TOP
Exploring Tourism in Lebanon
Lebanon
icon Worldwideicon
Places to Visit Details

Jeita Grotto

Jounieh, Lebanon

The Jeita Grotto is a Lebanese national symbol and largest cave in Lebanon (9,050m long).

The Jeita Grott0 is a system of two separate, but interconnected, limestone caves spanning an overall length of nearly 9 km. The caves are situated in the Nahr El Kalb valley within the locality of Jeita, 18 km north of the Lebanese capital Beirut.

In 1958, Lebanese speleologists discovered the upper cave 60 metres above the lower cave which have been accommodated with an access tunnel and a series of walkways to enable tourists safe access without disturbing the natural landscape. The upper galleries house the world's largest known stalactite.

The lower cave was not rediscovered until 1836 by Reverend William Thomson; it can only be visited by boat since it channels an underground river that provides fresh drinking water to more than a million Lebanese.

Aside from being a Lebanese national symbol and a top tourist destination, the Jeita grotto plays an important social, economic and cultural role and is a finalist in the New 7 Wonders of Nature competition,

It hosts approximately 280,000 visitors per year.

Check out more Places to Visit