Baatara Pothole
Baatara Pothole
4.5
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4.5
59 reviews
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Cora_v
Kyiv26,146 contributions
May 2013 • Solo
Baatara Pothole, also known as Balaa Gorge, is one of the most impressive natural wonders I’ve seen in Lebanon! Located in the most scenic village of Balaa in Tannourine, Batroun district, and can be easily visited from Byblos or Batroun by car.
Balaa Gorge is a large open cavern created by the river flowing down through the hole at the upper ground level and continuing as a 90-100m waterfall, running down through the amazing cascade of three natural bridges. A breathtaking view and experience!
It was only discovered in 1952 and mapped in the 80ies, although the cavern is said to be dating to the jurassic period.
As you drive by to where it starts, you would never guess what an impressive view waits for you ahead! It takes a relatively short and not too hard walk down to see the entire scene from its best angle. Better visit in spring, when the melting snow makes the river full with waters, and the waterfall strong.
It is possible to climb to the various levels of the cavern with no special equipment. But you have to be very careful exploring it - there is hardly much chance you survive falling down from some of the bridges, and the ground is slippery at some parts.
The area is very popular for sport activities - there were lots of people with climbing gear on the surrounding hills.
I wish we have visited in the afternoon, because in the first half of the day the waterfall appears against the sun, so you can’t take good pictures of it.
Entrance is free of charge.
Balaa Gorge is a large open cavern created by the river flowing down through the hole at the upper ground level and continuing as a 90-100m waterfall, running down through the amazing cascade of three natural bridges. A breathtaking view and experience!
It was only discovered in 1952 and mapped in the 80ies, although the cavern is said to be dating to the jurassic period.
As you drive by to where it starts, you would never guess what an impressive view waits for you ahead! It takes a relatively short and not too hard walk down to see the entire scene from its best angle. Better visit in spring, when the melting snow makes the river full with waters, and the waterfall strong.
It is possible to climb to the various levels of the cavern with no special equipment. But you have to be very careful exploring it - there is hardly much chance you survive falling down from some of the bridges, and the ground is slippery at some parts.
The area is very popular for sport activities - there were lots of people with climbing gear on the surrounding hills.
I wish we have visited in the afternoon, because in the first half of the day the waterfall appears against the sun, so you can’t take good pictures of it.
Entrance is free of charge.
Written 24 November 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Loubna N
72 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
Place is nice. However disappointing for 2 reasons. First, there's no waterfall in the summer so please don't waste your energy in visiting. It's dry and ugly. Not worth it. Second, you risk the chance of falling due to lack of basic safety measures. I fell and had to have 26 stitches to my ear and head which took about 5 days of enjoyment from me. In addition, no medical support or first aid were available on site. It was a horrible experience. I would not recommend taking any hyper or active kids to the area.
Written 5 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Manal A
Aschaffenburg, Germany60 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
This place can easily get a 5 star rating, if I didn't visit it in the summer. It's most famous for its greenery and breathtaking waterfall, which is listed as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. Unfortunately, it was dry and there was barely any greenery around. Still, the place is dramatic and remarkable, and was worth the visit, especially since the scenes all the way to the location were quite beautiful, with lots of small villages and their exquisite houses.
There are a couple of activities on site for the adventurous travelers like me, but I wasn't aware of that and was not prepared, such as caving, ziplining, camping and archery. Although there were many families with kids, but I didn't find it suitable for young children, as it isn't an easy climb down or up from the pothole, especially with the slippery rocks.
Price for entrance is around $2.5, FYI.
There are a couple of activities on site for the adventurous travelers like me, but I wasn't aware of that and was not prepared, such as caving, ziplining, camping and archery. Although there were many families with kids, but I didn't find it suitable for young children, as it isn't an easy climb down or up from the pothole, especially with the slippery rocks.
Price for entrance is around $2.5, FYI.
Written 26 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Samer ABI KHALIL
Angers, France209 contributions
Feb 2019 • Friends
The Baatara pothole is a natural site. We may say it's risky and dangerous to visit or discover. But if you respect the instructions, and if you respect the nature, nothing harmful will happen. I don't want to talk about the pothole's history or geography, I let you search for it. But I really want to share with you my experience in visiting the pothole, and what I felt about. Amazing is a small word. Speechless is truly your reaction when reaching the pothole. I visited the site many times, but the most impressive one is when I went there walking for three hours on the snow wearing the snowshoes. All the region was a marvelous scene, everything white, everything silent except the wind, and once there the sound of the waterfall cut the one of the wind. You go there and you want to stay for a long time, because you feel released. Even in spring or summer, a sunny moment with all green will give the same effect. After all, Lebanon is about mountains and nature that deserve to visit.
Written 1 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Louis Moris
Paris, France17 contributions
Jul 2019
Expected more of a hike to get here - turned out to be more of a stroll on a few flights of stairs. Beautiful formation, however, when we went in early July the waterfall was but a tiny stream. I would not recommend the zip line as it was very slow and underwhelming, I would go for the chair lift instead if you want to enjoy the view.
Written 10 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenny9234
28 contributions
May 2018 • Family
Unfortunately we had terrible weather the day we went but the waterfall is lovely and worth the visit. They have some activities when you get there- we didn't try them out due to weather but looked good. The hike isnt long and can be tricky in places, but we did have our one year old in a carrier and the ground was wet so that's probably why. Would recommend combining this trip with jeitta grotto and harissa cable car
Written 24 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
doama
Dubai, United Arab Emirates117 contributions
Jul 2018 • Friends
Look i do not want to be tough but u will spend almost 1 to 1 and half H to find this place .. we went there and the waterfall was not there they told us the water fall stopped since many days so the view was nice but without the main thing ehich we went there to watch ..
