See the beautiful landscape of the Galilee or desert of the Negev in a unique way from up above: by hot air balloon.

As winters warm up, Mount Hermon, the ski resort in Israel’s northern Golan Heights, has begun to diversify. By becoming a mountain bike park.

Watersports are extremely popular in Israel. Israel has the highest number of qualified divers per person in the world, and has had Olympic and World champions in sports including windsurfing and kitesurfing. With so much coastline, you can do all sorts of watersports along the Mediterranean coast, including in Tel Aviv, at Eilat on the Red Sea, and in the Sea of Galilee.

Whilst the 18-hole Pete Dye course at Caesarea is currently Israel’s only full size golf course, there are plans to build 16 new courses over the next decade to make Israel have its mark on the world golf map!

greengal_1The Pope visited Israel in May, 2009, and just ahead of his visit, the Jesus Trail opened. As the name suggests, the Jesus Trail is a new, 40 mile long walking trail in the Galilee which follows the footsteps of Jesus. From Nazareth, Jesus’ home town, it winds through pretty towns, villages, and agricultural settlements, places mentionned in the New Testament.

The trail is a fantastic idea! A way of combining the religion and history of the Galilee with its stunning landscapes in an active way. It is perfect not only for Christians on pilgramage but anyone else who wants a hiking route!

When most people think of the River Jordan, Biblical stories come to mind, but once you’ve tried the immensely popular experience of kayaking down the river, you’ll have a totally different take on the matter! And its not an activity reserved for those into extreme sports. The kayaks on the river come aren’t really conventional kayas, though, they’re more like large inflatable rafts for two to five people.

Mount Gilboa, located in the Lower Galilee region, south of the Sea of Galilee is one of Israel’s most beautiful spots. Whilst spring saturates the Mountains in pretty wildflowers, no matter what the season, Gilboa is a stunning, tranquil area to explore, offering a break from the intense summer heat with a cool breeze. The Gilboa Scenic Road is your access point into this array of hikes, viewpoints, picnic sites, bike paths, and stunning outlooks, and is a great path to follow when exploring the area.

The Hiriya is a 60 meter high mound of waste. It is the first sight, and smell, many tourists have upon entering Israel, being next to Ben Gurion Airport. Thankfully, the landfill is now closed, and the mound is being converted into the centerpiece of the new Ariel Sharon Park, set to be the largest new urban park built in the last century in the world. Bigger than Central Park in New York, the Ariel Sharon Park is currently open in a limited format, and will be opened in stages until its completion in 2020.

Only in Israel can you leap off the same mountain on which King Saul fell onto his own sword. Or retrace the route Jesus took when he leaped off an abyss to escape a lynch mob. See Israel from another perspective.

Hiking is an Israeli institution, and refers to anything from a little stroll to an advanced hike.