Things to do in Golan Heights

Israel has been home to some of the most influential thinkers in human history. Today, you can explore the homeland of Jesus in an exciting and revelatory day trip from Jerusalem. You will depart from Jerusalem on the coastal road through the lower Galilee. Once you arrive in Nazareth, you will walk the same streets that Jesus did as a child and young adult, forming his ideas on life and humanity. Your guide opens the world to you as you explore the Church of Annunciation and the Church of St. Joseph. Both are pilgrimage sites that you will be humbled by. From here we head on to Kana and the lovely resort town of Tiberias. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for lovely landscapes including the Capernaum – an ancient synagogue where Jesus taught. We will then continue to Tabgha, the site of the Miracle of Fish and Loaves, right at the foot of the Golan Heights. This area leads to the Baptismal site where the Joran River and Sea of Galilee meet to flow into the Dead Sea.

Spend the day traveling through Northern Israel visiting historic sites like Golan Heights and Katzrin. Drive through Hamat Gader, cross the Jordan River, and go into the Golan Antiquities Museum. Learn the history from your guide, while traveling in a comfortable vehicle. Start the day by driving inland and going through the plain of Armageddon as mentioned in Revelations. See the Megiddo site of an ancient Biblical city. Reach the southernmost point of the Sea of Galilee and stop to look down on the sea from above and take in the pastoral vista.  Cross the Jordan River and pass through Hamat Gader, a popular spa destination. Continue through the countryside until you reach the Shalom Observatory. From here, there is a stunning view looking back at the Sea of Galilee and you can see the Israeli city of Tiberia in the distance. Continue to Katzrin where excavations have uncovered a village from the Mishnah and Talmud periods. The village has been partially restored and you can see the archaeological findings which include a synagogue, houses, and an oil press.  When you reach Katzrin, a city sometimes referred to as the Capital of the Golan, visit the Golan Antiquities Museum where you can see findings from the region and the nearby archeological site. The museum displays artifacts and has audiovisual presentations about the city of Gamla.  Lastly, travel to Mount Bental to see what remains of the Syrian fortifications. The Syrian bunkers, base, and trenches were captured by the Israeli's in the Six-Day War of 1967. From here we can see how close Syria is as we look down on the Syrian city of Kuneitra. 

Start your day with pickup from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. Visit Nazareth and the impressive Basilica of Annunciation for a tour of the church and the old city of Nazaret. Continue towards the Sea of Galilee and pass Cana, the site of Jesus’s first miracle of turning water into wine. Visit ancient Capernaum, located at the foot of the Mount of Beatitudes and see the Church of Multiplications. Finally, visit Yardenit Baptismal site at the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee, one of the possible sites of Jesus’ baptism. Explore this vibrant site that welcomes hundreds of thousands of pilgrims yearly who flock to the waters of the Jordan river. Return to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem with a suite of unforgettable memories and wonderful impressions.

The Biblical relics of Israel are worthy of your pilgrimage. Today, you'll visit many of the most iconic sights, and walk in the footsteps of these mythological figures. Departing from Tel Aviv, you will drive along the Costal Road through the landscape of the lower Galilee to Nazareth. Here, where Jesus spent his childhood, you will have the chance to explore the Church of the Annunciation as well as the Church of St. Joseph. These two marvelous structures will awe you with their historical importance in the world. Next, we'll head to the lovely resort town of Tiberias, where you can relax a bit before driving along the Kineret Lake to visit Capernaum. Here, the ancient ruins of the synagogue where Jesus taught are still standing, and again you can feel the power of the place. After a tour, we'll head to Tabgha, famous for its wondrous story of Jesus making five loaves and two fish able to feed thousands. Here in the foot of the Golan Heights, you can wonder what those ancient times might have looked like as you snap some pictures and get ready to continue along your way. Finally, we'll head to Yardenit, the famous baptismal site where the Jordan River leaves the Sea of Galilee towards the Dead Sea. It's a beautiful land filled with wonders, and we'll make sure you have plenty of time to learn and enjoy before returning to our point of departure.

