Israel Celebration Tours

Traditional, Group & Custom Tours of Israel

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Hiking

Netanya: The Israeli Riviera

Paragliding over Netanya, Israel
Cliffs over Netanya, Israel
View of Beach in Netanya, Israel
View of Beach in Netanya, Israel
Beach of Netanya, Israel
View of Beach in Netanya, Israel
Water Sports in Netanya, Israel
Stairs to Beach Netanya, Israel
View of Elevator to Beach in Netanya, Israel
Sunset over Netanya, Israel

The Israeli Version of the Riviera

When you think of the French Riviera, the image is a seaside, a vacation resort, with a beautiful Mediterranean coastline.  You picture a popular place to get away from the hustle and bustle for ultimate relaxation and entertainment. As it turns out, Netanya is the Israeli version of the Riviera, and highly recommended by world-wide travellers as a true resort town.

Netanya is a modern city, first developed in the 1920s, named honour of Nathan Straus co-owner of Macy’s department store.  Located on the Mediterranean coast, the city is about 20 miles north of Tel Aviv and 35 miles south of Haifa.  In Hebrew, the city of Netanya means “gift of God” and that is an apt description.  Some of Israel’s most beautiful, golden beaches are found on the Netanya coastline.

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February & March in Israel

February and March  are quiet travel times in Israel.  Fewer tourists are around, hotel prices and airline fares drop a bit.  It brings deals on hotel rooms and some activities. In part this is because winter is Israel’s rainy season, which may also include some snow. But this time of year is also a hiker’s paradise, if you don’t mind the possibility of getting a little wet.

By the time early spring begins, the hills of Judea, Galilee, the Golan Heights and even the Negev are covered with wildflowers and grass, and the weather is cool—in the 50s and 60s. Israel has more marked hiking trails per square meter than any other country, and the end of winter is the perfect time to explore them, but bring your rain gear.  If  hiking isn’t your thing, just enjoy the flora and fauna.  There are millions of European birds that ‘winter’ in Israel and bird-watching brings people from all over the world armed with binoculars.

Wildflowers in Israel in Spring

Wildflowers in Israel in Spring

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Hiking or Biking the Sea of Galilee

If you love history and hiking or biking, then Israel has a wonderful place for you to visit. The Sea of Galilee Trail is a 35-mile trail, divided into 7 segments, that goes around most of the Sea of Galilee, which is actually a freshwater lake. The trail takes you through awe-inspiring, historic, and spiritual landscapes in Israel. The trail passes iconic religious sites of the region, including Capernaum, the Jordan River (both where it flows into and out of the Sea of Galilee), the iconic Greek Orthodox Church of the Apostles, the ruins of Ayish, and Amnun Bay.

Google Map of Sea of Galilee and Surrounding Towns

The trail can be walked, or biked, in segments.  Hiking the full path around Lake Kinneret, as it is called by Israelis, will take approximately four days. The path is not difficult: it is mostly flat – there are no mountains and one hill. Along the way you can stop by hotels, beaches, campsites, and restaurants. At Israel Celebration Tours, we recommend hiking the trail for a few hours early in the morning (before 10 am, especially in the summer) and then spend the rest of the day relaxing on one of the beaches, visiting a spa, and having a relaxing meal in one of the local restaurants.

The route is marked with a two white stripes with a purple stripe down the middle. Some segments of the trail are paved, while others are left wild.

The Sea of Galilee Trail ties in with other hiking trails including the Jesus Trail (Nazareth to Capernaum), and the Israel National Trail (from Metulla to Eilat).

A view of the Sea of Galilee in Spring

A view of the Sea of Galilee in Spring

When planning for this activity, be sure to have comfortable hiking or biking shoes, hats, sunglasses, and plenty of water. In summertime, a bus service runs around the lake, making every segment easily accessible.  On the the south-western side of the lake, near the junction with Road 90 and the entrance to Kibbutz Ginosar, the Tsalmon Stream Promenade is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

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