While rock climbing, skydiving, and other extreme activities have become quite popular and well known in Israel – many travelors don’t realise that there is a completely different kind of extreme experience waiting just under their feet. Caving or also known as ‘spelunking’ is slowly becoming more popular in the tourist industry. Spelunking varies in levels, and also has a wide arrange of equipment used – such as headlamps, ropes, ect.
Caving Tour to Alma Cave
Just in the Galil there are many caves that formed by the disolution of the bedrock, and are completely accessible via rope or ladder. Alma Cave is highly popular and drops to one hundred and five meters below the surface. As you make your way to the mouth of the cave, you’ll see incredible views of Mount Hermon, the Golan Heights, the Hula Valley, and even Mount Evyatar. This is a straight forward caving adventure for anyone who is new to spelunking. The actual spelunking is a little bit challenging, but due to it being an easy route, anyone who wants to turn around and go back can.
Haritun Cave
Making our way through the hills of the Shomron lies a special cave called Haritun. It is completely engulfed by beautiful views of the surrounding mountains with scenery that still looks almost the way it was thousands of years ago.
Along the hike we’ll pass hundreds of archeological ruins that range from hundreds to even three thousand years ago. Haritun cave is the longest and largest limestone cave in Israel.
It has four main levels with at least fifty five ‘halls’ and over four and half kilometers of tunnels! While exploring this labrynth, you will need headlamps to penetrate the pitch black, and at times you will need to crawl and climb through nature and history!
This caving adventure stops by a massive underground reservoir that is full of deep and cold water. It was originally built by the Romans to collect rainwater, and has been rebuilt and repaired over the centuries.
Caving Tour to Madras
Caving in Israel is unlike any adventures you have done before. It provides the sense of adventure while also pushing you to go beyond your comfort zone.
If you head down to Ella Valley, you will find the ruins of an ancient agricultural settlement called Hurvat Madras. The Jewish National Fund established in the Madras ruin a well-organized hiking route that travels through many ancient sites that covers about five thousand dunam with Mediterranean woodlands, Kermes Oak, and many other species.
Along the remains of various buildings lies an extensive complex of caves and tunnels that were dug by Jewish fighters. We will have the chance to crawl through these tunnels in Hurvat Madras and experience what these fighters of long ago did.
This caving adventure in Israel is easy and appropriate for young children. If you are ready to experience history like never before, come caving in Israel!
Author: Gateway to Israel Tours
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