Plan a trip to Northern

Imagine this scene: Capernaum, on the Sea of Galilee (the Kinneret in Hebrew) - small waves gently hitting the large basalt rocks that descend into the water; a flock of birds along the shore, diving and fishing; a group of white seagulls lurking and trying to steal the prey from their mouths; three herons, two white and one gray, quietly fishing for them next to the small harbor facing the mountains of the Golan.

From the beach, you can hear singing, perhaps prayer. A Christian mass is held in the shade of the large Ficus tree. Behind you are the remains of an ancient Jewish synagogue where Jesus of Nazareth healed a man possessed by evil spirits.

Up in the sky, a large flock of herons pass by on their way from Europe to spend the winter in Africa. It is bird migration season when half a billion birds pass over the Sea of Galilee, both in the fall and spring. The sounds of the chirping birds mingle with the singing of the pilgrims.

Northern Israel is home to an abundance of nature reserves, and it attracts birdwatchers from around the world who come here to observe the approximately 450 species of birds which pass through here. Most of the ornithological activity takes place in the Hula Valley, and the Agmon Reserve, located in the area, is a central destination for observing a huge concentration of many types of birds.

Northern Israel is also home to most of the Christian holy sites: Caesarea, where the apostle Paul set out on his journey to spread Christianity; Nazareth, the place where the angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary that she would give birth to her son, the Messiah; Kfar Cana, where Jesus, as a youth, performed the first miracle and turned water into wine.

You can hike the Jesus Trail and descend to the Sea of Galilee, reaching Capernaum where Jesus told his disciples that they would be “fishers of men.” You can visit the Church of the Multiplication in Tabgha where the miracle of the multiplication of the bread and fish occurred and the ancient mosaic of bread and fish is located. Adjacent to it is the Church of the Primacy of Saint Peter where Jesus reinstated Peter as chief of the Apostles and instructed him: "Feed my sheep.”

Next, you’ll visit the Mount of Beatitudes, the location of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount which is the foundation of the New Testament, and, from the church situated on the slopes, you’ll enjoy a spectacular view of the Sea of Galilee and its surroundings.

Heading north, you’ll reach the Banias - Philip's Caesarea - the place where Peter recognized Jesus as the Messiah and where he was given the keys of heaven. Korazim and Beit Zeida are located here - towns that Jesus had prophesied would be destroyed because their inhabitants did not accept his teachings, as well as Kursi, where Jesus expelled evil spirits from a sick legionnaire and transferred them to a herd of pigs which then drowned in the Sea of Galilee. Nin, where Jesus revived the widow's son, is also located in the Galilee.

Ascending Mount Tabor, the Mount of Transfiguration, you’ll be at the place where Jesus appeared to his disciples together with Moses and Elijah and transfigured from man to the Son of God. We’ll end in Megiddo – Armageddon - where the final battle between good and evil will take place, according to John's vision in the New Testament.

The Galilee and the Golan are home to important sites for Jews, as well – specifically, the two holy cities of Safed and Tiberias. Many scholars and important rabbis are buried in the area, including Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the author of the Zohar, which is the foundation of Kabbalah. There are also seventy ancient synagogues in the region, such as in Beit Alfa, Tiberias, and Baram, and as well as synagogues in the Golan which are fascinating archaeological sites.

Other significant historic sites in Northern Israel include the Roman city of Beit Shean, the Crusader citadels, Jordan Star National Park, and Nimrod's Fort, the largest Crusade-era castle in Israel. In Hamat Gader you’ll find ancient baths alongside modern pools which flow with hot sulfur springs to the delight of its many visitors.

The Golan Heights is located on the eastern part of the Jordan River. While the Golan has been the scene of many battles, the signs of combat have been replaced with green, lush areas. Much of the region is covered with vineyards that grow on the volcanic tuff soil, and they supply the grapes for the dozens of local wineries that produce millions of bottles of outstanding wine a year.

