HIKE AND TOUR THE GOLAN HEIGHTS
March 31 – April 5, 2024
“Walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it” – Gen. 13:17
Dekel Israel Tours is pleased to welcome:
Hike and Tour the Golan with Hannah and Shari!
Join us on a once-in-a-lifetime journey through some of Israel’s most beautiful terrain! We’ll use our feet to explore the Golan Heights during a 6-day adventure of hiking, touring, learning, and culinary delight. If you have been to Israel a dozen times or this will be your first time, our tour will have a new off-the-beaten-track surprise for you each day.
Overview
Hike and Tour the Golan Heights
The Tour:
During this trek we will see spring flowers, meet local people, sample the local culinary offerings, and say ‘hi’ to cows. Most days are fairly easy hiking and we will make sure you are well-fed and -rested. Yes, you need to prepare but we have faith that the fresh air, stunning sites, and supportive community will keep you motivated. Some days will offer a short and a long hiking option.
The Trail:
The Golan Trail is one of the most well-known hiking trails in Israel, traversing about 75 miles – from Mount Hermon in the north to the Mevo Hama Forest in the south. The trail offers beautiful landscapes, forests, and gorgeous views of Mount Hermon and the Sea of Galilee, as well as visits to ancient and modern villages and famous battlefields.
Registration is now closed.
Per-Person Package Cost
- Royale: $2,820 per person*
- Presidential: $3,020 per person*
- Single room supplement (Royale) $100
- Single room supplement (Presidential) $140
*Per-person prices for sharing a double occupancy room (Based on a minimum of 15 participants)
Itinerary
Hike and Tour the Golan Heights 2024
Day 1 – Mt. Hermon to Majdal Shams
Sunday, March 31, 2024(L, D)
Hiking: 5.5 km, difficult, trail section 1
Arrival in the Golan
Tour: Lookout over Lebanon and Hula Valley.
Hike: Down Mt. Hermon toward Majdal Shams.
Highlight: Druze hospitality and learning in Majdal Shams.Overnight: Merom Golan
Day 2 – El Rom to Merom Golan
Monday, April 1, 2024(B, L)
Hiking: 10 km, easy, trail section 4
Visit: Kibbutz El Rom and Oz 77 for Yom Kippur War context.
Hike: Valley of Tears to Mount Bental. Tracing the 1973 war battle lines, through pastures.
Highlight: Scale the extinct volcano cone and look out over Syria.Overnight: Merom Golan
Day 3 – Merom Golan to Ein Zivan
Tuesday, April 2, 2024(B, L)
Hiking: 7 km, easy, trail section 5
Hike: The Avital and Bental volcanic ridge, south toward Kibbutz Ein Zivan.
Visit: Boutique chocolatier; Katzrin talmudic village.
Highlight: Jeep Tour past UN Border Crossing, wind turbines, and more.Overnight: Merom Golan
Day 4 – Resem Balot to Um El Kanatir
Wednesday, April 3, 2024(B, L)
Hiking: ~9 km, easy, trail section 10
Hike: Past fields and pastures, into an ancient Byzantine village and synagogue.
Visit: Meet Shimon at his shofar factory–Kol Shofar; Moshav Givat Yoav.
Highlight: Group dinner at Dudis followed by evening text study about the Golan.Overnight: Merom Golan
Day 5 – Givat Yoav to Nachal Meitzar
Thursday, April 4, 2024(B)
Hiking: ~6 km, intermed., trail section 13
Hike: Cross the main Golan “highway” and slowly descend toward Yarmuk Canyon.
Visit: The ancient site of Gamla, known for its 1st C synagogue.
Highlight: Tour and tasting at a local winery.Overnight: Merom Golan
Day 6 – Mevo Hama to Ein Tawfik
Friday, April 5, 2024(B, L)
Hiking: ~6 km, easy, trail section 15
Hike: The western edge of the Golan, overlooking the Kinneret, to Ein Tawfik.
Reflect: Rejoice in the beauty we encountered on our journey. We made it!
Highlight: The natural spring at Ein Tawfik.Next stop: Join us in Haifa?
Day 1 – Mt. Hermon to Majdal Shams
Sunday, March 31, 2024
(L, D)
Hiking: 5.5 km, difficult, trail section 1
Arrival in the Golan
Tour: Lookout over Lebanon and Hula Valley.
Hike: Down Mt. Hermon toward Majdal Shams.
Highlight: Druze hospitality and learning in Majdal Shams.
Overnight: Merom Golan
Day 2 – El Rom to Merom Golan
Monday, April 1, 2024
(B, L)
Hiking: 10 km, easy, trail section 4
Visit: Kibbutz El Rom and Oz 77 for Yom Kippur War context.
Hike: Valley of Tears to Mount Bental. Tracing the 1973 war battle lines, through pastures.
Highlight: Scale the extinct volcano cone and look out over Syria.
Overnight: Merom Golan
Day 3 – Merom Golan to Ein Zivan
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
(B, L)
Hiking: 7 km, easy, trail section 5
Hike: The Avital and Bental volcanic ridge, south toward Kibbutz Ein Zivan.
Visit: Boutique chocolatier; Katzrin talmudic village.
Highlight: Jeep Tour past UN Border Crossing, wind turbines, and more.
