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A 460 km journey through the Galilee and the Golan, from Katzrin via Majdal Shams, Metula, Nahal Kziv, Akko, Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee. Jewish, Druze, Circassian, Bedouin and Christian villages, wineries, springs and singletrack. Stay in villages, with recommended places to sleep marked on the file.
The Galilee and the Golan, from Hermon to the Kinneret
460 km and more than 8,300 m of climbing on a loop that starts and ends in Katzrin. You climb to the northern Golan and Majdal Shams, drop through Banias to the Hula Valley, cross Metula and the Upper Galilee, descend Nahal Kziv to the sea and Acre, and return via Nazareth, the Kinneret and Nahal El Al. Jewish, Druze, Circassian, Bedouin and Christian communities, plenty of springs and plenty of climbing.
Loop · Katzrin4–6 daysOct–Dec, Apr–JunHard
460km
8,305m climbing
80.7km, longest stretch without fuel
19fuel stations within 200 m
29water taps along the way
41night campsites near the route
Firing zones on the way
The route crosses 8 firing zones, about 41 km of 460. Entering a firing zone requires advance coordination and approval, and zones can be closed on weekends and holidays too.
Firing zone 121 בkm 4–9, 452–459Golan fire-zone ops room04-6977224
Firing zone 120km 14–18, 19–22Golan fire-zone ops room04-6977224
Firing zone 131 בkm 25–26, 29–37Golan fire-zone ops room04-6977224
Firing zone 131 אkm 39–45Golan fire-zone ops room04-6977224
Firing zone 131km 44–47Golan fire-zone ops room04-6977224
Firing zone 122 גkm 423–427Golan fire-zone ops room04-6977224
Firing zone 122 בkm 428–433Golan fire-zone ops room04-6977224
Firing zone 122 אkm 438–444, 445–446Golan fire-zone ops room04-6977224
Boundaries from OpenStreetMap (source: IDF) and may be out of date. Some sections are a road that crosses the zone. Either way, check and coordinate before you go.All coordination centers →
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The route at a glance
Fuel stationGrocery or supermarketWater tapNight campsite
01km 0–48
From Katzrin to the northern Golan
You leave Katzrin, past the Ancient Katzrin park, and cross Nahal Meshushim and Nahal Gilbon. Then you climb along the Golan Heights, via the Ortal reserve and the Emir's fortress, from about 360 m to more than 1,000 m near El Rom.
Along the way
km 0.5Ancient Katzrin park
km 8.4Nahal Meshushim
km 14.3Nahal Gilbon night campsite
km 29.6Ortal nature reserve
km 38.1The Emir's fortress
km 46.9Water point
Resupply · km 37.4 Vaset and an eatery. El Rom minimarket at km 48
02km 48–90
From Majdal Shams to Banias
Via Buq'atha and the Odem forest you reach Majdal Shams, the route's high point, about 1,180 m. Then the big descent begins: more than 1,000 m, via Nimrod and the Nahal Sa'ar lookout, to Banias, with the Pan temple and the palace of Agrippa II, and along Nahal Hermon down to the Hula Valley.
Along the way
km 50.4Palsar 7 night campsite
km 53.2Har Odem, a dormant volcano, 470 m off the route
km 68.2Ohel Avraham night campsite, Nimrod
km 75.6Sa'ar waterfall lookout, 320 m off the route
km 77.3Banias: the cardo, the Pan temple and Agrippa's palace
km 80.8Golani lookout, over the Hula Valley
Resupply · km 65.1 Majdal Shams: restaurants, a grocery and a fuel station. Sonol in Buq'atha, km 51.7
03km 90–140
Metula and the Ramim cliff
You cross the Jordan and Nahal Snir near Beit Hillel and climb along Nahal Ayun, past Tel Avel Beit Ma'akha, to Metula. Then along the border, past Har Tzefiya, looking out at the Beaufort fortress, and the Hunin fortress, on along the Ramim cliff and down to the Nahal Kadesh reserve.
Along the way
km 95Nahal Snir (Hatsbani)
km 106.8Tel Avel Beit Ma'akha, 250 m off the route
km 112.5Har Tzefiya, a view of the Beaufort, 320 m off the route
km 120.2Hunin fortress night campsite, 290 m off the route
km 127.4Yochai and Dor night campsite and Israel Trail library
km 136.3HaEla night campsite
Resupply · km 100.1 Dor Alon and Alonit 24/7 and restaurants. In Metula, km 110.6–111.4, cafés and a supermarket. After that no shop until Hurfeish, km 179
04km 140–190
Nahal Dishon, Gush Halav and Bar'am
Along Nahal Dishon, between small springs, to Ein Halav, with a water tap and a campsite, and ancient flour mills. You continue to Gush Halav, with its ancient synagogue and restaurants, and the Bar'am national park, and climb past the Sasa pool to about 830 m. Then down to Hurfeish and Ma'alot-Tarshiha.
