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This is a beautiful 3-day trek taking you through the eastern Galilee mountains. It’s very off the beaten track because it’s a trek that I assembled together. I was looking for an authentic trek that will take me through dense forests in the Upper Galilee, and at the same time, I wanted to explore the human landscape - the springs that people built their homes around, the different villages in the Galilee that are an amazing mosaic of people and cultures- Druse, Jewish, Muslim, Christian. This trek takes you roaming around the Upper Galilee Mountains, exploring its natural and cultural landscapes.
The trek begins at the outskirts of the Hula Valley, climbs up the Eastern Galilee mountains (called Ramot Naftali), passes through ancient ruins of Jewish villages, a karstic cave that leads down 100 metres below ground level, and from there to Alva spring. From the spring we'll venture on into dense forests of the Meron mountains and through Hotam spring. The trek ends in the Central Galilee region, after climbing Mt Peki’in, in the village Peki’in that is populated nowadays mostly by the Druse community.
Note: The trek passes through human landscapes and it is a trek I assembled together. Most of the trek is on marked trails, but a few segments are off-trail (outside of nature reserves) and there are a few road crossings. This is not the popular Yam el Yam trek you may have heard of that crosses the Galilee.
Trek Summary
Days: 3
Kilometres: 38
Best Season: Fit for all Seasons. Best for spring and autumn.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Geographical Area in Israel: North, Upper Galilee Mountains.
The logistics you need to know in order to hike this trek:
Detailed map link
Seasons for Trekking
This trek is suitable for every season (winter can be a bit harsh with rain, mud and cold nights and days). It’s a great trek for late summer and autumn because of the many springs, the high altitudes and the dense forests that offer shade and green scenery after long dry summers. For more on seasons in Israel here.
Transportation
The transportation management on this trek is fairly easy and not very complicated. The trek begins at the Jewish village called “Sde Eliezer” that is on route 90, that heads north to Kiryat Shemona.
By bus - There are daily buses to and from Sde Eliezer from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and more. If you decide on public transportation you will have to orbit Sde Eliezer from the south and that will add a few kilometres to your first day. The trek ends at the village Pki’in, from there you can take a bus to Karmiel. Karmiel is one of the biggest cities in Central Galilee and so from there you can take a bus or train to most of the central cities in Israel.
For the bus schedule here.
For the trip to Sde Eli'ezer write down your starting point (for instance Tel Aviv new central bus station) and the destination will be Sde Eli’ezer Junction. For the return trip at the end of the trek, type in Pki’in center for the starting point and Karmiel central bus station for the destination.
Keep in mind that public transportation in Israel stops working during Shabbat- From Friday evening to Saturday evening.
For more on trekking Israel using public transportion.
By car - you can park your car at Sde Eli'ezer. When you finish your trek in Pki'in you'll either need to get back to your car by public transportation (you'll need to take 2 different buses, the first to Karmiel and the second from Karmiel to Sde Eliezer) or hitch hike. If you're trekking with two cars available, you can leave one car at the starting point and one at the end point.
Note - It takes about an 40 minutes by car to drive from Pki'in to Sde Eli'ezer. By Bus transportation it takes about 3 hours. Take this into account if you're leaving a car at the beginning of your trek.
Water supply
You should carry 4.5 litres for each day. These are long days and you’re going to need the water to hydrate. You can fill up your water bottles at Kerem Ben Zimra at the end of the first day before you reach your campsite (fill up your water for the second day here). At your next and last campsite, you have running water that you can fill up for your third and last day.
Food
You should bring food supplies for at least the first day and night. You can buy supplies at any supermarket in any city, there is a small shop in Sde Eliezer, but it does not have many options and is open at irregular hours.
Along the trail you can make small detours to buy food at:
· Kerem Ben Zimra - a small Jewish village that is located near the first campsite. It has a small shop that is open from 7:00-20:00 on weekdays and closed on weekends.
· Gish Halav – a small mostly Arab Christian village, about half an hour hike detour from the trail on the morning of the second day. Has a few shops and local restaurants along the main road. Most of them are closed on Sundays.
· Hurfeish – A 20-minute detour from the trail on the second day. A beautiful Druse, Christian and Muslim village. Has a few shops and local restaurants, a few of them are closed on Sundays. Hurfeish is very known for its “Sambusak”, a local baked pastry with different fillings (lamb, cheese, spinach).
· Pki’in – when you finish your trek in Pki’in you can find many local restaurants with some local interesting food.
Precautions and dangers
1. Dehydration- Even during winter, you can find yourself trekking in the sun and heat. Drink often and take at least 4.5 litres with you. If it’s sunny you should wear a hat and long-sleeved shirt.
2. Military training area- On the first day of the trek you’ll trek in Wadi (stream) Katsiyon which is in a military training area. It’s a training area that is pretty active, the area is usually open for hikers on weekends. If you’re planning to trek on a weekday, and even on weekends, you need to coordinate with the army. The number for coordinating the trek is: 04-6979008 For more on Military training areas here.
