With its incredible mix of religious and cultural history, as well as the myriad leisure vacation opportunities available in Israel, don’t overlook the enormous variety of active vacation options available throughout this tiny, but diverse country.

The Galilee

Certainly a good place to start off on an active vacation schedule would be The Galilee, a region stretching from the Golan Heights to Haifa in the north, filled with a broad range of exciting and active vacation options including:

• Horseback riding: this is surprisingly popular and the most suitable riding spots for visitors are the Golan Heights and the Upper Galilee, with its rolling green hills, lush forests and water-filled wadis.

• Snowskiing! It’s true, Mount Hermon in the northern Golan Heights actually offers snowskiing, including a modern ski resort with lift service, equipment rental and activities for children.
  
• The Manara Cliffs—overlooking the Upper Galilee, Mount Hermon, the Golan Heights and beyond—have been outfitted with a ziplining course so clients can literally “zip” down the canyon or they also have the option of rappelling down the cliff if they prefer.
  
• The beautiful Jilaboun Canyon gorge cuts through the Golan Heights down to the riverbed where hikers can take a break with a dip in the cool water. Later, they can do some wine tasting at the Golan Heights Winery, where visitors learn how wine was made in ancient times, in comparison to today’s modern methods.
  
• Cruising down the Jordan River on a raft or an inner tube, is a pretty cool way to enjoy The Galilee on a hot summer day.