Yanta is a serene Lebanese village in the Rashaya District of Lebanon’s Beqaa Governorate located about 79 km from Beirut and perched at approximately 1,540 m above sea level. While most of its people live abroad—especially in Canada—they return during the summer months, filling the village with life and warmth. Yanta beautifully combines tradition and modernity, with charming old stone houses standing alongside newer villas, reflecting the bond between its heritage and its evolving community. Its name has rich etymological roots—stemming from Semitic for “God sows,” Syriac for “white dove,” or Arabic for “elevation”—all eloquently reflecting its heritage and high position.

Yanta enjoys a cool summer and snowy winter climate, with snow primarily falling in December through March, and January seeing an average of 99 mm snowfall over around 2 days; rain is heaviest in January with up to 100 mm of precipitation. The broader Rashaya region, including Yanta, benefits from a Mediterranean mountain climate, with average annual temperatures around 15 °C, summers reaching 35 °C, and winter lows dipping to around −5 °C.

The village is set amidst an ancient tapestry—with remnants such as Roman temple ruins, foundations of Greco-Roman era structures, mosaics, and historical cellars. Nearby, Khirbet El-Knese hosts two Roman temple ruins south of Yanta.