Bet Shean – A Magnificent City of the Decapolis

Bet Shean – A Magnificent City of the Decapolis

Beit Shean is one of the oldest cities in Israel. Over 20 layers of human civilization are tucked away inside its large ancient tell or mound. Spread out to the south below Tel Beit Shean are the extensive ruins of a magnificent Roman city. Beit Shean had all the necessary ingredients for … Read more

The Valley of Tears

The Valley of Tears

The Valley of Tears was the scene of one of the most important battles of the Yom Kippur War. In general terms Israel was taken by surprise at the outset of the 1973 Yom Kippur War (also known as the “Valley of Tears Battle”), having ignored or misinterpreted much of the intelligence … Read more

The Banias

The Banias

The Banias is the term referring to an ancient site that was built around a spring which was once associated with Pan, the Greek god of the wild, the shepherds and the flocks, nature and rustic music. The name “Banias” itself is associated with the pre-Hellenistic Greek god, who is also variously … Read more

Megiddo – A City at the Crossroads

Megiddo – A City at the Crossroads

The tell (or archaeological mound) of the ancient city of Megiddo hold in its slopes at least 25 layers of human civilization and its origins date back to the Neolithic period.  Situated on a hilltop, above an abundant spring, adjacent the fertile plains of the Jezreel Valley and at the crossroads of … Read more

Mount Hermon

Mount Hermon

Mount Hermon dominates the view in the northern Golan Heights as it is snow capped for many months of the year. Most of the Hermon lies in Syria and Lebanon. Since the Arab-Israeli war in June 1967, about 40 square miles (100 square kilometers) of Mount Hermon’s southern and western slopes have … Read more

Caesarea – Herod’s City by the Sea

Caesarea – Herod's City by the Sea

An Introduction to Caesarea Herod built Caesarea (or as it was known Caesarea Maritima) in the 1st century B.C.E. as a splendid Roman style city complete with a theater, amphitheater, hippodrome, palace, Roman temple and an extensive network of aqueducts. Built on a section of unprotected coastline that once served as a … Read more

Rosh HaNikra

Rosh HaNikra

Rosh HaNikra is a kibbutz (communal agricultural settlement) in northern Israel, located on the Mediterranean coast right at the Lebanese border. The kibbutz was founded by groups of de-mobilized Palestine soldiers on January 6, 1949. The soldiers had just relocated there from another kibbutz, Hanjita, along with members of the Zionst youth … Read more

Hof HaBonim Beach

Hof HaBonim Beach

Hof HaBonim Hof HaBonim is without a doubt one of Israel’s best kept secrets. Hof HaBonim is a beautiful beach, with many inlets, interesting rock forms, vegetation and wildlife. There is even a visible shipwreck. There are two short (two kilometers and 4.5 kilometers) family-friendly nature trails. Many people do come to … Read more

Haifa Beaches

Haifa Beaches

Haifa is well known for the  Carmel Mountain and the port. However, it also has some out-standing beaches. The beaches and boardwalks in Haifa are great for stopovers after a long drive or for a seaside getaway. There are many fun activities to do there — swimming, sun bathing, having a picnic … Read more

Madrasse

Madrasse

The Madrasse (or Majrasa or Majrase) is on the north eastern tip of the Kinneret and is the estuary of one of the streams (Daliyot) running from the Golan. It is also a nature reserve. You can’t get any more water hike than you do in Majrasa. The water is the hiking trail! … Read more