3. Road crossings- You will have to cross a few routes along the way. The crossings don't have crossroads, for the most part these routes are pretty quiet and you won't see a lot of traffic. When a car does pass, they pass at pretty high speeds, so cross carefully and be aware if there are any cars coming around the bends.
4. Nature reserves- a lot of the trek passes through some amazing nature reserves. Make sure you know the 10 guidelines to trekking in nature reserves in Israel.
5. The Alma Cave- a brilliant cave on the first day of the trek. Very important to take a flashlight with extra batteries and inform someone before entering the cave. There is no cell reception inside and the cave is long a deep underground.
If you find yourself in an emergency situation, you can call for help. Call 100 for the police and they can connect you with the regional rescue team. You can also call 101 for medical assistance.
Trail description
Day 1
The trail begins about a kilometre west of the village Sde Eliezer.
By car you should get off route 90 at the North Ayelet Hashachar junction, take a right after the junction and follow the four by four red trail mark in Wadi Dishon (it’s paved). You can park your car before the road heads up to Mt. Eliezer. At the end of the trek you’ll have to walk back here from Sde Eliezer junction on route 90, or take a cab here.
If you’re coming by public transportation you should get off at Sde Eliezer junction on route 90. You should orbit the village fence (outside of it) at first from the east side and then just follow it to orbit from the south side. Follow the unmarked trail (it will take you through agriculture fields) that will lead you to the red four by four trail.
When you meet the red four by four trail follow it east (a gradual ascent) until you’ve orbited Mt. Eliezer and you’ll meet the blue marked trial.
The blue trail will take you into a surprisingly dense forest that seems to emerge out of nowhere. It’s a beautiful dry stream bed called the Katsyon river. The blue trail is inside a military training area. You can visit the river on weekends, most weekdays the area is closed. In any case you should contact this number in order to coordinate the hike in the Katsyon river: 04-6979008. This is the only part of the trek that passes through military training areas.
Note: If the army does not agree to coordinate the blue trail for you on the day you want, you can start the trek at the Alma cave or at Kerem Ben Zimra instead.
After two slow kilometres (the trail can be tough between boulders and the dense forest) the trail will lead you out of the river. Here you will find a trail mark junction- leave the blue trail at this point and start following the green trail towards the Katsiyon archaeological ruins. You'll see big rocks that were clearly quarried and etched by humans. The more interesting archaeological site is two kilometres ahead of you on the blue trail, called Hurvat Marot. Here you can find an old Jewish village that has a Mikveh (a Jewish ritual bath), a synagogue, and an underground tunnel (maybe for hiding during wartime). In the underground tunnel look for Near Eastern fire Salamandra, a beautiful rare and toxic amphibian in Israel (and a highly protected nature value. Do not touch or move the animal).
After Hurvat Marot you will find another trail mark junction. Follow the black four by four trail mark that leads east at an ascent. After about three kilometres you’ll meet the red trail mark that will take you to the entrance of the Alma Cave. The cave itself is hidden between oaks and a huge fig tree. It takes about an hour and a half to climb down and back up again. You can leave your heavy pack in the shrubs around. Be sure to take a good flashlight with extra batteries and water (very important, without a flashlight in the cave you'll be completely helpless). The cave is open April to November but closes during the winter season because of the hibernation of bats in the cave. The cave is a brilliant Karst phenomenon, I really recommend exploring it. Take into account that the cave is huge and very deep underground. You'll find reflectors along the trail inside the cave, make sure you follow them. The cave is extremely slippery and muddy at times, at the very bottom of the cave you’ll find a small spring of water. The cave is a huge adventure in this trek, but it can be dangerous. Inform someone you're venturing into a cave beforehand (there is no cell reception inside) and make sure you take all precautions neccessery before entering.
When you’re out of the Alma cave, you should keep following the red marked trail. Here you have two options (the map from the link above will show you the second option. You can easily find the routes and trails mentioned in the first option ont he same map):
1. Follow the red trail all the way to route 886. you'll meet the entrance to the village Reihania (a Circassian village) and from there try hitchhiking or walking along the road to Kerem Ben Zimra, a 3-kilometre ride that will save you the unmarked trail that goes through some agriculture orchards from Alma to Kerem Ben Zimra.
2. If you’re willing to go through the unmarked trail, and have some experience navigating, you can follow the red marked trail until you spot a dry river bed to your left (southwest), about a kilometre after you left the Alma Cave. You will have to cross some fences and farms in order to get to the dry river bed. When you get to the river bed, follow the main river upstream through the orchids until you get to route 886 and Kerem Ben Zimra.
