Tour: Walking Through a Story – Golan Trail Hikers Club

Photos: Yos Staybel, Shimon Binyamin, Shai Roan, Zezev Stein, from the PicWiki website

About the Activity

The Golan Trail winds between cliffs, springs, reservoirs, and spectacular viewpoints. But the Golan Trail conceals more than just nature and landscapes; it is also home to fascinating stories about settlement, history, and people.

The series of hikes presented here is intended for families who enjoy walking, curious people, and lovers of the land who want to get to know the Golan through its scenery, their own feet, and its stories. This is an opportunity to walk together, discover hidden corners, and reconnect with nature and the landscape.

The Program

Four two-day sessions, on Fridays and Saturdays, during which we will walk selected sections of the Golan Trail and discover the landscapes, stories, and special places along it.

The series offers a varied hiking experience along the trail, with an emphasis on the winter and spring months, when the Golan is green, the flowers are in full bloom, and the weather is pleasant for walking.

At each session, we will set out on a different section of the trail, selected according to the season, the flowering, and the fascinating stories awaiting us along the way.

First Session – The Landscapes of the Southern Golan

12–13.2.27, Friday–Saturday

Friday – From Givat Yoav Grove to Ofir Lookout

13:00 – Meet at the parking lot of the Kursi site on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, on Route 87

We will drive south to the Golan, to Yoav Grove near Moshav Givat Yoav. We will shuttle vehicles to the end of the route, approximately 10 minutes away, and set out on a walk along the Golan Trail through natural vegetation, olive groves, and basalt slopes, with spectacular views of the Sea of Galilee opening up before us from time to time. In winter and spring, the slopes are covered in green vegetation and colorful seasonal blooms. Along the way, we will hear about settlement in the area and life in the shadow of the Syrian border until the Six-Day War, and enjoy stops for viewpoints, photography, and rest in nature.

We will finish the route at Ofir Lookout, one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the Golan, offering a spectacular panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee, the Galilee Mountains, and the Jordan Valley. Here we will also hear the story of the lookout, established in memory of Ofir Shaul, son of Moshav Givat Yoav.

19:00 – Dinner

After dinner, a team-building activity for the whole family.

Easy route. Approximately 2.5 km.

Saturday – From Mevo Hama to Ein Te’ofik

8:00–9:00 – Breakfast

9:30 – Check-out and departure for the route

Today we remain in the southern Golan. Once again, we will enjoy views of the Sea of Galilee and the Galilee Mountains, among springs, green woodland, and spectacular viewpoints.

We will begin near Kibbutz Mevo Hama, among natural vegetation, woodland trees, and viewpoints of the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan Valley. Along the way, we will discover how the landscape changes as we approach the edge of the cliff and learn about the story of the area, which was part of the border with Syria until the Six-Day War.

We will finish at Ein Te’ofik, also known as Ein Akov, a shaded, enchanting spot where spring water flows through stone channels among trees and seating areas. A wonderful place to end the day and enjoy nature.

Easy route. Approximately 5 km.

14:00 – Estimated finish time in the field

Second Session – The Expanses of the Central Golan

12–13.3.27, Friday–Saturday

Friday – From Daliyot Parking Lot to Rasm Balut

13:00 – Meet at Daliyot Parking Lot

We will set out from Daliyot Parking Lot into the open expanses of the Golan. The trail winds among flowering green hills, streams, and grazing areas. We will reach Rasm Balut, the remains of a ruin near a road that once connected the Land of Israel with Syria. Part of the route was already used during the Iron Age. We will hear what the area’s residents did with acorns and what the name Rasm Balut means.

Easy route. Approximately 4 km.

19:00 – Dinner

After dinner, a team-building activity for the whole family.

Saturday – From Rasm Balut to Ein Keshatot

8:00–9:00 – Breakfast

9:30 – Check-out and departure for the route

A day of walking through landscapes that gradually open up, until the Sea of Galilee and the Galilee Mountains appear on the horizon. The trail will lead us to the Samakh Stream, among green slopes and an impressive stream channel. We will descend into the impressive channel of the Samakh Stream and reach the Syrian diversion bridge, a remnant of a plan intended to divert the waters of the Jordan River sources. Here, between the stream cliffs and the old bridge, one of the most fascinating stories of the struggle over water in the region is concealed. We will climb up the slope, with the spectacular landscape of the Samakh Stream spreading out behind us. We will finish the hike at Ein Keshatot Parking Lot, with the satisfaction of another day of walking on the Golan Trail.

Moderate route, with a steep ascent at the end. Approximately 6 km.

