High holidays

If you go to the Golan Heights for your vacation don’t rush right back home – stay the night and relax.

By NERIA BARR
Golan Heights 370 (photo credit: Joe Yudin)
Golan Heights 370
(photo credit: Joe Yudin)
The Golan Heights are at their most glorious now. One of the least populated areas in Israel, they are studded with small rural communities and many parks.
The basalt hills are covered with grass and flowers, the streams are flowing with water and Mount Hermon, with its snowcovered summit, gives an Alpine feel.
But scenic views are not all the Golan has to offer visitors. A number of kibbutzim in the area are offering varied tourist attractions, wineries, olive-oil presses, cafes and restaurants, as well as many different places to stay.
Merom Golan You may still catch some snow on the slopes of the Hermon, or enjoy a hike to the Ayit waterfall. But if you are on a vacation with the kids, Kibbutz Merom Golan has something for every member of the family – from allterrain vehicles to guided tours, bicycle or horse-back riding in the beautiful trails, and much more.
Their guest-house “cowboy-style” two-room cabins are adorable. There is a main bedroom and a living room, with a small kitchenette, television, garden furniture and a vast lawn around the cabins. The kids can run outside while you relax and take in the clean air. There are also playgrounds and animal-petting stations open to guests. The adjacent kosher Cowboy Grill restaurant offers excellent meats, salads and and kids dinners.
For more info and rate call (04) 6960267.
Nofey Gonen Not very far from there on the slopes of the Golan Height is Kibbutz Gonen, home of another vacation “village.” The Nofey Gonen hotel offers beautiful bungalows, each equipped with a Jacuzzi, small kitchenette and four rooms. The view from the rooms are beautiful and the landscaping, with fresh herbs and flowers won my heart.
A new lobby was recently opened and it offers a large bar and sitting area, as well as a dining area offering different levels of meals, including family dinners and gourmet dinners prepared by Chef Yftach Zafrir.
A vast porch offers a scenic view of the Naftaly mountains and the Hula valley.
Nofey Gonen offer’s a unique touring service – they will tailor a tour for you according to your specifications and even advise where to stop on the way. An inventive interactive touring presentation will show the many touring options open to you in the area with detailed explanations and all the information you may need, short videos and photos and they will make all the reservations for you if you so choose.
For more info and rate call (04) 6955220