Cross the road and enter Kerem Ben Zimra. Here you can catch up on supplies if you need to (food and water at the local shop. If the shop is closed and you just need water there are a few public water faucets near the shop). After you fill your water bottles you can go back to the entrance to the village, take the road that leads you south and along the village fence (but from inside the fence). If you follow this road you will get to a fork where you take the unmarked left trail that leads you down into a riverbed. Follow it until you get to the Ein Alva spring. Here you can camp for the night. It’s not an official campsite but it’s a great place to spend the night and it’s legal to sleep here (it’s outside of a nature reserve). Keep in mind that this is a long day. Approximately 18 kilometres, overall a 600 metre climb up to the Galilee heights, a lot of interesting detours (Alma cave, Hurvat Marot). Make sure you leave enough time to make it to Ein Alva in daylight.
Day 2
This is a much easier and shorter day than day 1. You can follow the easy unmarked trail that leads you downriver, until you meet the green trail mark.
Here, if you’d like a detour to the ancient synagogue of Gish Halav and to visit the modern Arab Christian village Gish Halav, you can follow the green trail up the ascent to the village (south and left). This detour should take you about an hour and a half, it’s about a 3-kilometre round hike.
Whether or not you took the detour, follow the green trail heading north (to your right) and follow the stream downward. After about half an hour you’ll arrive at a trail mark junction with a red trail that is parallel to the National Israel Trail. At the junction you’ll also see a charming fresh water spring and a small meadow perfect for breakfast or brunch.
After your break, take the red trail mark (and the NIT) heading south and upstream. You’re now following the Dishon river – a large scale river in Israel that comes to life in the winter and can hold water throughout the winter season. At some point you’ll cross over to the Tzivon stream, you’ll meet route 89 and pass under it.
The trail in the stream is peaceful and moderately easy. You’ll pass through a dense Mediterranean grove and some large oaks. After crossing route 89 you’ll hike for about three kilometres until you reach your campsite. This day is about 9 kilometres, without the detour to Gish Halav.
This campsite is called Khurbat Khamama. It’s an official campsite, inside a nature reserve, with picnic tables, running water, a beautiful forest and it’s on the foothills of the Meron Mountains (the second highest mountain range in Israel, after the Hermon, reaching 1,200 metres).
The campsite is very common between hikers in Israel. Because of this, wild boars tend to visit the camp, to scavenge for food. They can be pretty big and frightening. For the most part they aren’t dangerous and do not harm humans. Mothers can get pretty agitated when you surprise them while they’re with their young. Try to not to surprise them, but don’t let them bully you into giving them food. Don’t feed them or leave food on the table for them. Make sure all your food is stashed away in your bags during the night.
Day 3
Today, start your hike by walking about 300 metres back to where you came from yesterday (the NIT and the red trail). Cross the unnumbered road and find the green trail mark, it should be visible from the road. Follow the green trail mark down the Moran stream, a beautiful dry stream bed that takes you through the amazing forests of the foothills of the Meron mountain range. At some point you will cross a black trail mark paved route. Keep following the green trail mark until you reach Ein Hotam. Ein Hotam is a great fresh water spring. It holds water all year round, the water is as clear as can be, the view is incredible and there are intervals of grass to sit on and enjoy the scenery.
From Ein Hotam you can make a small detour to Hurfeish, it’s about an hour round trip to the main road of Horfeish, there you can enjoy a beautiful druse, chrisitain and muslim village. They have the best Sambusakim in Israel (a baked pastry with all kinds of different fillings). I’d recommend getting your lunch here! At Ein Hotam you’ll find a trail mark junction, to get to Hurfeish just follow the blue trail down the dry stream bed about a kilometre and a half to the main road (route 89).
From Ein Hotam the trek continues on to Mt. Pki’in. Follow the blue trail mark that takes you south and up the mountain ascent. Mt. Pki’in is one of the many peaks of the Meron mountain range. The tip of Mt. Pki’in is at an altitude of 865 metres and the views to the north especially are incredible.
At the top you’ll find a green trail mark. If the Alma cave peaked your interest in caves, you can visit another smaller one here. Follow the green trail for about 50 metres, until you meet a transparent trail (two white marks with no color between them). Follow the transparent trail and it will take you to the mouth of the cave. This cave isn’t very deep, just a few metres, but it is impressive nonetheless.
After your visit to the cave, go back to the blue trail and follow it down the mountain to the village Pki’in. You’ve finished your Trans-Galilee trek here! From the eastern Galilee to the Centre of the Galilee mountains.
If you’d like to walk around Pki’in- you should! It’s an amazing village, with lots to see and visit. I’d recommend walking around the small old village centre, and make sure to visit the old synagogue (Jews inhabited this village in coexistence until the middle of the 20th century).
I hope this post helped you plan your trek through the Upper Galilee, I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments! Contact me here. Or comment below.
*Disclaimer*
It is the responsibility of the users of this website to be prepared for all possible conditions while trekking in Israel. Beware that conditions of trails may change day to day and season to season. All users of this website and its information assume full responsibility for their actions and judgments while trekking. The owner and authors of this site disclaims all liability including that of accident, loss, injury, or any other damage that may be sustained by anyone using the information contained on this website.