountains and virgin forests. The town is famous for its olive oil, which comes from olive trees dating from Roman times. There are many archaeological objects in Gharifeh, such as a bridge linking the Chouf to Iqlim el Kharroub, stone mills, and ancient Roman jars.