Hima Aanjar

Located in Zahle district, Hima Anjar is characterized by an interesting mixture between wetlands, woodland and agri- cultural fields. It is categorized by SPNL as an important birds and biodiversity area (IBBA) due to its environmental conditions leading to the breeding of important species especially the glob- ally threatened Syrian serin and the river otter. This world heritage site where the old Umayyad city was discovered in 1948, was an inland commercial center linking Beirut to Damascus and Homs to Pales- tine through the Bekaa Valley. Since it was declared as a Hima in 2008, this area has been a remarkable place for both: eco-tourism due to its faunal and floral richness, and cultural tourism due to its historical importance.

Hima Aanjar was announced in 2008, it constitutes of wetlands, agricultural/forest lands, and the Western Anti-Lebanon Mountains. This area has a variety of important globally threatened species such as Syrian Serin bird, turtles, Common Otter, and swamp cats; in addition to its distinctive flora.

Aanjar includes important archaeological sites, most notably Aanjar Castle that is classified as a World heritage site.

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Activities to be done:

  • Cultural visit to the World Heritage Site of Aanjar Castle and trying to find the Syrian Serin bird in the protected forest, inside the walls of the archeological sites.

  • Cultural tour in the village discovering the Armenian Settlement in Aanjar, the handicraft, the food…

  • Bird watching at the protected forest of the Hima.

  • Tour on bicycles or on donkeys with different lengths at the agricultural fields, in addition to agro-tourism activities.

  • Hiking to the upper cave and panoramic view to the Bekaa valley.

  • Educational tour, learning about the water cycle, the marshes ecosystems, the cave ecosystems, the agricultural seasonal crops, the fauna and the flora, the endangered species, reforestation and plant conservation.Hima Anjar - Kfar Zabad