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This trek follows the first four days of the Golan Heights long trail. The full trail is around 130 k”m, and can be finished in 7-10 days. The trek has a special marking throughout the whole trail, it is marked blue, green and white. The trail is spectacular, and takes you into the savanna of Israel. The Golan Heights is a great basalt plain, divided between Israel and Syria. At the very north of the Golan Heights you’ll see the great Hermon- the tallest Mt. in Israel. At the very south of the Golan, you’ll meet the Yarmuch river that separates between Syria, Israel and Jordan.
Along the trail you’ll meet charming springs, incredible views of the Kinneret (the largest mass of water in the middle east and where Jesus walked on water), the Hermon, Syria, the Hula valley and so much more. The Golan heights is a real gem in Israel- a very wild area teeming with life. You can spot wolves, gazelles, wild hogs, jackals, foxes, birds of all shapes and kinds and more.
The trek begins at the small village of Ha’on that sits on the far eastern beaches of the Kinneret. From Ha’on we’ll climb to the Golan heights, find a beautiful spring along the trail and sleep at a small campsite with great views of the Kinneret. The next day will take us along these views and into the Meitsar river, and to Ein Fiq. From there a short day to the Ofhir lookout where you’ll spend the last night. The last day takes you down into the Samach stream and up to Ein Kshatot, where you’ll find one of the most impressive ancient synagogues that the Golan has to offer. Part 1 of the Golan Heights trail ends at the Daliyot campsite. Part 2 of the Golan Heights Trail - to be continued...
Trek Summary
Days: 4
Kilometres: 50
Best Season: Autumn to Spring
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Geographical Area in Israel: The lowlands of the Judean Mountains (Shfela)
So, let’s dive in with the important logistics that you need to know in order to hike this trek.
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). The absolute best time for this trek is springtime- March-April. It’s also suitable for late spring and early autumn because of the many springs, the high altitudes and the many trees that offer shade and a green scenery. July-August can be a bit too hot for this part of the Golan trail (the north part of the trail is suitable all summer long because of highest altitudes). For more on seasons in Israel here.
Transportation
The transportation management on this trek is fairly easy. The trek begins at Ha’on junction, a small Kibbutz right on the Kinneret. To get to Ha’on junction, most buses pass through Tiberias and every few hours there is also a bus from Jerusalem straight to the junction. For the bus schedule here. For the destination just write down Ha’on intersection. The starting point can either be Jerusalem or Tiberias and very few buses also come from Tel Aviv.
The ending point of the trek is Daliyot Junction, from there you’ll find buses to Jerusalem, Tiberias and more.
Keep in mind that public transportation in Israel stops working during Shabbat- From Friday evening to Saturday evening.
For more on public transportation here.
Water supply
You should carry 4.5 litres for each day and another 1.5 for the night. That’s 6 litres per day. These are long days and you’re going to need the water to hydrate. Start the trek with 6 litres per person. You can fill up on the second day at the Mevo Hama cemetery which is right on the trail. The next place to fill up water is on the trail when it passes near Naot Golan. On the last day you can fill up water in the middle of the day, neat Natur.
Food
You should bring food supplies for at least the first day and night. You can buy supplies at any supermarket in any city, if you’re coming from Tiberias, you have a lot of options there.
Along the trail you can make small detours to buy food at Mevo Hama, Kfar Haruv and Givat Yoav. All of these villages have small local shops, make sure to check for opening hours before you make the detours into these villages.
Precautions and dangers-
1. Heat stroke- It can get hot during the days in Israel, even during wintertime. The days can get hot and the nights are cold. Make sure to always wear a sun hat, take long breaks in the shade and refreshen yourself in pools and springs along the way.
2. Dehydration- Even during the winter and springtime the days can get pretty hot. Remember to drink a lot, do not take less than 4.5 litres of water with you per day per person. You should wear sunglasses, a hat and a long-sleeved shirt. If you’re feeling dizzy, nauseous and/or have a headache, you’re probably dehydrated. Find a shade to rest and drink your water slowly and gradually.
