Day 1- Extreme Caving in the North
Zip-Line Via Ferrata in the Western Galilee
Join us for the new and more challenging attraction of “Zip-Line Via Ferrata”, or “The Iron Road” in English, is a challenging and unique climbing adventure that is carried out along the cliff when we are secured to a steel cable connected to the cliff and accompanied by a breathtaking view of trees, mountains, and sea.
A special and challenging sports field that is gaining momentum, popularity and great interest in the world. This adventure of “Via Ferrata” is the second out of three in Israel, and is considered to be of a higher technical and challenging level than the first. This adventure additionally combines Via Ferrata as a way to pass from cliff to cliff, also cliff rappelling and omegas (zip-lining) as a way to pass from the top of the cliff to the cliff!
We do 4 different activities on this site, some of the activities are independent of each other, meaning that you can choose to do all of them or only some of them, all according to the interest and the time available to us.
1) Via Ferrata – this is a section of about 900 meters in which we will climb cliffs, descend in ravines, hold on to iron handles, cross suspension bridges and be constantly secured to a steel cable that accompanies us along the route. We will use special equipment that ensures that every second and moment we are secure – the equipment that allows us to reach points on the cliff that were never accessible to humans!
2) Zip-Lines – two zip-line sections – we will zip-line the steel cable at speed while looking at the amazing view and the sea!
3) Rappelling – in the middle of the Via Ferrata, when everyone is secured to the cable, ropes will be anchored and you will be able to rappel over the cliff.
4) Rock climbing – after we finish rappelling, the way back to the Via Ferrata route is by “rock climbing”, of course there are several different levels of climbing that will be adapted to your ability.
After we finish climbing the cliffs, we will continue on the “Via Ferrata” adventure back to the starting point where we will say goodbye to the site which is considered one of the most beautiful and special in the State of Israel!
Tzfat Walking City Tour
It’s said that walking through Tzfat is like walking into a picture, and it’s true! Everywhere you turn, your eyes will be filled with breathtaking views, gorgeous architecture and ancient sites, while you breathe in the sweet clean mountain air.
Tzfat’s history dates back more than 2,000 years, since the time of the second temple in Jerusalem. The city has been continuously occupied by various people and communities throughout the centuries. Today it is known as the capital of the Galilee, and boasts a thriving community of over 35,000 residents. Although the city has continued to grow and move into the 21st century, it still maintains its special and unique character.
One of Israel’s four holy cities, Tzfat has always been an important city for the Jewish people and is considered the most mystical city in all of Israel. It is also known worldwide as the city of Kabbalah. During 1500 -1700 many renowned Jewish scholars of the Kabbalah lived and learned in the city, one of the most famous being Rabbi Itzhak Luria – the ARI. This time is also known as Tzfat’s “Golden Era.”
On this special tour we will explore the winding alleyways and cobblestone streets of “Old City” of Tzfat. We will view the varied and beautiful artwork displayed in the Artists’ Quarter and admire the awe-inspiring views of Meron and the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). We will also hear the miraculous stories of the War of Independence and enter the ancient synagogues, admiring their beauty and taking in their holiness. This historical tour also includes a few stop-offs at important historical religious sites, such as the old Jewish Quarter and the once operating British Police Station, among other places.
Bungee Swoop
You will be surrounded by a panoramic view of Israel in all of its beauty. Placed over the Jordan River about 9 miles north of the Sea of Galilee and about 10 miles east of Rosh Pina on Route 91, this special Bailey bridge is an Israeli landmark. Off of this bridge we will bungee swoop through the air with a stunning view of the flowing Jordan below, the mountains of the Galilee and the Golan to either side of you. The bungee swoop is easy but VERY exciting as you are suspended in midair, not facing a rock cliff. No experience is necessary. The activity is completely optional and can be done repeatedly.
While some are doing the bungee swoop, others can walk around, hike the paths, relax by the water in the shade, or swim in the Jordan river. This site is perfect for a BBQ or picnic lunch. Please let us know if you would like us to arrange this for your group.
What is the Bungee Swoop?
Real Adrenaline junkies – For those who are EXTREME at heart, we offer you the option of doing the bungee swoop off of the bridge. You will be harnessed and you’ll bungee off while attached to the other side of the bridge, giving the jump a huge swoop and swinging motion. Even just watching the bungee swoop is an adrenaline rush! There is nothing else like this in all of Israel. Fun, fun, fun!
The bridge is of strategic military importance, as it is one of the few fixed crossing points for the Jordan River enabling access from the Golan to the Galilee.