Along the way
km 148.7Nahal Dishon night campsite
km 153.4Ein Halav night campsite, with a water tap
km 155.9The ancient lower synagogue of Gush Halav
km 162.6Bar'am national park
km 172.3Har Adir lookout, facing Lebanon, 320 m off the route
km 182.2Barzit night campsite
Resupply · km 179 Hurfeish: Menta and Delek 24/7. Restaurants in Gush Halav, km 157, and Shufersal Deal in Ma'alot, km 187.7
05km 190–230
Down Nahal Kziv to the sea
You descend along Nahal Kziv, between Ein Ziv, Ein Tamir and the Dlavim pool, below the Crusader castle of Montfort. Ein Hardalit and Tel Avdon, then you reach the sea at Achziv, by the remains of the British railway to Beirut. From there south along the coast, through Nahariya and Shavei Zion, to the old city of Acre.
Along the way
km 194.2Ein Tamir and the Dlavim pool
km 197.1Montfort castle, 200 m off the route
km 202.5Ein Hardalit night campsite
km 210.6Achziv night campsite, 260 m off the route
km 218.6Shavei Zion beach
km 227.9The Land Gate, Acre's old city
Resupply · km 215.8 Nahariya: restaurants and cafés. In Acre, km 226–229, dozens of restaurants. Discount at km 229.5 is the last fuel station until Nof HaGalil, km 310
06km 230–290
Nahal Zippori and the Lower Galilee
From Acre east along Nahal Na'aman, through the Ein Nimfit and Ein Afek reserves, to ancient Usha and Nahal Zippori. Along the stream, the Monks' Mill and Ein Yivka, the horses' spring, then on past Ka'abiyye, HaSolelim and Hoshaya to Kfar Kanna. From sea level you climb gradually to about 300 m.
Along the way
km 239.6Tel Afek and a British guard post, 280 m off the route
km 250.1Ancient Usha national park
km 255.5The Monks' Mill on Nahal Zippori
km 262.8Ein Yivka, the horses' spring
km 273.7Tzippori forest night campsite, 830 m off the route
km 282.3Water point
Resupply · km 288.6 Kfar Kanna: a grocery and Abu Yusuf restaurant. Cafés at km 254.6 and 272
07km 290–345
Nazareth and Kfar Tavor
From Kfar Kanna you climb past the Mount Tabor lookout and Churchill Forest to Nof HaGalil and Nazareth, up to about 440 m. In Nazareth you pass Mary's Well and the ancient bath house, then descend via Tel Adashim and Dovrat, past Ein Qishyon, to Kfar Tavor.
Along the way
km 302.6Mount Tabor lookout
km 306Har Dvora night campsite, 580 m off the route
km 312.9Mary's Well and the ancient bath house, Nazareth
km 313.8Water point in Nazareth
km 335.3Ein Qishyon
km 340.8Kfar Tavor museum
Resupply · km 310.6 Nof HaGalil and Nazareth, km 310–314: fuel stations and dozens of restaurants. Paz and Shufersal in Kfar Tavor, km 340.5–341.7
08km 345–392
Kfar Kama and Nahal Yavneel
From Kfar Tavor to Kfar Kama, with the Circassian Heritage Center, and past the springs of Ein Hadda and Ein Yavne'el. Then you descend Nahal Yavneel about 530 m, to below sea level, to the Jordan and Tzemach. Further on you ride along the eastern shore of the Kinneret, between the Rotem and HaShitim beaches, to Ein Gev.
Along the way
km 356.2The Circassian Heritage Center, Kfar Kama
km 364.3Ein Yavne'el
km 376.8Hayardenit night campsite
km 380.3The historic Tzemach railway station
km 387.6Rotem beach
km 388.9HaShitim beach
Resupply · km 379.6 Tzemach: Paz 24/7, Yellow, Victory and restaurants. Dor Alon at km 384.2 and Sonol in Ein Gev, km 391.6
09km 392–460
Back up to the Golan
From the Kinneret you climb almost 580 m, past Susita and the Omri Tal lookout, onto the Golan Heights. Then north along Nahal El Al and Mitzpe HaBanim, past Rujum el-Hiri, and between the springs of the southern Golan: Ein Yedidya, the Ayit waterfall and Ein Aniam. Via Nahal Yehudiya and Nahal Zavitan you return to Katzrin.
