Rustic, majestic and full of attractions, the Golan Heights is one of the most beautiful tour destinations in Israel. Yet being a nearly 3 hours’ drive from Tel-Aviv, we recommend allocating 2 days to properly appreciate this fascinating northernmost region of Israel.
Heading from Tel-Aviv or Jerusalem, the first stop could be Nazareth or Sepphoris. These two sites both represent significant chapters in Jewish and Christian History. Alternatively, it will also be possible to stop by the Sea of Galilee at Magdala or Capernaum. Here too the sites showcase significant archaeological discoveries that relate to the cradle of Christianity and Jewish past.
After a fish lunch break, you will ascend the southern part of the Golan Heights. In Giv’at Yoav you could join a workshop of making a Jewish Shofar from a Ram’s horn (“Kol Shofar“). Further east, at Ein-Keshatot you will visit the amazing restoration project of a Byzantine period synagogue. Nearby, you could also stop for a grand view of Gamla. Here, some 2,000 years ago, the Roman crashed a Jewish rebellion by a brutal conquest of the site. Time permitting you could also stop at Katzrin for a multi-sensory audio-visual show of the Golan Heights – “The Golan Magic“. Alternatively, the end of the day you could visit a local brewery, winery, or join a local chocolate workshop!
The next morning will start at the summit of Mount Bental. The grand vistas will enable a presentation of the turbulent history of the Golan Heights, especially in modern times. Next you will embark on a 2 hours’ ATV or off-road tour along the Syrian Border. The ride will combine beautiful and less known parts of the Golan, combined with former Syrian military posts. Nearby, in the Druze village of Buqa’ata you will have a special Druze lunch and hospitality experience. Following lunch and a scenic ride into the Jordan valley, you could sign up for a 1.5 hours kayaking experience along the Jordan river. This ‘wet and wild’ fun ride is a great way to end a great tour!
If you have done before any of the suggested activities, you could consider some of the following alternative attractions:
The Golan Heights were formed by a series of Volcanic eruptions nearly a million years ago. Today, the Volcano tops are Israeli military posts. In the caldera of one of the volcanos there is even a kibbutz.
