Rosh Hanikra — Chalk Grottoes
Ras al-Naqura · Rosh Hanikra cliff face · Tyre Ladder
33°05.2'N 35°06.4'E
Depth
10–30m
Bottom
rock
Alarm Radius
150m
Holding
Fair
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
150m
150m alarm radius for open offshore position. NOT a usable anchorage. Minimum distance 1nm from Lebanese border — do NOT approach closer. This position is for passage reference only. Return to Nahariya (6nm south) for overnight. The chalk cliff grottoes are accessible only from the cliff top cable car.
About This Anchorage
Rosh Hanikra (Ras al-Naqura in Arabic) is one of the most dramatic natural spectacles on the Israeli coast — a 60-metre white chalk cliff face sculpted over millennia by the Mediterranean into a series of extraordinary sea caves and grottoes, with turquoise water surging through tunnels in the rock. The cliffs mark the exact point where the Israeli-Lebanese border meets the sea — for sailors approaching from the south, this is the absolute northern limit of Israeli waters. The Israeli Navy actively patrols the border and recreational vessels are prohibited within 1nm of the shoreline at this point. The grottoes are accessible from the cliff top via a cable car on the Israeli side — one of the finest natural attractions in Israel. From seaward, the white cliffs are spectacular and clearly visible from far offshore in clear conditions, but approach is limited to the 1nm offshore safety boundary. Include Rosh Hanikra as a visual waypoint on the northward passage and plan the cliff-top visit overland from Nahariya (taxi/car, 30 minutes).
Protected From
E
Exposed To
N · NW · W · SW · S
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- No anchoring permitted here. Open offshore position only.
- Maximum stay
- 0 days
- Permit required
- No
- Permit details
- Israeli cruising permit required for all Israeli waters. LEBANESE BORDER: Do NOT approach within 1nm of the Rosh Hanikra headland. Israeli Navy actively patrols this zone. Violation risks armed naval interception.
Restrictions: CRITICAL: Lebanese border at this headland. DO NOT APPROACH WITHIN 1nm. No anchoring permitted — this is a border exclusion zone. The grottoes are accessible only by cable car from the cliff top (Israeli side). Return to Nahariya (6nm south) for any overnight. No transit to Lebanese waters — Lebanese ports are not accessible from Israel.
Hazards
- !CRITICAL: Lebanese border at this point — do NOT approach within 1nm; Israeli Navy patrols actively
- !Do NOT transit to Lebanese waters — Lebanese ports inaccessible from Israel
- !Open offshore position — completely exposed to N, NW, W; no shelter; do not anchor here
- !Chalk cliff rockfall possible near cliff base — do not approach cliff face
- !Return to Nahariya (6nm south) for all overnight and emergency needs
Skipper's Tips
- →View the white chalk cliffs from 1nm offshore on your northward or southward passage — dramatic and clearly visible
- →Visit the Rosh Hanikra grottoes by overland transport from Nahariya (30 min drive) — cable car access from cliff top
- →The grottoes are most spectacular in winter swells (October–February) when the surge through the tunnels is powerful — but the cable car operates year-round
- →The Rosh Hanikra cliff-top viewpoint gives extraordinary views both north (Lebanon) and south along the Israeli coast
- →Mark the border 1nm exclusion zone on your chart before departure from Nahariya — do not rely on visual estimation
Facilities
No facilities at sea. Cliff-top visitor centre with cafe accessible overland from Nahariya. Return to Nahariya Marina (6nm south) for all facilities.
Nearest provisions: Nahariya town centre (6nm south) (6nm)
Best Months & Season
Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
This is a passage waypoint and visual attraction — not an anchorage. View from 1nm offshore during passage. Visit the grottoes overland from Nahariya. Best viewed in any season from seaward. The Lebanese border exclusion zone applies year-round regardless of conditions.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
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