Circle the Sea of Galilee, Near the water and High above. Get amazing views and Visit hidden springs, secluded beaches, an ancient synagogue, and Christian sites.
| Road Trip Metrics | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 140 Km |
| Duration | 1-2 Days |
| Best | Dec - Apr |
| Possible | Oct- May |
| Location |  |
| Full Description | |
MAIN ATTRACTIONS:
- Kinneret Courtyard: Visit The 1908 Jewish Pioneers farm and the lakeside historic cemetery.
- Mevo Hama promenade: A stroller-friendly promenade with fantastic views on lake Kinneret with an optional short hike to the nearby Shoko Spring.
- Susita (Hippos): A short hike to the secluded and impressive archeological site of Susita.
- Ein Keshatot Ancient synagogue: Visit an amazing ancient synagogue (400 AD) that was restored in a unique high-tech method.
- Kanaf Spring: A great spot for a picnic stop-over.
- Ashalim Beach: A secluded wild beach. One of the last unspoiled beaches around the lake.
- Domus Galilaeae: A Christian meeting place located on the Mount of Beatitudes offering great views and an interesting visit.
- Church of the Beatitudes: built on the traditional site where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.
- Optional hikes along the drive: Menachamiya / Arbel / Zaki
MAP OF THE ROAD TRIP
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- Hiking Maps for each short hike.
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- GPX File for each short hike.
- Full Road Trip description from the webpage.
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Another great way to enjoy Lake Kinneret in a unique way is our Kayaking Tour.
- Transportation to/from Nazareth.
- Kayak in the tranquil waters of the Sea of Galilee.
- View the mountain ranges of the Golan Heights and the Galilee.
- Visit the ancient fishing village of Bethsaida.
- See the biblical sites of Jesus’ life and childhood.
- Eat local snacks in a garden in the ancient village of Capernaum.
- Price: From 450 NIS (About 125 USD)
KINNERET COURTYARD – The 1908 pioneers farm
- Getting there:
- Starting point: Tiberias Center (GPS: 32.788314, 35.540286)
- Drive 8.5 Km south along the lake on road #90 (GPS: 32.721406, 35.569015) (8.5Km)
- From the junction, you have within 5 minutes walk both the Courtyard and the Historic cemetery.
- Use the “Kinneret Courtyard” Map from the eBook for easy orientation.
The farm was the breeding ground for the Second Aaliyah and Labor movements, where the groups for the first kibbutz and moshav (Like Degania, Kinneret & Nahalal) began to form. Further reading: Society for the Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites
MEVO HAMA PROMENADE AND TWO SPRINGS
- Getting There:
- Drive to Maagan Junction (GPS: 32.701942, 35.602706) (4.5 Km)
- If you are feeling energetic, notice that you are just a few minutes’ drive from Menachamiya where you can go on this interesting 8 Km hike.
- Continue straight on road #98 that begins here. This is a very scenic road that follows the eastern side of the Israeli Golan Heights all the way to Mount Hermon.
- Drive on this winding road until Kibbutz Mevo Hama. (GPS: 32.738294, 35.656125) (16 Km)
- After a few minutes, you will see on your right the deep gorge of the Yarmuch River that forms the border between Israel and Jordan.
- You are in the southern Golan Height now!
- Once in the Kibbutz, Use the “Mevo Hama” Map and GPS link from the eBook for the short walks in the area.
The 2 Km long, paved & stroller friendly promenade runs along the edge of a cliff 400 m above the lake. It is a flat and easy walk offering constant great views. You can walk all or part of the promenade. In addition, you can add the 1 Km short hike to the magnificent Shoko Spring. Use the “Mevo Hama” Map and GPS files from the eBook to easily find your way.
ANCIENT SUSITA (HIPPOS)
A short hike to an interesting archeological site in a stunning setting!!
- Getting There:
- Drive to the Junction of road #98 with a minor road. (GPS: 32.76950,35.694333) (6 Km)
- Turn left and continue downhill along a very narrow and winding road until the small parking near the trailhead. (GPS: 32.773986,35.663715) (5 Km).
- Attention! There is a “No Entry” sign at the entrance of the road. This is due to the poor road condition. You can choose to ignore it and drive carefully. There are pits and in some sections, the tarmac is gone, But it is still passable also for passenger cars.
- The walk from the parking is 750 m uphill along the black marked path.
