Golan Heights
From MaxTravelz
The Golan Heights are Syrian territory occupied by Israel since 1967.
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Israel annexed the Golan Heights as a part of Israel in 1981. This annexation is not recognized by the United Nations or any country. |
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Cities
- Qatzrin - a charmless cluster of concrete, but the only settlement of any size
Other destinations
- Gamla — nature reserve and archaeological site
- Majdal Shams — Druze village
- Mount Hermon — Israel's only ski resort
Understand
Talk
The Golan Heights have been part of Israel since 1981; Hebrew is widely spoken among the inhabitants in the ctities and kibbutzim. Arabic is also spoken mainly by the Arabs and Druze living there.
Get in
Public transports: There are a few daily buses form Tiberias and Kiryat Shmona to the Golan Hights. Services are few and far between.
Private transportation: From route <90> there are four "ascends" to the Golan heights.
Get around
Private transportation only! This area, due to low population, has one of the worst public transport services in the entire country, with some bus stops recieving only five to six busses daily. You might try hitch-hiking, but it's not recomended, as anywhere in the country.
See
- The Golan Heights is the most wet area in Israel. There are many waterfalls there including Gamla, Sa`ar and the Banias waterfalls.
- Mount Hermon (2284m), in the northernmost point of the Golan Heights and Israel. There is a cable car going up the mountain - in the summer you can enjoy a breathtaking scenery, while in the winter you can ski.
- One of the more morbidly interesting sights is the Syrian ghost town of Quneitra, evacuated in the 1967 war and left in the no-man's-land ever since. Thoroughly wrecked not only in 1967 but in the subsequent 1973 conflict as well, the area can only be viewed from designated viewpoints set up along the border road.
Do
Eat
Drink
- Golan Heights Winery. . Located not far from Qatzrin, the wines from here are quite tasty.
Stay safe
The border areas of the Golan Heights are heavily mined. Steer clear of any area marked as mined or surrounded by barbed wire.