In the past, this bridge was a major crossing point between Acco and Damascus, and was utilized in the 12th century for trade and also in wars. In 1179, Saladin captured the holy land from the Christian King Baldwin IV at the Battle of Jacob’s Ford, which was at this same site. In 1918, Turkish forces retreating from the British in World War I destroyed the bridge.
The bridge was destroyed again on June 16-17, 1946 by the Haganah on the night of the bridges. After the Israeli War of Independence, the bridge was part of the demilitarized zone.
In 1967, during the six day war, the Israeli army constructed a temporary Bailey Bridge at the site. By 2007, there were two Bailey bridges there, one for traffic in each direction. A wide modern concrete permanent bridge was completed in 2007, and one of the Bailey bridges was dismantled. The second Bailey bridge was left for emergency purposes, but has been blocked from vehicles.
Nachal Arugot and its springs, along with other abundant water sources has attracted both people and animals since the chalcolithic period, about 4500 BCE. Due to the sweet water and the high temperatures of the region, there is vegetation such as oleander, reeds, ferns, and tropical fruits.
You may see wildlife: capra, rock hyrax, river crabs and more. The highlight of the hike is the impressive hidden waterfall. Take a dip and stand under the pounding water for a natural massage! The stream burbles over rocks and shallow pools offer refreshing respite from the heat. If you’re adventurous and have water shoes, you can hike in the streambed, climbing the boulders and wading in pools.
Estimated Time: 2-6 hours
Day 2 - Exploring in the North
Rosh Hanikra
Rosh Hanikra is a geologic formation in Israel, located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, in the Western Galilee. An amazing place, it is a white chalk cliff face which opens up into spectacular grottos that are cavernous tunnels formed by sea action on the soft chalk rock. The total length is some 200 meters. They branch off in various directions with some interconnecting segments. In the past, the only access to them was from the sea and experienced divers were the only ones capable of visiting. Today a cable car takes visitors down to see the grottos.
(Rosh Hanikra entrance fee not included in the cost for your private guide for the day: 35 NIS for Senior Citizens, Soldiers and Children up to 18, and 43 NIS for adults; prices subject to change).
Keshet Cave
Visit the most beautiful view in Israel from the highest point in the Western Galilee, with a vista of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea and the entire Galilee.
Once a real cave, the ceiling of the cave collapsed millennia ago leaving only an arch which gives the site its name. You can rappel off the mammoth natural stone arch bridging the mountains, sailing through the air with an amazing panoramic view surrounding you.
This is very exciting as you are suspended in mid-air. We will use cables to take the beautiful, adventurous and challenging 35-minute hike backup, often accompanied by many curious mountain goats.
The site is accessible to all, even strollers and wheelchairs. All the extreme activities are optional. The rappelling is easy and no experience is necessary. The minimum age is 10 years old.
ATV Tour
Our super adventurous ATV tour will take you through the Naftali mountains famous for having the best off-road tracks in the country. Your tour will start with choosing the coolest off road vehicle, then beginning your ride on the most beautiful, adventurous, and unique dirt roads in the country.
These roads combine breathtaking views with steep hills, green forests, and driving through deep streams of water going against the current (in season)! All along the trail, you will be able to see Mount Hermon, the volcanos on top of the Golan, the Hula Valley, and the Hula Lake – a spot that attracts millions of birds resting on their migration between Africa and Europe (seasonal).
You’ll be driving on uneven, rocky and challenging (in winter time: muddy) ground, going up steep hills and down precipitous slopes. As well as through the forest of the Naftali Mountains, which has the highest peak in the chain of mountains!
On your way back you will ride to the Moshav either along the same route or by an alternate one – depending on your driving skills. From either route you will be able to enjoy views of Bikat Kadesh and the Lebanese mountains.
Day 3 - Adventure in the North
IDF Lebanon Jeep Tour
This tour takes you along the Lebanese border in the eastern Galilee. This is a tour not found in any visitors’ guide or tour book of Israel! It’s is a very special tour where your guide is a local resident, with many personal stories to share of life along the border of Lebanon and Israel.
This is a journey behind the scenes, a look at life on the Lebanese border, “living an ordinary life under threat”. You also will have the unique and rare opportunity to meet with IDF combat soldiers, who are guarding the nearby Lebanese border.
We will spend time getting to know the combat soldiers and watching them in action up close and personal. Depending on the circumstances, we will see some combat vehicles, such as tanks, D9 (huge army bulldozer), hummers and ATMOS vehicles. Sometimes we get invited by the soldiers to climb on!
This unique and amazing tour will give you a better understanding of the conflict, the lives of the soldiers protecting our land, and everyday life at the border from an up close and personal perspective.