- Use the “Susita” Map and GPS Link from the eBook to easily find your way. The site is a perfect blend of archeology and a stunning setting!! The city was built in the 2nd century BCE by the Seleucid Empire. The city was developed further during the Roman era. Most of the archeological findings seen today are from that period. The city was destroyed in an earthquake on 749 AD was left abandoned since. (Further reading in Wikipedia)The site is located on a small plateau surrounded by steep slopes from 3 directions. It is a dramatic setting and the views down to the sea of Galilee are stunning.
EIN KESHATOT ANCIENT SYNAGOGUE
- Getting There:
- Drive back up to the main road #98.
- Drive to Ein KEshatotr. (GPS: 32.852855,35.761458) (26 Km).
- Enjoy along the way the wide-open views typical to the plateau of the Golan Heights.
In this synagogue, an innovative method of reconstruction was first ever tried. The stones scattered around the site were marked and numbered. Each stone was scanned with laser technology and its 3D model stored in a database. Later, a computer program virtually reconstructed the building and shows where each stone was originally placed in the structure prior to its collapse. accordingly, the stones were returned to their original location. The final result is stunning! Near the synagogue, there is also a pleasant small spring under a stone arch with some picnic tables.
Update October 2018: The site is now regulated by the Golan Tourism Organization and there is an admission fee of 23 NIS to enter it.
KANAF SPRING
- Getting There:
- Drive to a junction just before the entrance to Kanaf. (GPS: 32.870114, 35.703474) (17 Km).
- From here follow the Black marked dirt road.
- Use the “Kanaf” Map and GPS Link from the eBook to easily find your way.
- The parking is near the spring and there is no walking involved.
A beautiful spring with plenty of shade, a nice pool, and fine views. The best spot for a picnic along this road trip. (The place is usually crowded on weekends and holidays, but very peaceful on weekdays)
ASHALIM BEACH
- Getting there:
- Drive down to the junction with the main road #92. (GPS: 32.882478, 35.660618) (Total 11 Km).
- The entrance to the fun water hike of the Zaki Stream is just in front of you!
- Drive to (GPS: 32.837760, 35.650950) (Total 5 Km).
- Turn right on an unmarked dirt road and drive further about one Km. There are several turns and other road crossings. It is recommended to use the “Ashalim” Map and GPS Link from the eBook to avoid confusion.
- From the gate that blocks the end of the dirt road, walk a bit further to the lakeshore.
- On your way, you will be crossing the purple marked Kinneret round trail. (See on the “Ashalim” map).
- If you want to stretch your legs a bit more, you can go either north or south along the path as far as you like.
The area is part of the Kursi Beach natural reserve and is one of the only beaches on the sea of Galilee that are not developed as a touristic site and still offers easy access to the water. There is absolutely no shade on the beach and during the summer when temperatures reach 40ºC it is not recommended. During this period the spot is also very windy and therefore very popular with Kitesurfers and windsurfers. However, between November-April it is a great place to relax and enjoy the views of the Galil mountains across the lake.
DOMUS GALILAEAE
- Drive back to the main road.
- Turn left and follow road #92.
- Continue until the entrance to Domus Galilaeae (GPS: 32.903436, 35.552535) (21 Km).
The building on the top of the Mount of Beatitudes and was opened in 2000 and was inaugurated by Pope John Paul II in his Millennium visit to the Holy Land. It is run by the Neocatechumenal Way and is used as a meeting place for seminars and conventions. There are several attractions here:
- The excellent views on lake Kinneret and the Golan Heights on the opposite side.
- The exterior of the building and it’s gardens.
- The unique architecture of the interior.
For opening hours and additional information visit the Domus Galilaeae official site.
CHURCH OF THE BEATITUDES
- Drive to the entrance of the church compound (GPS: 32.883416, 35.555859) (5 Km).
The church is located on the lower slopes of the Mount of Beatitudes on the traditional site of Jesus’ delivery of the Sermon on the Mount .It is a site of pilgrimage since the 4th century AD. The modern church that was built between 1936 and 1938 stands near the site of the fourth-century Byzantine ruins.
The impressive building is surrounded by beautiful gardens with a serene atmosphere and another fine view of the sea of Galilee.
BACK TO TIBERIAS
From here drive back to Tiberias along the lakeshore. (GPS: 32.788314, 35.540286) (16 Km).
At around midway, pay attention to the commanding Arbel Cliffs on your right. Don’t miss this exciting hike to the top of the mountain.
