Jaita Caves

Jeita Grotto

Jeita Caves is a uniquely beautiful underground complex of two caves located near Beirut and considered one of Lebanon’s natural wonders. The two-level caves were formed in layers of Jurassic limestone and dolomite, which are up to 1 kilometer thick. The Upper Level was discovered in 1836 by priest William Thompson, while the Lower Cave was found in the middle of the last century and made accessible to visitors in 1969.

Video: Jate’s Caves

Highlights

Jaita Caves attract travelers with huge halls whose ceilings rise up to 120 meters, bizarre stalactites, stalagmites, picturesque crevices and transparent underground water bodies. The largest of the stalactites reaches a length of 8.2 meters. All this magnificence is skillfully highlighted by multi-colored artificial lighting.

The Upper Cave is 2.2 km long and the Lower Cave is 6.9 km long. The route for tourists to explore the Upper Cave is through three halls and underground galleries equipped with pedestrian bridges. Chamber music concerts are held here from time to time. The upper level is separated from the lower level by 60 meters. They are connected by a tunnel and several passages that do not disturb the natural underground landscape.

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In the Lower Cave visitors are taken by small car trains, reminiscent of the railroad in children’s amusement parks. At the bottom runs a river, on which tourists travel by small boat. Water from this underground watercourse flows into Beirut’s water supply and serves as a source of drinking water for 1.5 million Lebanese.

Tourist Information

The Jaita Caves are accessible Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. In summer and fall, both levels are open to visitors. In winter and spring, the Lower Cave is often closed due to rising underground river levels. A tour of the dungeons takes about two hours.

A 120-meter long concrete tunnel leads to the entrance of the Upper Cave. The tourist route along it reaches 750 meters. No one is allowed into the rest of the cave to prevent ecological damage resulting from the large flow of tourists. Photography and videography are prohibited inside the Jaita Caves, but a store selling postcards and disks with views of the natural attraction is open at the exit.

How to get there

The Jaita Caves are located in the Nahr al-Kalb or “Dog River” valley, 18 kilometers north of the Lebanese capital. It takes about half an hour to reach them by cab or rented car. Tourists get to the entrance of the caves in cable car cabins.