Mount Bental

Spend the day traveling through Northern Israel visiting historic sites like Golan Heights and Katzrin. Drive through Hamat Gader, cross the Jordan River, and go into the Golan Antiquities Museum. Learn the history from your guide, while traveling in a comfortable vehicle. Start the day by driving inland and going through the plain of Armageddon as mentioned in Revelations. See the Megiddo site of an ancient Biblical city. Reach the southernmost point of the Sea of Galilee and stop to look down on the sea from above and take in the pastoral vista.  Cross the Jordan River and pass through Hamat Gader, a popular spa destination. Continue through the countryside until you reach the Shalom Observatory. From here, there is a stunning view looking back at the Sea of Galilee and you can see the Israeli city of Tiberia in the distance. Continue to Katzrin where excavations have uncovered a village from the Mishnah and Talmud periods. The village has been partially restored and you can see the archaeological findings which include a synagogue, houses, and an oil press.  When you reach Katzrin, a city sometimes referred to as the Capital of the Golan, visit the Golan Antiquities Museum where you can see findings from the region and the nearby archeological site. The museum displays artifacts and has audiovisual presentations about the city of Gamla.  Lastly, travel to Mount Bental to see what remains of the Syrian fortifications. The Syrian bunkers, base, and trenches were captured by the Israeli's in the Six-Day War of 1967. From here we can see how close Syria is as we look down on the Syrian city of Kuneitra. 

Travel through the plain of Armageddon as mentioned in Revelations, and see the Megiddo site of an ancient Biblical city. Reach the southernmost point of the Sea of Galilee and stop to look down on the sea from above and take in the gorgeous pastoral vista, with the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) in the foreground and the undulating Golan Heights forming a dramatic backdrop. Cross the Jordan River at the foot of the Golan Heights and begin the ascent, passing through Hamat Gader, which today is a popular spa destination, just as it was for the Romans almost 2000 years ago. Continue on through the lush green countryside until reaching the Shalom Observatory. Take in a stunning view looking back at the Sea of Galilee beneath, while understanding the strategic importance of the Heights and looking down onto the Israeli city of Tiberias in the distance on the edge of the Sea of Galilee. Move on to Katzrin, where excavations have uncovered a village from the Mishnah and Talmud periods, which has been partially restored for visitors to see the archaeological findings, which include a synagogue, houses, and an oil press. See evidence of former volcanic activity in the Golan Heights as black basalt rock forms part of the landscape. Continue on to Katzrin, a city sometimes referred to as the Capital of the Golan, which has been occupied as far back as the Middle Bronze Age, and where later the Romans, Mamluks, Ottomans, and even French ruled this picturesque city. Explore the Golan Antiquities Museum and see findings from the region and the nearby archeological site, artifacts, and audiovisual presentations about the city of Gamla, while learning about Gamla, the historic Second Temple Era Jewish city which has been excavated nearby. Visit Mount Bental and what remains of Syrian fortifications, with Syrian bunkers, base, and trenches that were captured by the Israelis in the Six-Day War of 1967. Marvel at how close the Syrian border is and gaze down on the Syrian city of Kuneitra just beyond.