Nature · Rawanduz
Gali Ali Beg Waterfall
A 12-metre waterfall in the Rawanduz Gorge, on the historic Hamilton Road, often described as the Kurdistan Region's best-known waterfall.
At a glance
- Drive time
- 150 min
- Suggested visit
- 1 h
- Admission
- Free
- Best months
- Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct
Gali Ali Beg drops about 12 metres inside the Rawanduz Gorge, roughly 130 km northeast of Erbil along the historic Hamilton Road — the hand-carved mountain road built through the gorge country in the first half of the 20th century, passing tunnels, sheer cliffs, and fast-moving rivers. It's commonly cited as the tallest and best-known waterfall in the Kurdistan Region, and the roadside stop has grown into a small resort strip of restaurants and tea houses overlooking the falls.
The waterfall sits a short distance past Rawanduz town along the same road, making it a natural continuation of a Rawanduz day trip rather than a separate destination. Spray from the falls keeps the immediate area noticeably cooler than the surrounding road — a popular rest stop for travellers heading further northeast toward the Iranian border crossing at Haji Omaran.
Highlights
- The Kurdistan Region's tallest and best-known waterfall, at about 12 metres
- On the historic hand-carved Hamilton Road through the gorge
- Roadside teahouses and restaurants directly overlooking the falls
- Natural continuation of a Rawanduz day trip along the same road
Practical notes
Free to view from the road and pull-offs. Restaurants and teahouses set their own prices; parking at the busiest overlooks fills up on Fridays and holidays.
Where it is
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