Golan Heights: Day tour from Jerusalem with guide & pickup

Summary

Golan Heights day trip from Jerusalem with local stories & views

You’ll travel from Jerusalem through Galilee and up into the Golan Heights, stopping at Yardenit baptism site, exploring ancient Katzrin village with its synagogue ruins, tasting local cheese, and standing atop Mount Bental with views into Syria. With a local guide sharing stories along the way and hotel pickup included, this is one day trip you’ll remember long after returning home.

What’s the experience like?

Hands gripping the bus seat as we curved past the Sea of Galilee — that’s how I remember starting this Golan Heights day trip from Jerusalem. Our guide, Avi, was already pointing out something about the Jordan Valley, but honestly I was still half-awake and mostly just watching the light flicker over the water. There’s a moment when you pass a roadside stand and catch that mix of dust and sweet fruit in the air — it’s small, but it sticks with you.

We stopped at Yardenit, where people were quietly stepping into the river for baptisms. I didn’t expect to feel anything there, but seeing families holding towels and laughing in so many languages made me pause. Avi explained some history — he always had a story ready, sometimes wandering off-topic (in a good way). The drive up into the Golan Heights felt longer than I thought it would be; you see old tanks by the roadside and then suddenly you’re in Katzrin, walking over stones that have been there for centuries. The synagogue ruins are rough under your hands — not polished at all, which somehow makes them feel more real.

Lunch was quick (bring snacks if you get hungry early), but we did get to try some local cheese at a shop near Katzrin. Li, another traveler, tried to ask for directions in Hebrew and got an amused smile from the shopkeeper — language is always half-guesswork here. The Golan Antiquities Museum is small but has these old olive presses that still smell faintly of oil if you lean close enough. It’s not fancy or anything; just quiet and cool inside.

Mount Bental was windy — like hair-whipping-around-your-face windy — and you can see straight across to Syria from those old bunkers. There’s graffiti everywhere inside them now, some of it funny (“Shalom from Canada!”) and some just names scratched into concrete. Avi pointed out Quneitra Valley below us; I tried to imagine what it must’ve been like during tense times here, but honestly it was just silent except for our group’s footsteps echoing in those tunnels. Heading back toward Jerusalem felt slower somehow — maybe because everyone was tired or maybe because nobody wanted to stop looking out the window at those hills rolling away behind us.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Golan Heights and Katzrin

• Travel through the Galilee
• Travel through the Jordan Valley
• Pass by the Sea of Galilee
• Visit ancient village and synagogue in Katzrin
• Visit Golan Antiquities Museum
• Visit Mount Bental and Syrian bunkers

Top questions

How long is the Golan Heights day trip from Jerusalem?

The tour lasts a full day including travel time to and from Jerusalem.

Is hotel pickup included for this Golan Heights tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included in your booking.

What sites do we visit on this Golan Heights day trip?

You’ll visit Yardenit baptism site, Katzrin village and synagogue ruins, Golan Antiquities Museum, Mount Bental, and pass by the Sea of Galilee.

Is lunch included on this tour?

No traditional lunch is included; bring snacks or buy food during stops.

Are entrance fees covered in this Golan Heights tour?

Yes, all entrance fees are included in your booking price.

Is this tour suitable for children?

This tour is not suitable for children under 4 years old.

Do I need special fitness levels for this day trip?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

What should I bring on the Golan Heights day trip?

You should bring water, comfortable shoes, a hat, and sun protection.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Jerusalem, entry fees to all sites visited (like Katzrin village and Mount Bental), transportation by air-conditioned vehicle throughout the journey, plus stories and guidance from a professional local guide before returning in the evening.