Nature Reserve
Israel’s nature reserves protect a surprising range of habitats in a small country, from desert canyons to coastal wetlands. The posts here cover hikes and visits within those reserves, including the Northern Judean Desert.
11 articles
11 articles
Family Fun in the Desert Surroundings of Mitzpe Ramon
A family day out in Mitzpe Ramon and the Ramon Crater: bakery treats, the alpaca farm, collecting coloured sands, ibex spotting and a small desert nature reserve.
Nachal Amud and Migration in the Hula
A perfect autumn hike down through Nachal Meiron and Nachal Amud, followed by a drive across the Galilee to the ancient synagogue at Bar'am and the migrating cranes at the Agamon.
Hiking the Zavitan Stream
A short hike on the upper Zavitan stream in the Yehudiya Nature Reserve, with basalt-column pools, a waterfall and plenty of opportunity to cool off in the Golan heat.
The Ayalon Valley
A day in the Ayalon valley between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem: Tel Gezer's Israelite gate, Mini Israel, the Crusader Toron des Chevalliers and Latrun's silent Trappist monks, ancient Emmaus, the Tombs of the Maccabees and Neot Kedumim.
The Road to Jerusalem in 1948
A field trip along the 1948 road to Jerusalem: the Masrek viewpoint over Shaar Hagay, the snow-covered Castel, the Kiriat Anavim cemetery for the Harel Brigade, the Yad Lashiryon Armoured Corps memorial at Latrun, and the Burma Road that finally broke the siege.
Campus Upper Galilee day three: Eastern Upper Galilee
Our campus moves to the Eastern Upper Galilee, taking in Roman ruins at Tel Kedesh, battle sites at Tel Chai and the Koach Fortress, the Tanur waterfall, a view into Lebanon from Metulla and the vast tel of Hazor.
Campus Golan Day 2: the Lower Hermon and the Northern Golan Heights
Day 2 of our Golan Heights course: Tel Dan's salamander, the world's oldest arch, the Hellenist temple at Banias, the Yom Kippur battlefields at Mt Bental and the Valley of Tears, and a kumzitz to close.
Hula Valley
A day in the Hula Valley: Rosh Pina's restored First Aliyah old town, the Mitzpe Nimrod lookout, the Crusader Castle of Chastellet, the Mishmar Hayarden memorial and the Hula and Agamon reserves at dusk when half a billion migrating birds land.
Ein Gedi
Ein Gedi on the western shore of the Dead Sea: a hike up the David stream past plunge pools and a Chalcolithic temple, a Byzantine synagogue with a cryptic curse, the date palm groves, the Dead Sea sinkholes and a final stop at the kibbutz botanical gardens.
Mount Carmel
A day on Mount Carmel, from the panoramic Mishmar HaCarmel viewpoint and the burn scars of the 2010 fire to Little Switzerland, the Chai Bar wildlife reserve, the Druze town of Daliyat-al-Carmel and the Muchraka monastery linked to the prophet Elijah.
If you are going to Israel, you would be mad not to give him a call.
Amol Rajan, BBC presenter and broadcaster
Having been on trips in Israel with seven different tour guides, Samuel stood above all the rest.
Seasoned Israel traveller
Samuel is one part walking encyclopedia, one part storyteller, one part stand-up comedian.
Berkeley Haas Business School student