14:00 – Estimated finish time in the field

Third Session – Volcanoes, Late Blooms, and an Open Horizon

7–8.5.26, Friday–Saturday

Friday – From the Foothills of Bnei Rasan Ridge to Ein Zivan Parking Lot

13:00 – Meet at the entrance to Moshav Alonei HaBashan

In the northern Golan, the air is still pleasant in May, remnants of the spring bloom decorate the route, and the green expanses invite us to set out and discover what lies beyond the next hill. We will begin walking along the trail at the foot of Bnei Rasan Ridge, where Israel’s first wind-turbine farm was established. The turbines prominent along the ridge will prompt a discussion about the tension between producing renewable energy and protecting nature, the landscape, and birds. We will continue along the trail and enjoy late spring blooms, mountain air, and the expanses stretching around us. We will finish at Ein Zivan Parking Lot, on the edge of the oak woodland near the kibbutz, where we will part from the trail until the following morning.

19:00 – Dinner

After dinner, a team-building activity for the whole family.

Easy route. Approximately 3 km.

Saturday – From Ein Zivan Parking Lot to the “Waiting for Eli” Sculpture

8:00–9:00 – Breakfast

9:30 – Check-out and departure for the route

Today we will continue exactly from the point where we finished yesterday. We will leave Ein Zivan Parking Lot and enter the oak woodland of the northern Golan. We will walk among ancient oak trees, grazing areas, and orchards, with Mount Avital and Mount Bental rising above us—two of approximately 60 volcanic cones scattered throughout the Golan. Along the way, spectacular views of the northern Golan and Mount Hermon will open up before us. We will reach the “Waiting for Eli” sculpture, the eighth and final station on the Eli Cohen Trail. The sculpture depicts Nadia Cohen and her three children looking toward Damascus and waiting for their father to return. Here, where the Golan Trail and the Eli Cohen Trail meet, we will end the day with a moving human story of love, mission, and longing.

Moderate route. Approximately 6 km.

14:00 – Estimated finish time in the field

Fourth Session – The Magic of the Northern Golan

We will conclude the series among oak forests, volcanoes, a blue lake in the heart of the mountains, and the memory of fallen soldiers.

4–5.6.26, Friday–Saturday

Friday – From Odem Forest to Ram Pool

13:00 – Meet at the Wasset Junction, in the main parking lot

We will open our final session in one of the Golan’s magical areas, where even at the beginning of summer it is possible to enjoy the shade of the trees and pleasant mountain air. We will begin in Odem Forest, among ancient oaks, forest clearings, and basalt rocks covered with moss. The forest, which sometimes looks as though it were taken from a fairy tale, conceals evidence of ancient volcanic activity and fascinating natural phenomena among its trees. We will continue north until Ram Pool appears before us—a beautiful natural lake at the foot of Mount Hermon, among orchards and Druze villages. We will stop for a rest beside the blue water and the mountains surrounding it.

19:00 – Dinner

After dinner, a team-building activity for the whole family.

Moderate route. Approximately 3.5 km.

Saturday – From Mount Katz’ah to Reconnaissance Unit 7 via Mount Odem

8:00–9:00 – Breakfast

9:30 – Check-out and departure for the route

We will dedicate the final day of the series to the volcanic landscapes and heroic stories of the northern Golan. We will set out from Mount Katz’ah and walk along the Golan Trail through Odem Forest, among impressive oak trees and dark basalt rocks. We will climb Mount Odem, a barren, extinct volcano rising to approximately 1,187 meters above sea level. Spectacular views of the northern Golan and Mount Hermon spread out from its summit. We will continue to the memorial site of Reconnaissance Unit 7, where we will hear about the soldiers of the reconnaissance unit of the 7th Brigade and the battles that took place in the Golan during the Yom Kippur War. Between the open landscape and the stories of the people who shaped life in the area, we will conclude four sessions of walking, discovery, and shared experiences on the Golan Trail.

Moderate route. Approximately 6.5 km.

14:00 – Estimated finish time in the field.

The program includes lodging, meals, and, of course, high-quality professional guiding based on intimate familiarity with the nature of the area.

The Vacation Includes Full Hospitality at Golan Field School

• Air-conditioned ground-floor guest rooms, each with a shower and toilet
• A safe room on the premises
• Kosher kitchen and dining room
• Lobby with a coffee/tea corner and television
• Synagogue
• Dinner, breakfast, and a packed lunch

For questions and inquiries regarding the vacation: etib@spni.org.il

The hike is subject to weather conditions and changes in the field.

Important Information

Activity area:
Golan Heights

Target audience:
Families, children aged 10 and up, adults

Difficulty level:
Easy

Walking duration:
Walking on level ground

Route length:
2 km on Friday, 5 km on Saturday

Required equipment:
Comfortable, closed walking shoes suitable for walking in muddy and wet conditions; warm clothing; umbrella; flashlight; a bag for carrying a packed lunch; 1.5 liters of water per hiker per day

Please note:
The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel reserves the right to cancel or change the activity according to weather, security, and safety conditions, and at its sole discretion.

The activity is contingent on a minimum number of registrants. Notification will be provided up to one week before the activity.

Children up to age 2 participate free of charge.