We have been waiting for the blessing of rain to wash away some of the haze that hung over us, and finally, the rain arrived, properly closing out 2025 (and opening 2026 quite nicely). This is also the year that the Golan Heights reopened to travelers after two years of war, as testified by the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who visited last year. Alongside the beloved, long-standing tourist sites that managed to endure, new attractions have opened, the culinary scene has stepped up, and one could say something good is happening between Routes 91 and 98. Winter has arrived in the Golan, and now it’s your turn.
Starting with the Viewpoint
The road to the Golan is beautiful and winding, and with the first rains, the mountains are covered with a fresh green layer of wild plants. Gentle green carpets along the Jordan Valley will bring you to the ascents of the eastern road to the Sea of Galilee, where a viewpoint - often overlooked but worth discovering - offers breathtaking vistas. Some call it "the state's balcony to the Sea of Galilee."
Nukeib Lookout, located above Kibbutz Ein Gev on the southern slopes of the Golan Heights, is considered one of the most photogenic viewpoints in Israel. The lookout offers a stunning panorama of the Sea of Galilee, with the Galilee mountains, Mount Arbel, and the city of Tiberias facing it. The viewpoint includes a wide parking area for safe stops.
If that’s not enough, you can continue north to Gilabon Falls. Unlike many waterfalls and streams in the Golan that dry up in summer, the Gilabon flows all year round and is especially impressive in winter.
Gilbon Falls is one of our favorite waterfalls, as it offers a short round-trip hike of about half an hour to the falls, or a longer (non-circular) route from the top of the waterfall down to the stream itself.
Gilbon Falls has been ranked as the second tallest waterfall in Israel, standing at 40 meters, with water plunging into a giant deep pool inside an impressive basalt canyon.
How to get there: On Route 91, just before Kedem Tzvi, turn left (follow the signs) and drive a few minutes to the parking area, where you will see the trailhead marked.
Resting in Salon Bazelet
One of the new places opened in the Golan is Salon Bazelet in Kibbutz Ortal. Recently, a café-restaurant was opened in the tourism reception building of Kibbutz Ortal, creating a stylish new culinary corner. Rotem Spitzer, the man behind the legendary hummus place in Ein Zivan, designed a warm European-style space within the impressive basalt building. The concept of the place is based on a love for simple, local, unpretentious food, made by hand with fresh ingredients from local producers.
Recommendation: Don’t miss the fish shawarma served on warm homemade pan bread, paired with a fine wine from the nearby Tel Shifon Winery and the crisp mountain air of the northern Golan.
And while in Ortal, you must check out the new glamping site, a true breakthrough as the first accommodation site opened in the north since the start of the war. The site is located at one of the most beautiful spots you will see, 915 meters above sea level, offering panoramic views of Tel Shifon and the volcanic hills of southwestern Golan. The site includes 30 air-conditioned, stylishly designed tents scattered among pine, plane, and oak trees, giving the feeling of staying in a fairy-tale forest.
The experience combines maximum closeness to nature with uncompromising modern comfort. The tents are suitable for couples or families and are equipped with luxurious beds, white linens, and, of course, Wi-Fi.
At the center of the complex, a huge designed kitchen was built, with cooking stations like in “MasterChef,” alongside natural wood seating areas for indulgent family meals. Staying at the glamping site allows easy walking access to all Ortal attractions, from visiting the boutique dairy Greenly to enjoying the Tel Shifon Winery (no need to move your car, just a three-minute walk), horse farms, guided hikes, and more.
For those seeking a more traditional lodging experience, the kibbutz’s rural guest complex offers wooden cabins nestled within a pine grove, alongside modern, spacious rooms perfect for families. Here, the focus is on the quiet of the kibbutz and the green spaces between units, allowing children to run freely.
In Kibbutz Ortal, we met Elad Malal, a guide and tour instructor, who recommended we continue discovering the Golan nature and sent us to some must-see locations.
Tel Katz’ah and Crocus Bloom
Tel Katz’ah is a natural geological gem in the northern Golan Heights, offering a rare combination of volcanic landscapes, ancient forest, and panoramic viewpoints. It is a scenic route, passing through an oak forest and apple orchards for 2 km. About 17 small “pools” (tiny depressions) are scattered across the hill, formed by volcanic gas eruptions without lava. Some of these depressions become small water reservoirs in winter (watch your step!).
Search in Waze for "Tel Katz’ah." Drive on Route 978, turn north toward Yaar Odem Junction. At the junction, turn south, and after about 1.5 km, turn right onto an ancient Roman road leading straight to the hilltop.
From there, we continued to Mount Bnei Rasan and the wind turbines. One of the most fascinating and striking spots on the northern Golan skyline is Mount Bnei Rasan. This volcanic hill rises 1,072 meters, but what makes it iconic is the wind farm on its summit. The rotation of the enormous blades in the strong winds creates a unique visual and acoustic experience, demonstrating the power of nature alongside green technology. From the peak, a breathtaking panorama unfolds: To the east, you can look deep into Syrian territory and the city of Quneitra, while to the west, the Golan orchards and Mount Hermon stretch in full glory. In this season, you can also see the unique bloom of the Lebanon iris.
How to get there: In Waze, search for “Mount Bnei Rasan” or “Aloney Habashan Wind Turbines.”
Having reached this far, a visit to a site of heritage and heroism is a must: The nearby "Tiger Force" monument, commemorating one of the most remarkable combat stories of the Yom Kippur War. The monument is dedicated to the soldiers of Company G, Battalion 82 of Brigade 7, commanded by Meir Zamir (nicknamed "Tiger"). Here, a small force of seven tanks successfully ambushed an entire Syrian armored brigade attempting to advance south.
Visiting the monument, consisting of a stationary tank and memorial plaques, offers a quiet moment of reflection amid the open landscape, highlighting the stark contrast between the pastoral calm of the surrounding orchards and the firepower and drama of 1973. It is a must-see for anyone who wants to connect to the Golan story through the people who shaped its borders.
No season flatters the Golan Heights more than winter. Among beautiful landscapes, misty summits, and the Hermon - “the eyes of the state” - recently covered in white, it is breathtaking.
To complete the Golan winter experience, stop at one of the Druze villages in the northern heights. In the heart of Buq’ata, among picturesque alleys, visit a local pastry shop, order a good coffee and a warm square of knafeh, and you will say to yourself: There is nothing like the Golan.