Along the way
km 394.1Susita lookout over the Kinneret
km 398.7Amphi Golan night campsite, 340 m off the route
km 414.8Mitzpe HaBanim over Nahal El Al
km 430.8Rujum el-Hiri, 220 m off the route
km 439.3Ein Yedidya night campsite
km 445.7Ayit waterfall lookout
Resupply · km 449.1 Aniam: a market and cafés. In Katzrin, km 460, SoGood 24/7 and the Golan Brewery
Where to sleep
The route is planned for nights in villages and towns, but there are night campsites all along the way. For example: Ohel Avraham in Nimrod (km 68.2), HaEla (km 136.3), Ein Hardalit (km 202.5), Tzippori forest (km 273.7, 830 m off the route), Hayardenit (km 376.8) and Ein Yedidya (km 439.3).
Straight-line distanceDistances from the route are straight-line distances, not riding distances. Before you set out, check on a map that a trail or road actually reaches the place.
Fuel stations, groceries and food within 200 m of the route. Fuel stations usually have water, toilets and a convenience store.
Straight-line distanceDistances from the route are straight-line distances, not riding distances. Before you set out, check on a map that a trail or road actually reaches the place.
km 0
Delek
km 3.6
GroceryA café or restaurant
km 26.7
Grocery
km 37.4
VasetA café or restaurant
km 48
El Rom Minimarket
km 51.4–51.7
SonolA café or restaurant
km 64.3–65.1
Fuel station, Truck3 cafés and restaurants
km 65.4–65.8
Fuel station3 cafés and restaurants
km 77.4
A café or restaurant
km 89.4
A café or restaurant
km 94.8
A café or restaurant
km 100.1–100.424/7
Dor Alon, Alonit, Pina BaGan +19 cafés and restaurants
km 110.6–111.4
Grocery ×29 cafés and restaurants
km 111.7
A café or restaurant
km 156.7–157.2
2 cafés and restaurants
km 176.2–176.5
3 cafés and restaurants
km 17924/7
Delek, MentaA café or restaurant
km 184.9
2 cafés and restaurants
km 187.7–187.8
Shufersal Deal, Mega Bul
km 210.2
Dor Alon
km 213.4
Yaad, Grocery
km 215.6–215.9
7 cafés and restaurants
km 218.9
Shavei Zion MarketA café or restaurant
km 224.3–224.9
2 cafés and restaurants
km 225.8–226.8
Askari Mini Market4 cafés and restaurants
km 227–227.7
Grocery ×214 cafés and restaurants
km 228.5–229.5
Paz, DiscountA café or restaurant
km 229.6
A café or restaurant
km 254.6
A café or restaurant
km 272
A café or restaurant
km 288.5–288.7
Grocery2 cafés and restaurants
km 310.2–310.6
Paz, Sonol, Delek7 cafés and restaurants
km 312.2–313.2
Il Mulino11 cafés and restaurants
km 313.3–314
Fuel station, Grocery15 cafés and restaurants
km 314.4
Super-Pharm
km 328.5
Delek
km 340.4–340.5
Paz, GroceryA café or restaurant
km 341.7
Grocery
km 354.3
A café or restaurant
km 355.9–356.2
2 cafés and restaurants
km 377.7–378.6
Grocery ×2A café or restaurant
km 379.4–380.324/7
Paz, Victory, Yellow8 cafés and restaurants
km 384.2
Dor Alon
km 391.3–391.6
Sonol, GroceryA café or restaurant
km 404.6
Grocery
km 449.1–449.3
Market Ani'am2 cafés and restaurants
km 459.1–46024/7
SoGood2 cafés and restaurants
Distances along the route are calculated from the GPX file; the distance of each place from the route is a straight-line distance. Night campsites come from the site's campsite map, other places from OpenStreetMap. Not checked on the ground: confirm before you go.
Firing zones: OpenStreetMap, IDF data import
Distance, climbing and recommended months come from the routes table. Highest and lowest points are calculated from the GPX file, and difficulty is an estimate based on climbing per kilometre.
An Israeli maker of sealant, lubes and repair kits. They built a full bikepacking repair kit with us: everything you need so a flat never ends your ride.
Rents out satellite trackers and communicators. In the desert and in areas with no signal, your family can follow your location, and in an emergency you can call for help.
An Israeli company making quality glasses at fair prices. Protection from sun, dust and wind over long days on the trail, and 20% off for the community.
