Things To Do in Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights
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Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights Attractions
Banias Waterfall -- The beautiful and legendary Banias Waterfall is less than a mile inside the Golan, some 15km (9 miles) from Kiryat Shmona and less than 1km (1/2 mile) off the main road. Banias is one of the principal sources of the Jordan River. Head down to the stream for a look at the waters, which begin several hundred feet higher on the Hermon slopes. From here the destination, after dropping into the Jordan River, is the Sea of Galilee. Jordan (from "Yared-Dan") means "descending from Dan," and the river, whose origins are right here, picks up again south of the Sea of Galilee for a twisting, turning run of 113km (70 miles) before emptying into The Dead Sea and becoming a stagnant, oily mixture.
This ancient site has been landscaped by the Nature Reserves Authority. You can take a fast dip, if you can stand the icy waters. The Crusaders fortified a nearby hilltop with what is now called Nimrod's Castle . Buying the combined Banias/Nimrod's Castle admission ticket and hiking or driving over to explore the castle is recommended.
You can buy a combination ticket to the Banias, Hula Tel Dan, Nahal Ayoun, and Gamla nature reserves for NIS 40 ($10/£5); combined entrance to Nimrod Castle and Banias NIS 31 ($7.75/£3.90) for adults, half-price for children.
9 Results
- Religious Site
Banias (Hermon River) Nature Reserve
For thousands of years, Banias, with its cold, flowing waters, has been a holy place to a dozen peoples and half a dozen religions. Banias figures in the New Testament as the place where Jesus designated Peter as "the rock" on which the church would be built. In ancient times the… - Historic Site
Gamla Nature Reserve
Gamla, where Jewish residents battled Roman legionnaires in A.D. 67, is a dramatic historical as well as nature site, 12km (7 miles) southeast near Zomet Daliyot. Gamla was one of the early Jewish strongholds recaptured by Rome during the First Revolt against Rome (A.D. 66-70). At… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Golan Heights Winery
Producing wines in the Golan, Yarden, and Gamla series, this winery is generally agreed to be the best of the larger Israeli wine producers and one of the great business success stories in Israel. A skilled staff, state-of-the-art equipment, and the Golan's cold winters and cool… Golan Magic
Located in a new mall at the eastern entrance of Qasrin, this is the Golan Tourist Association's dynamic, high-tech exposition of what to see and do in the Golan and a must for visitors before venturing farther into the area. There's a 180-degree panoramic screen film presentation of…- Park/Garden
Hula Valley Nature Reserve
The reserve today is once again alive with gray herons, cormorants, ducks, pelicans, wild boar, water buffalo, and other former species of the area that had died off or gone elsewhere when the swamps were drained. The best hours for a visit are early in the morning, especially in… - Park/Garden
Hurshat Tal National Park
This national park, located just 5km (3 miles) from Kiryat Shmona, is famous for its ancient Tabor oak trees, set among lawns filled with picnicking families on Saturday and in summer. Some of the trees may date from the time of Jesus and the Second Temple. According to Muslim… - Historic Site
Nimrod Castle (Kalat Nimrod)
Nimrod's Castle, now a national park, is one of the biggest and best-preserved Crusader ruins in the area and has a spectacular view. You can visit by car, but in cooler weather the 1 1/2- to 2-hour hike from Banias is well worth the effort.As you come under the wall of the castle… - Park/Garden
Tel Dan Nature Reserve
Cold-water springs gush right up from the ground here, forming the Dan River, which is one of the three principal sources of the Jordan River. The dense vegetation around the site is lovely. Swimming is not permitted. Excavations in the reserve, which include a pre-Israelite cult… - Hiking/Biking Route
Ya'ar Yehudiya Nature Reserve
One of the most rewarding landscapes for hiking, this 6,600-hectare (16,309-acre) reserve stretches from Qasrin to the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and is famous for its ancient Tabor oaks (a type of evergreen), forested valleys, and waterfalls. Within the reserve you'll find…