3. Military training area- On the last day of the trek you’ll pass through 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 this trek is: 04-697-7224 For more on Military training areas here.
4. Road crossings- you’ll cross a few roads while on the trail, make sure to look for cars and cross carefully.
5. Nature reserves- some of the trek passes through some amazing nature reserves. Make sure you know the basic guidelines to hiking in nature reserves in Israel. For more on nature reserves here.
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 extraction unit. You can also call 101 for medical assistance.
Trail description
Day 1 (5 k”m)
This is a pretty short day, only 5 k”m, so you can start the day late, but the climb up to the Golan can be difficult so make sure not to start too late. From Ha’on to the campsite it’s about a 500-meter climb, we started early and just had a lot of time to enjoy the spring that’s about half way up. The trail markins for the Golan Heights Trail will appear like this:
For more on trail markings in Israel here.
From the Ha’on junction (where the Kibbutz is, not where the gas station sits), cross to the eastern side of the road and look for the green route heading to the Turkish pilot’s monument (there should be a sign and the route is very close to the bus station). Follow the green route east for about a kilometer to the monument where you’ll find some shade and some information about the place.
Follow the green trail south for 500 metres, until you meet a small metal gate. The green trail heads west and then east, at the metal gate you’ll find a red marked trail taking you south. Both trails will lead you to the same place, but the red trail is a bit more interesting, as it’s fit for hikers only and not for vehicles, as opposed to the green trail.
Once you’re on the red trail you’ll start your ascent to the Golan heights. There won’t be a lot of shade, and you’re still below sea level, so if you’re off season it can get really hot on this trail. You’ll follow the red trail at an ascent for about 1.5 kilometres and 180-meter ascent until you reach Ein Sharir.
Ein Sharir is this beautiful, shaded deep water pool that is filled by a small fresh spring that gives water all year around. Enjoy your time here!
From the spring look for the red trail on the other side of the valley, the trail here heads west for 200 metres and then meets up with the same green trail that you were on in the morning. The green trail is fit for vehicles. Ascend up with the green trail, after 1.2 kilometres and about 130 metre ascent you’ll meet the Golan Heights official trail. Take the Golan heights trail heading up the ascent towards the west. Tomorrow you’ll come back down to this junction and follow the Golan trail north.
After 500 metres on the Golan Trail, you’ll find Ein Aqov, a perfect place to spend the night. You’ll meet some picnic tables, a small water stream and a good view. There is no tap water here, so make sure you have enough water with you for the night and the next day until noon (where you’ll meet the next place to fill up water).
Day 2 (14.5 k”m)
Start the day by walking back on the Golan trail, the same 500 metres you hiked at the end of yesterday. After 500 metres, you’ll meet the same junction, this time follow the Golan trail heading north at an ascent. The trail will wind up and ascend and you’ll get an amazing view of the Kinneret and the Jordan Valley south of it. After 4.7 kilometres on the Golan trail, you’ll meet the cemetery of Mevo Hama. You’ll find a faucet near the cemetery. You should fill up water here for the next 24 hours (around 6 litres).
From the cemetery, you should keep following the Golan trail that orbits Mevo Hama from the south. You’ll cross route 98 and then head east through some agriculture fields. After 3 kilometres the Golan trail will merge with a red marked trail that will take you along a half-paved road heading down into the Mezar river. After 2.5 kilometres you’ll find yourself inside the Mezar stream. The Golan trail will take you upriver, north. If you have spare time, and you’re hiking during the spring season, you should take the blue trail heading downriver, south. This route is a round trip, taking you to see the Mezar waterfall, about 1.25 k”m each direction. The waterfall is impressive mostly in the winter and spring, during the summer it dries up.
Once you’re back on the Golan trail, you’ll head upriver for about 2 k”m. If you’re here during spring, the wildflowers blooming here are absolutely incredible along this river. After 2 k”m the trail will take you out of the river and start heading up an ascent of 160 metres. You’ll cross route 98 again and after 500 metres on the trail you’ll meet your campsite. The campsite is a nice area with picnic tables and lots of shade. There is no faucet in this campsite. If you’re out of water or food, it’s about a 3-kilometre hike from the campsite to Kfar Haruv, where you can stock up on supplies.
