High in the remote Golan Heights region of Northern Israel lies the Gamla Nature Reserve, a magical place where eagles nest, archaeological ruins lie, and breathtaking views just take your breath away! Whether you have half an hour in a hectic itinerary or can spare an entire day, Gamla is somewhere for lovers of nature, history, and hiking.

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!

The Israel National Trail runs from Kibbutz Dan, near the border with Lebanon in the Upper Galilee, to Eilat in the far south of the country. Split into stages, there are places to stop and stay along the way.

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.

The Pope came to Israel in early 2009, and Nazareth was one of the areas given big government grants to improve its tourism infrastructure for this. As a result, Nazareth has been given a push back onto Israel’s tourism map – and with its importance as the childhood home of Jesus, as the largest Arab city in Israel, and its stunning location right in the middle of the Lower Galilee (about 15 miles west of the Sea of Galilee), that push shouldn’t really have been neccessary.

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