In the Golan there are many archaeological sites from prehistoric periods, ancient synagogues dating back to the Roman period, and sites from the Crusader and Mamluk times.

The Banias and the Dan, the sources of the Jordan River, are beautiful national parks. Trout thrive in the cool, flowing waters of these streams, and there are several excellent fish restaurants in the area serving trout specialties.

In the Western Galilee, a short drive from the Golan, is the city of Acre - a natural seaport on Haifa Bay with a long history dating back to the time of Alexander the Great. To this day, the imprint from each ruler of the country is evident – the Greeks, the Hasmoneans, the Crusaders, and the Turks.

On the southern side of the Haifa Bay, which flows from the Carmel Mountains into the sea, is the city of Haifa. The gardens of the Baha'i community, which hang on the slopes of the mountain, are breathtaking, and the colony of the German Templars, lower down in the city next to the first major seaport in Israel, is remarkable. From there, take the train to the Carmelite Monastery and, from there, through the French Carmel, you’ll reach the beautiful campus of Haifa University. It is said that Haifa University is the largest Arab university in the Middle East – in fact, a significant number of Arabs from the Galilee study there in harmony alongside the Jewish students.

Hiking on Mount Carmel, through the iconic Druze villages, you’ll reach Muhraka, the location where Elijah the Prophet confronted the false Baal prophets, and, while enjoying the spectacular views of the Jezreel Valley and the entire Galilee below, you will also come to the Carmelite Monastery of the Prophet Elijah.

To the east of Haifa is Beit She'arim, a settlement with Roman-style Jewish burial caves, and Zipori, a popular historic site with its extensive ancient water system and some of the most beautiful ancient mosaics in the country.

Northern Israel is home to a mixed population of Jews and Arabs, and it has the highest concentration of Israeli Arabs in the country, representing 54% of the Galilee’s residents. The city of Nazareth – the largest Arab city in Israel - is located here. There are mosques, whose minarets you’ll be able to spot even from a distance, and churches scattered throughout the area.

Israeli Arabs have integrated well into the State of Israel. Over half of the doctors and hospital administrators in Israel are Arabs, and Jews and Arabs work side-by-side in almost every profession in Israel – the court system, the police force, agriculture, industry, and tourism. The north is testimony to the fact that there can be coexistence between religions and cultures.

Arab cuisine emanated from the Galilee and spread throughout the country, becoming an integral part of Israeli cuisine – from the hummus, falafel, tabbouleh, and kebabs to the specialty dishes using seasonal ingredients. Throughout the Galilee, Nazareth, Acre and other small towns along the countryside, there are top-class, authentic restaurants – both Jewish and Arab - that combine East and West, using fresh, local ingredients.

Northern Israel is a wonderful tourist destination throughout the year. Along the coast, the climate is temperate, and the area is full of fruit orchards, banana fields, and avocado groves. The central mountain range in the north has a classic Mediterranean landscape, reminiscent of Greece, Turkey, and Sicily, with olive, pomegranate, and fig trees. The Sea of Galilee, a short drive east, has been transformed by modern irrigation into a tropical paradise with mango, banana, and date trees.

Northern Israel is a popular destination for outdoor activities such as hiking on one of the many trails, mountain biking, and rafting and kayaking on the Jordan River. There is swimming and boating available along the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

There are hotels of all levels in the cities of Haifa, Acre, Tiberias, and Nazareth, and the pastoral kibbutz guesthouses are popular, as well. These guesthouses combine comfortable accommodations and delicious buffet breakfasts with tours of these cooperative settlements that are unique to Israel. The formation of kibbutzim played a significant role in the early Zionist years – both before and after the State of Israel was established, and often also determined the borders of the young state.

While many tourists to Israel don’t venture beyond a visit to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Dead Sea, and Masada, Northern Israel – the Galilee and Golan – are rich in culture, history, cuisine, and spectacular nature. Don’t miss the unique experiences of Northern Israel!