In the far north of Israel is the Upper Galilee region. Incredibly popular with Israeli’s escaping from the city, the Upper Galilee has everything from skiing at Mount Hermon to ancient ruins, nature reserves to Biblical sites, and beauty like you can’t imagine. With quaint rural communities in the hills and valleys, overlooking nature reserves and beauty spots such as the Hula Valley, the Upper Galilee is a breathtaking and inherently relaxing place.

Old Rosh Pina by mykaul, on Flickr

Rosh Pina is a small town with a rural feel located in the Upper Galilee. One of the first settlements in Israel, the houses in the old town have been restored whilst the main streets have country style accommodation and restaurants. The town is said to count Madonna, a devout Kabbalist as a resident with her owning a property due to its proximity to the city of Safed, the global center of Kabbalah, the mystical Jewish beliefs. Safed has a beautiful Old City and large numbers of synagogues and schools of Kabbalah in this dramatic setting.

Safed's Old City by Adam Reeder, on Flickr

The Hula Valleyis a drained swampland centered around a large lake and nature reserve. Whilst you can see fauna and flora of various varieties here, as well as museum displays abuout the area, walking and biking here is magical and fun for all. Bird watching is also very popular here with Israel a major migratory route for birds. It was named in 2009 as one of the top places in the world to see nature by BBC Nature Magazine.

Amazing landscape of the Upper Galilee, by vad_levin, on Flickr

At the foot of Mount Hermon, where you will find Israel’s only winter ski resort (open year round with amazing hikes and mountain biking in the warmer months) is tranquil Metulla. Set among rolling hills and orchards. The quiet main street is a cool place to stroll, with some historic homes built by the early pioneers who settled the spot, or for more serious walkers, you can hike to the nearby Ayoun waterfalls. The town is full of B&B’s, small hotels, and restaurants. Metulla sports center, the Canada Center has Olympic size ice skating/ice hockey rink, bowling alley, billiards, swimming pool, firing range, and gym – the sort of stuff you wouldn’t expect to find or do in Israel (04-6950370).

The Dan River by Laufer Izhar, on Flickr

Another unique experience in the Upper Galilee can be found on a unique river – the River Jordan. Whilst south of the Sea of Galilee there are baptismal points favored with Christian pilgrims from around the world, in the Upper Galilee, the river is a narrower, steeper, and faster river (it loses a lot of water when it enters the Sea of Galilee). A number of kibbutzim on the Jordan River take advantage of this running centers from where kayaks (more like rubber inflatable rafts) can be hired. The fast currents of the river make kayaking on the River Jordan a really enjoyable and cool way to spend an afternoon.

The Upper Galilee is also a great place to hike in Israel with loads of trails for all levels of ability. There are also loads of places to bike in the Upper Galilee, and other amazing experiences such as horse riding, and jeep tours in the Galilee.