Hiking Day in Akroum, Akkar

Akroum a village rich in forests, plateaus, heritage and archeological sites will give you a full hiking experience. This trail offers all levels of difficulty being easy at the beginning to moderate and reaching difficult once approaching Al-Nir to Wadi Es-Sabaa. Along the trail, the astounding nature and landscapes will catch your attention making it an unforgettable hike.

Gathering and departure at Kobayat’s midtown

• Step 1 - Arrival to Akroum: Breakfast stop at Tannour Akroum,
• Step 2 - The Beginning of Trail : The trail begins in the village of Akroum (Akroum ed-day’a) by the police station. From there, it goes up to the village water tower as it becomes less wide, and more uneven,
• Step 3 - The Three Roman Temples (Al Hsein) : The trail takes you to a viewpoint that offers a panoramic view of Akroum, Wadi Es-Sabaa, and the neighboring Homs region (Syria). There you can see the remainders of an olive oil press carved in the rocks, and the remnants of three Roman temples,
• Step 4 - Arrival to Nir : Past the temples, the trail slightly goes up. Then begins a difficult descent towards Al-Nir (a plateau of olive trees), and Wadi Es-Sabaa (the Valley of Lions). We will have a stop at Al-Nir Cave that offers a marvelous view of Wadi Es-Sabaa,
• Lunch break will take place which is prepared by locals from Akroum,
• Step 5 - Descending toward The Wadi Es-Sabaa : Once we reach the bottom of this impressive valley, the trail goes between the pink laurels to the right. Then you will notice a stele to your left: this stele dates back to Nabuchodonosor (550 B.C.) and portrays a Babylonian man fighting a lion (Sabaa), which actually gave the valley its name. There is also another stele above the first one, to the left. You can easily spot it, as a sun and a crescent moon are carved on it,
• Final Step - Arrival to the Bridge : Past the steles, the hike on the flat trail must resume, as you have not exited the long and wide valley yet. As a matter of fact, and due to its dimensions, there was a time when the latter was the best route for military forces of Mesopotamia to reach the Mediterranean Sea, and the other way around. The hike finally ends by the bridge and a refreshing water spring.