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Syrian plateau occupied by Israel
Photo: Viewfinder at English Wikipedia, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
The Golan Heights is a rocky plateau at the southern end of the Anti-Lebanon Mountains, and straddles the borders of Syria and Israel. Israel held about two-thirds of the territory until 2025, when it extended its control. This article covers the Israeli two-thirds; see Golan Heights (Syria) for the rest.
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Hebrew:גמלא
A picturesque nature reserve and archaeological site of a Jewish stronghold from 87 BCE. Gamla means a "camel" in Hebrew, the name of the hill top location clearly taking its name from a resemblance to a camel's hump.
Gamla was the capital of the Golan Heights in the 1st century. In 66 CE, along with other Jewish cities in the region, it launched a rebellion against Roman rule. After a siege the city was conquered, and its inhabitants were either killed or threw themselves from the cliff at the edge of the city. Nowadays the city has been partly excavated, and fortifications as well as a synagogue can be seen.
There are several trails at the site, some of which will be challenging for people who are out of shape or hike rarely. The Gamla waterfall trail is accessible until 14:00/15:00 (winter/summer). The Gamla ancient town trail is accessible until 13:00/14:00 (winter/summer). Also, the steep and tall cliffs at Gamla form the perfect habitat for griffin vultures.
This picturesque valley and trail leads into the Gamla Nature Reserve and requires the payment of the same fee. However, walking from the highway to the Gamla site, there are no fee collection points and you are supposed to pay at Gamla, which you can circumvent by just walking back before reaching Gamla. This can be a good alternative to Gamla, in case you want to save the steep entrance fee.
There is no volcanic activity, but a nice park explaining different volcanic facts. The site includes art in the volcanic gravel.
Nimrod Castle, Kalaat Namrud
An ancient fortress in the northern Golan Heights, built in the 13th century by Muslim rulers to defend against a possible Crusader attack. It is located on a steep mountain ridge, with deep forested ravines on either side, and has a stupendous view of its surroundings. A trail leads from the fortress's west edge downhill several kilometres to Banias, another important historical and nature site in the area. Hike: ~2 hr.
A mountain in the eastern Golan Heights with an Israeli stronghold (formerly a Syrian stronghold) on top and views of Syria to the east and the Golan Heights to the west. On some days, you might hear or even see a bomb going off in the distance, part of the Syrian Civil War. From this distance, it sounds like thunder. You can explore the Syrian army bunkers here from before 1967.
Tel Pakhar
A Syrian military post between 1948-1967. In that period the Syrian army would shell Israeli agricultural settlements in the valley below as part of border disputes. The post was conquered by Israel in a bloody battle in 1967. It is now the site of a memorial, and you can explore the Syrian bunkers, which have a great view down to the fields of the kibbutzim.
Quneitra is a ghost town, which was abandoned by the Syrians during the 1967 war and left in the no-man's-land ever since. Thoroughly wrecked not only in 1967 but in the subsequent 1973 conflict as well, from the Israeli side, the area can only be viewed from designated viewpoints set up along the border road, as it's just across the de facto line of control.
Gilgal Refaim
A large megalithic monument dating to around 3000 BCE. It consists of concentric stone circles, and is sometimes called the "Stonehenge of the Levant", without the big upstanding rocks but with a small cave inside. It is hypothesized to be an astronomical and/or ritual site. It looks very impressive from the air, but is difficult to appreciate from ground level.
An archaeological site on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee and north of Ein Gev.
A Byzantine-era synagogue, partly reconstructed, with impressive pillars.
A Byzantine-era Jewish town including a synagogue. The synagogue is being excavated and reconstructed (until May 2018) and closed to general visitors, although some tour guides can get you in and let you take part in the excavations.
A hiking trail, for anything between a day and a week.
עין תינה
A short, enjoyable hike through a running stream to the spring which feeds it. Great for hot summer days.
Amazing hikes through natural pools. A must do for anyone with a strong sense of adventure and some basic athletic ability. Different hikes with different difficulty levels.
A very popular water hike including a number of waterfalls.
Meshushim Stream Nature Reserve
A set of famous pools in the Meshushim river with natural hexagonal volcanic tiling. Within the Yehuda Brechat HaMeshushim Site Nature Reserve.
Betiha (Bet Tsayda Valley) Nature Reserve
A very nice water hike in the wetlands along the north Sea of Galilee shore. You walk for about 1.5 km in the river, including some swimming (you must know how to swim). Bring shoes to wear in the water. There is also a dry path if you don't want to get wet. This is near the New Testament site of Bethsaida.
A 5-km hike between the communities of Eli Ad and Avnei Eitan. You descend into a beautiful canyon with flowing water, and pass by the "White Waterfall" and "Black Waterfall", so called because the different layers of rock have different colors.
Mount Hermon is Israel's highest mountain (2,284 m), home to the country's sole ski resort. There is snow for only part of the year (between mid-January and March), so check ahead. At other times, you can still visit and enjoy the views, the wildflowers, and so on at a much cheaper price. There is a cable car going up the mountain. Access is by private car - there is no public transportation within about 10 km of the ski site. The ski company offers bus trips from Tel Aviv to the ski site (call for details). Ski prices are about ₪200 for equipment rental and ₪200 for ski-pass.
A quaint artists' village where you can see many of the artists working in addition to perusing and buying their works. In the valley south of Aniam is a picturesque river and water pool. Further up the valley (just before the main road, route 808) is the Ayit waterfall, which is impressive in winter but totally dry in summer. All these sites are in walking distance from each other.
This farm has a visitors' center for people interested in experiencing robotic cow milking. There is an explanatory video, then you see the cows, and kids get the chance to feed calves milk from a giant bottle. You get to make butter, and drink a cup of hot chocolate from the just-produced milk.
A shofar factory with a visitors' center where you can learn about and observe the shofar manufacture practice.
An interactive adventure taking place in an old military bunker on the Syrian border, sponsored by the IDF. Best done at night. A variety of unique IDF-oriented programs are offered.
Habokrim Restaurant
Meat and wine. Rated a great 8.4 out of 10.
Also serves food such as pizza and salads.
Highly rated. Member of ILH.
Rated 4.8 out of 5. Member of ILH.
Staying in an outdoor yurt. Grumpy owner and sheets are extra. But seems to be a good (family) experience. Member of ILH.
Debbie's Rainbow Tzimmer
אירוח וקמפינג קשת יהונתן
Rated 2.6 out of 5.
הנוף הצפוני
A popular and modern hotel.
Offers accommodations in wooden cottages in a natural surrounding with nature corners, trees, lawns and breathtaking scenery.
Kibbutz Merom Golan sits in the north of the Golan Heights, at the foothill of the extinct Ben Tal Volcano some 1000 meters above sea level.
Offers 10 guest cottages surrounded by a large garden on a hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee.
By bus
There are a few daily buses from Tiberias, Hatzor and Kiryat Shmona to the Golan Heights, operated by Golanbus. Services are infrequent due to the low population.
By car
Private transportation: from north-south route 90, there are four road "ascents" to the Golan Heights.
By thumb
Hitchhiking is accepted here as it is throughout Israel, but you can still wait a long time to get to many destinations.
By plane
This area, due to low population, has one of the worst public transport services in the entire country, with some bus stops receiving as few as two or three buses daily.
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