Overnight: Merom Golan
Day 4 – Resem Balot to Um El Kanatir
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
(B, L)
Hiking: ~9 km, easy, trail section 10
Hike: Past fields and pastures, into an ancient Byzantine village and synagogue.
Visit: Meet Shimon at his shofar factory–Kol Shofar; Moshav Givat Yoav.
Highlight: Group dinner at Dudis followed by evening text study about the Golan.
Overnight: Merom Golan
Day 5 – Givat Yoav to Nachal Meitzar
Thursday, April 4, 2024
(B)
Hiking: ~6 km, intermed., trail section 13
Hike: Cross the main Golan “highway” and slowly descend toward Yarmuk Canyon.
Visit: The ancient site of Gamla, known for its 1st C synagogue.
Highlight: Tour and tasting at a local winery.
Overnight: Merom Golan
Day 6 – Mevo Hama to Ein Tawfik
Friday, April 5, 2024
(B, L)
Hiking: ~6 km, easy, trail section 15
Hike: The western edge of the Golan, overlooking the Kinneret, to Ein Tawfik.
Reflect: Rejoice in the beauty we encountered on our journey. We made it!
Highlight: The natural spring at Ein Tawfik.
Next stop: Join us in Haifa?
Formalities
Everything you need to know about your Tour Package
The Golan tour package includes:
✓ Five nights’ accommodation at Merom Golan Hotel, breakfast included.
✓ Royale Level: Studio Room (basic but comfortable). Presidential Level: Basalt Cabin (well-appointed chalet with a separate bedroom).
✓ The guiding expertise of the amazing Hannah and Shari.
✓ Meals listed as included in the itinerary.
✓ Transportation on touring days (when it’s not your own two feet). Includes transportation to the Golan on March 31 from Jerusalem or Tiberias.
✓ Entrance fees into all sites and attractions as per itinerary.
✓ All overnights and meals for guides and driver when needed.
Package excludes:
✗ Airfare to and from Israel.
✗ Activities not listed in itinerary.
✗ All gratuities and other out-of-pocket and personal expenses.
✗ Any optional travel or touring arrangements, including pre-and post-trip.
✗ Insurance for baggage, personal items, trip cancellation or interruption, medical expenses, etc.
Payment and Cancellation Policy:
– A deposit of 15% of the per-person trip cost is required in order to confirm registration. 10% of the per-person trip cost is not refundable.
– Registration closes on November 1, 2023, and all registered guests must have paid a deposit by this date in order to confirm participation.
– If space remains in the group after the official close of registration, additional guests may be added on a first-come-first-served basis and must pay a deposit immediately in order to confirm participation.
– Complete and final payment is required 60 days prior to arrival (January 31, 2024).
– Only payments by credit card and bank transfer will be accepted. Guests paying by bank transfer are eligible for a 2% discount.
– Cancellations received over 60 days prior to arrival will be eligible for a full refund, less the 15% deposit.
– Cancellations received between 60 and 45 days prior to arrival will be eligible for a 50% refund.
– No refunds will be possible on cancellations within 45 days of arrival.
– In the event that the trip is canceled over 60 days prior to arrival: registered participants are eligible for a full refund, less any penalties incurred as a result of the cancellation. If the trip is canceled between 60 and 45 days prior to arrival, registered participants are eligible for up to a 50% refund, less any penalties incurred. Within 45 days no refunds are possible.
– In the event that an individual guest cancels due to unforeseen circumstances: Full refunds (including deposit) may be granted if an equal (or greater) number of replacement guests are found and confirmed, at Dekel Tours’ sole discretion. Any refunds, if applicable, will be issued after the replacement guests have paid in full.
Help with insurance and flights
We strongly recommend that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance (with coverage for COVID-19) in the event that you need to cancel your trip unexpectedly. We suggest arranging insurance through an agent in your home country; in the event that you need to file a claim, it is far easier to do so locally.
We partner with Travel Insured International to bring our valued US-based guests the kind of travel insurance that can stand up to our Uncompromising Quality, Uncomplicated Travel promise. Click here for information or to get a quote!
To inquire about flights for your travel package, we recommend that you contact Karen Berger at Preferred Naples Travel, located in Florida. Just be sure to let her know you are traveling with Dekel Tours.
Extensions
March 27: Walking tour of the Old City.
March 28: Down to the Judean Desert. (B,L)
March 29: Yad Vashem, Machane Yehuda Market and Kabbalat Shabbat. (B,D)
March 30: Shabbat on your own. (B)
March 31: Hop on the bus and head up to the Golan! (B)
Touring and four nights’ accommodation at Dan Panorama JLM (or similar)
Optional Pre-Trip Costs
- $1,540 per person*
- Single room supplement: $140 per person
*Per-person prices for sharing a double occupancy room (Based on a minimum of 15 participants)
April 5: Haifa and Shabbat dinner. (B,D)
April 6: Shabbat on your own. (B)
April 7: Dir el-Muhraka and Old Akko. (B)
April 8: Atlit, Zichron Ya’akov, Caesarea. (B)
April 9: Tel Aviv-Jaffa Walking Tour. (B)
Touring, three nights’ accommodation at Colony Hotel in Haifa, and one night at Shalom & Relax Hotel in Tel Aviv
Optional Post-trip Costs
- $1,280 per person
- Single room supplement: $200 per person
*Per-person prices for sharing a double occupancy room (Based on a minimum of 15 participants)