While riding on the jeep, you will experience exhilarating steep ascents and descents through the mountains. Along the way we will drive through breathtaking panoramic views of the Golan Heights, Hula Valley, and Mount Hermon (covered in snow during the winter months). Throughout your adventure you will hear about the history, geology, flora and fauna of this unique ecosystem.
We will also review the geopolitical situation at the observation points, tour the local agricultural orchards, and depending on the season, we will plant fruit trees near the border fence, and/or taste the seasonal fruit (in the summer and autumn).
Horseback Riding at Biriya Forest Farm
Horseback riding is a great way to discover and explore Israel’s countryside. Israel Extreme’s Horseback Riding Adventures trots you along a beautiful route high on the Galilee Mountains. Amazingly beautiful panoramic views of the Hula Valley and Naftali Mountains accompany us along the way.
The horses are gentle and well-trained so anyone can ride. No prior horseback riding experience is necessary. Horseback riding can be an adventure on its own, or can be added to many of our hiking, rappelling and rock climbing adventures.
Day 4 - Extreme Water Adventure in the North
Rappelling at Nachal Jilabun
Nachal Jilabun is one of the most famous streams in the Golan Heights. With its steep descent from the Golan Heights Ridge into the Hula Valley, the water makes its way into the Jordan River. Nachal Jilabun is a high stream with a flow of water that runs vigorously all year round. Along the stream is thick vegetation such as oak trees, figs, river hawthorns, and more. The view itself attracts avid hikers from all over the country.
Once we are well up the stream, we’ll find two spectacular and robust waterfalls. The first is called “Deborah’s waterfall”. Awaiting at the bottom is a large and deep pool between the lava walls of the canyon. For the thrill seeker – this site is perfect for you! You can swim under the pummeling water, and enter a small cave just behind the falls. The second waterfall, ‘Jilabun waterfall’, is a jaw dropping 140 feet high and is the highest flowing waterfall in all of Israel. Ready for the true adventure now?! Now we get to rappel down this massive running waterfall! As we make our way rappelling down the ropes, and through the waterfall, prepare to get soaked! If you are looking for a completely authentic experience, we invite you to take the challenge of this raw ‘canyoning’ experience! Once we reach the bottom, we will detach from our ropes, and swim across the cool pool.
This is a unique experience and a rare opportunity for extreme rappelling/abseiling in a clear and cold waterfall. It is a charming route on the western slopes of the Golan Heights, and is suitable for the entire family.
There is no obligation to rappel at the Jilabun waterfall. For anyone who does not wish to rappel – they can opt to go down the marked path to the bottom. From there they can take pictures and watch the other participants rappel down the falls!
Day 5 - Extreme Caving Tour in the North
Abirim Stalagmite/Stalactite Cave
Discovered by Israel Extreme, this amazing stalagmite/stalactite cave is a new hidden cave, by far the most extraordinary in the Middle East. Israel Extreme is lucky enough to have some of our guides help discover, explore, and map out the caves of Israel with the Israeli government.
Therefore we are fortunate enough to be the ONLY tour company in Israel that knows the location of this cave. You can be sure you will be one of the lucky few to visit this underworld treasure to date.
When you enter this seemingly fairy-tale castle as our past clients have described it, you will feel as if you are entering a whole new world… Not even the makers of Disney could create such a mystical, magical place.
To enter the cave, we first rappel over 100 feet down through a hole in the ground into a huge hall within the cave. Once down, we will be greeted by the largest known herd of peaceful, magnificent, and curious salamanders in Israel. Just when you think it can’t get any more beautiful, you will be pleasantly surprised to experience a whole new beauty that you didn’t think existed in this world.
You will be pleasantly surprised to discover your creativity in this underground fantasy world as well. Some of our clients describe the stalagmite and stalactite fixtures to look like imaginary sculptures and some describe them as animals, food and even more… Every sense and faculty will be provoked in Abirim…
We will be using ropes and gear throughout the cave in order to maneuver around the obstacles, and in some places in order to avoid damaging this special cave. There is hiking, climbing, crawling, and rappelling involved.
We must exit the cave the same way we enter. Using specialized equipment, we will climb back up the ropes through the air to our starting point above ground. Abirim Cave is a perfect tour choice all year round as the temperature remains cool in the summer and pleasant in the winter; it maintains a constant year-round temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit/25 degrees Celsius.
Each person who is going to do the caving will need a headlamp. You can either bring them with you, or you can purchase them through us. There are three types: a) less expensive ones for 57 NIS each b) the better ones with more LED for 75 NIS each and C) high quality, waterproof, professional Petzl Tactikka XP headlamps which come with a lifetime warranty for 310 NIS.
Please let us know if you want us to purchase them for you, and if so, how many and which type.
Author: Gateway to Israel Tours
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