Rosh Hanikra train tunnels, Railway tunnel complex in Mateh Asher Regional Council, Israel
The Rosh Hanikra train tunnels are a railway passage carved directly through limestone cliffs where the coastline meets steep rock formations near Israel's northern border. The tunnels showcase the engineering effort needed to blast through solid rock and create a functional transportation route in this dramatic terrain.
British engineers constructed these tunnels in 1941 during the British Mandate period to link Haifa with Beirut by rail. The route served military and commercial transport needs in the region during World War II.
The tunnels stand within the traditional territory of the Tribe of Asher, now part of the Mateh Asher Regional Council that manages multiple settlements and communities.
Access to the tunnels is usually through guided tours that lead visitors safely through the passages and explain construction details. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for uneven surfaces and narrow sections inside the tunnels.
The tunnels were blasted directly beside natural cave formations where limestone already contained numerous hollows created by water over thousands of years. Workers had to account for these existing geological features while positioning the railway passages through the rock.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
