A spectacular waterfall that plunges through three natural bridges.
The Baatara Gorge Waterfall, also known as Balaa or the ‘Cave of the Three Bridges,’ is one of Lebanon’s most spectacular natural sights, near Tannourine about 75 km from Beirut. Here a seasonal waterfall plunges nearly 250 metres through a limestone cave crossed by three dramatic natural stone bridges — an unforgettable, otherworldly scene.
"Quick facts",
The Baatara sinkhole and its three natural bridges were formed over millions of years as water carved through the soft Jurassic limestone. The waterfall was brought to wider attention by the Lebanese speleologist Georges Lepine in the 1950s, and today the ‘Cave of the Three Bridges’ is one of the country’s most photographed natural wonders.
Three great arches of rock stacked above the plunging falls.
A dramatic cascade dropping deep into the gorge — best in spring.
Paths and platforms with breathtaking views of the sinkhole.
The Baatara Gorge Waterfall is about 75 km north of Beirut, near Tannourine — roughly a 1.5 to 2-hour drive into the mountains. It’s best visited in spring, and is often combined with Jeita, Byblos, or the villages of Aaqoura and Douma on a day tour.
A spectacular waterfall near Tannourine that plunges through a limestone cave crossed by three natural stone bridges — also called Balaa or the ‘Cave of the Three Bridges.’
Spring, roughly March to May, when the snowmelt makes the waterfall at its most dramatic. By late summer it can slow to a trickle.
About 75 km — roughly a 1.5 to 2-hour drive into the northern mountains.