2 ways either ro take a look from above or to go down by hiking or telefrico
At all bad experience maybe bc of bad luck
2 ways either ro take a look from above or to go down by hiking or telefrico
At all bad experience maybe bc of bad luck
Written 27 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jørgen Tharaldsen
Oslo, Norway246 contributions
Apr 2018 • Friends
Wow, just wow! A little creek falls into a massive ‘sinkhole’ of 255 meters depth. Parts of the walls of that round ‘sinkhole’ has eroded into three natural bridges, stacked on top of each other. As You come down the deep gorge going towards the fall, it unveils on You, and it’s spectacular and very unique. I don’t Know of a similar place on earth. The next day we drove to the top of the Hole, to see the creek falling into it. Not as good photos or view, but well worth a detour.
This is a very exciting place to visit. The depth and scale of things makes your hearth thump throughout as You walk around for new photo ops. 255 meters, three natural arches, I SO recommend people to see this, with a waterfall. We had the whole place to ourselves.
Note; this place is (probably) best with water. We went to Lebanon in late March to ensure water was there.
This is a very exciting place to visit. The depth and scale of things makes your hearth thump throughout as You walk around for new photo ops. 255 meters, three natural arches, I SO recommend people to see this, with a waterfall. We had the whole place to ourselves.
Note; this place is (probably) best with water. We went to Lebanon in late March to ensure water was there.
Written 2 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michel D
Zgharta, Lebanon52 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
We went there in August. There was no waterfall. Fair place but not as expected.
In addition we paid 4000 LBP per person (3$) for entrance and we were informed that the ticket was for the cable car. We went down by cable car with 2 babies (trip less than 30 seconds). Some of us walked down for 2 minutes instead. Once arrived we were asked to pay 7000 LBP (5$) per person without being informed earlier. We declined because we would have taken the walkway instead. We spent 5 minutes and we started walking uphill. The manager (Dr. 3affouta) came to us asking for 21000 LBP for 3 persons. We told him that we should be informed first and before taking the cable car, and that it is a robbery. He started to yell in a very unprofessional way and asked us to leave. We told him that his method is very rude. He got angry and said that he is a doctor and his head is full of knowledge and not like us. Hahaha.
I would never come back and I advise them to change their management and provide better organization.
Finally, note that the cable car price in Harissa is around 8000 LBP for 20 minutes of ride, not comparable. The location is also too risky and no safety measures are implemented.
In addition we paid 4000 LBP per person (3$) for entrance and we were informed that the ticket was for the cable car. We went down by cable car with 2 babies (trip less than 30 seconds). Some of us walked down for 2 minutes instead. Once arrived we were asked to pay 7000 LBP (5$) per person without being informed earlier. We declined because we would have taken the walkway instead. We spent 5 minutes and we started walking uphill. The manager (Dr. 3affouta) came to us asking for 21000 LBP for 3 persons. We told him that we should be informed first and before taking the cable car, and that it is a robbery. He started to yell in a very unprofessional way and asked us to leave. We told him that his method is very rude. He got angry and said that he is a doctor and his head is full of knowledge and not like us. Hahaha.
I would never come back and I advise them to change their management and provide better organization.
Finally, note that the cable car price in Harissa is around 8000 LBP for 20 minutes of ride, not comparable. The location is also too risky and no safety measures are implemented.
Written 5 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amany R
14 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
Visited here on a whim really with my husband. It should be noted that the drive here wasn't easy as the roads are tight and there was a lot of construction en route. Views to the place are nice though.
We reached and were a little underwhelmed. I know tourism infrastructure in Lebanon needs quite a lot of updating, but this place was really over sold 😂 it's a nice view and all with the walk down to the main site quite slippery so wear proper shoes. We didn't do any of the lister activities so I can't comment on that.
It's ok for a day trip but not a must see to be honest. The waterfall was dried up at our time of visit so maybe it's better to visit during other seasons.
We reached and were a little underwhelmed. I know tourism infrastructure in Lebanon needs quite a lot of updating, but this place was really over sold 😂 it's a nice view and all with the walk down to the main site quite slippery so wear proper shoes. We didn't do any of the lister activities so I can't comment on that.
It's ok for a day trip but not a must see to be honest. The waterfall was dried up at our time of visit so maybe it's better to visit during other seasons.
Written 5 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A Tripadvisor member
Stuttgart, Germany
Hallo!
Wie komme ich denn von Beirut nach Baatara? Gibt es eine Busverbindung oder einen Zug?
Written 20 April 2019
Not sure about public transportation, I had a car and we drove. Good luck.
Written 3 May 2019
What's the amount of water likely to be in the next few days? (January 2019)
Written 24 January 2019
Not much water. When I wa there it was just a trickle that didn’t even make it to the bottom. All the water now flows through an underground river.
Written 25 January 2019
Is baatra waterfall doable with kids? Is there any trekifeeling or hiking?
Written 10 April 2018
Hi Kreja,
Baatara waterfalls can be reached with more than one way.. you can just down stairs to have a view over the waterfalls (free of charge), there is also a short ride telefrique (cost arround 6$ per person) that you can reach the waterfall from the front, the third option is a hiking trail (entrance fees available).. once you arrive there you can ask for the suitable option for you
Written 11 April 2018
Is there a contact number to know more about activites??
Written 27 August 2016
And regarding activities they have opened some activities there, I have done rappel there, some other friends zip line.
But not sure with the new system if they still do them.
Written 12 September 2016
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