As the landscape opens up in front of you, you can feel the historical significance of this land. You're in the cradle of religious civilization, and here in the north of Israel, you walk in the footsteps of historical religious figures and bask in their glory. As you depart Tel Aviv for the north, you will pass through the landscape of Galilee to Nazareth, where Jesus spent his childhood. Here you will visit the Church of Annunciation and the Church of St. Joseph. After paying homage here, you continue to Kana and the lovely resort town of Tiberias. Along the way you will pass ruins of the ancient synagogue where Jesus taught. We will then arrive in Tabgha, where Jesus had his miracle of fish and loves, located right at the foot of the Golan heights. From fish to baptisms, we will head to Yardenit, the famous Baptismal site where the Jordan River leaves the Sea of Galilee towards the Dead Sea. All in all, you will have truly walked in the footsteps of greatness before returning back to Tel Aviv in the evening.

The tour departs from Tel Aviv in the early morning and travels north along coastal roads with stunning views across the Mediterranean Sea. Pass by the cities of Hertzilya and Natanya before turning inland to travel through the Plain of Armageddon as mentioned in the Book of Revelations. As you continue through the landscapes, keep a look out for Megiddo, the site of an ancient Biblical city, before arriving at the southernmost point of the Sea of Galilee. Enjoy a pit stop to stretch your legs and admire the view that stretches out from Kinneret against the backdrop of Golan Heights. Cross the Jordan River next, at the foot of Golan Heights, and pass through Hamat Gadar as you begin the ascent. Journey through the luscious green countryside until you reach the Shalom Observatory, where you can admire another stunning view of the Sea of Galilee. Travel on to Katzrin where excavations have uncovered a village from the Mishnah and Talmud periods, and learn about the archaeological findings that include a synagogue, houses, and an oil press. As you explore Katzrin, also known as the Capital of the Golan, learn about how since the Middle Bronze Age the location has been occupied by the Romans, Mamluks, Ottomans, and even the French. Visit the Golan Antiquities Museum next, and admire an array of findings from Golan Heights and the archaeological site in Katzrin. Learn about the displays within the museum thanks to informative audiovisual presentations as well as insightful information about Gamla, the historic Second Temple era Jewish city which has also been excavated nearby. Continue onto Mount Bental to see what remains of Syrian fortifications, bunkers, and trenches that were captured by the Israeli’s in the Six Day War of 1967. From here, see how close Syria is as you look down on the city of Kuneitra which has been protected by Canadian UN forces since 1974.

In the morning, hop into a minivan and drive from Nazareth to the shore of the Middle East’s largest freshwater lake, the Sea of Galilee. Visit Capernaum, an ancient fishing village rumored to have been home to Saint Peter, and the Mount of Beatitudes, known for Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, where a beautiful Franciscan chapel now stands. Then, drive through the green Galilee landscape to the Banias Nature Reserve. Hike a short while along the stream and see the roaring waterfall, where Jesus is said to have been told that he was the Messiah by word of Peter. Afterwards, explore local flavors with a visit to a boutique winery in Odem. Sample their wines and learn about their special wine-making process. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before heading to Mount Bental, where you can take in a vast panorama of neighboring Israeli and Syrian territories. You’ll have a chance to visit the 1973 Yom Kippur War’s battle site, replete with bunkers and trenches. Depending on the season, you’ll finish your day with a refreshing swim at a full facility beach at the Sea of Galilee before heading back to Nazareth.

Explore the North of Israel's true gems in the space of 2 days. Witness ancient ruins and marvel at the fascinating history behind them. Explore the views at Mt. Bentalwe and the extinct volocano at Birkat Ram. Visit beautiful synagogues and tour the Kibbutz. Explore all this and more, all while learning from your guide about the history behind the legends. Day 1: Drive north along the coastal plain, passing Megiddo. Marvel at the well preserved Roman ruins at Beit Shean. Following the Jordan valley northwards, we stop at Yardenit – the baptizing site. From there, ascend to the southern Golan Heights via Hamat Gader. At the Shalom Observatory we look west across the Sea of Galilee. Next visit the excavated remains of the Talmudic city. Journey to Mt. Bentalwe where you will see the former Syrian fortifications and the Syrian city of Kuneitra across the border. Overnight stop at a kibbutz guesthouse. Day 2: After a tour of the Kibbutz, we continue northwards to one of the tributaries of the Jordan river at Caesarea Philippi (Banias). After visiting the Crusader fortress and the extinct volcano at Birkat Ram, we end the day at the Safed city of the Kabala. Here, you will see the synagogues, the visitors' centre and the artists' quarter.