Day 3 (8 k”m)
This is a pretty short day and you can add a small detour to a hidden spring called Ein Fiq. To get to the spring walk back to route 98, you’ll find a paved walking trail that runs parallel to the road. If you follow this trail for 1.5 k”m, you’ll find the spring (you’ll see a sign and a small parking area and the trail will head down to the spring itself). You can enjoy your breakfast here and a refreshing dip before you had back to the Golan trail (the way back is the same paved trail).
Once you’re on the Golan trail again, you’ll descend downwards and you’ll enjoy a great view of Susiya- an ancient archaeological site with amazing ruins mostly from the Roman and Byzantine eras. The site is about 3.5 k”m from the trail, so if archaeology really excites you, this might be a nice detour.
After a 155-metre descent, you’ll meet a small stream with some great old olive trees. From the stream the trail will ascend back up and will head on north through the outskirts of the village Neot Golan. You’ll find some structures, mostly for chickens and other animals and some small caravans where the workers live.
Along the trail at one of these structures is a faucet, where you can fill up water. The map link shows you exactly where the faucet is. If you can’t find the faucet for whatever reason, you can keep walking along the trail and after about 500 meters you’ll see the village Givat Yoav to your right (east). You’ll see a lot of yurts- this is a local camping business. You can ask to fill up your water here. You can also stock up on food supplies deeper inside the village.
After Givat Yoav the Golan trail will lead you to a small eucalyptus grove and then to a great overview. From the overview the trail will descend down a bit. From the lookout follow the trail for 2 k”m until you meet a sign showing the way to Mitspe Ophir. This is your campsite, so head up for 200 metres (it’ll be east) and about a 65-meter ascent.
Mitspe Ophir is a perfect campsite- incredible sunset over the Kinneret is awaiting you!
Day 4 (21 k”m)
Head back down the last 200 metres from the day before and find the Golan trail again. Follow the trail for about 2.7 k”m, until you meet route 789. You’ll see the trail crosses the route, so cross it at this point but cross very carefully. Once you crossed the trail runs parallel to the road for about 300 metres before it heads up the hills to your right (east).
For the next 3.5 k”m you’ll enjoy a great easy route, with an amazing view of the river beneath you- the Semach river. After 3.5 k”m the trail will head down the river on a pretty steep descend. Once you’re in the river you’ll find some great shade and refreshing pools- the perfect place for lunch.
After lunch, the route crosses the river and heads up a big ascent (you might have seen it from the view before you headed down into the river). The ascent is along a dirt track, about 3.5 k”m and a 320-metre ascent. There isn’t a lot of shady trees along the way, so stop to rehydrate at every shade you see.
Once you’ve finished your ascent, you can add a small detour and go visit Ein Hakshatot. This is once of the most preserved Byzantine-era synagogues in the Golan heights a maybe in all of Israel. It really is very impressive. You have to pay an entrance fee, for more on Ein Hakshatot (also called Um El-Kunatir) here. If you need water, you can also fill up at this site (for free), there’s a faucet right outside the site.
From here the Golan trail will lead you to the very top of the Semach river, where you’ll find an amazing old Syrian bridge above the river. From the bridge the trail will continue along the river for 3.7 k”m until you meet the Semach reservoir.
The trail orbits the reservoir from the west and heads north to Daliyot campsite- where this trekking guide ends (Golan Trail – part 2, to be continued…). From the reservoir to the campsite, it’s about 3.5 k”m and they pass through a military training area, so you should plan to hike this part on a weekend (Friday-Saturday), if that’s not an option- check beforehand if the area is closed for hikers. If it is, you can finish the trek at Ein Hakeshtot and catch a bus from Natur – the village above the archaeological site (it’s 2.5 k”m from Ein Hakeshtot to Natur).
Hope you enjoyed the trek; I would love to hear what you thought about it! 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.