Amazing views with colorful fall foliage, farms and wineries, delicious jams and a pink sunset over the Sea of Galilee • Just before the snow arrives, the green Golan awaits visitors
You fell on Kibbutz Merom Golan
Photography:
Smadar Salton
Already on the ascent on the open roads to the Golan Heights, between green landscapes, the feeling of freedom creeps in, similar to the moment of takeoff on a plane.
When you "land" and get out of the car in the northern Golan, the experience will be completed with somewhat European temperatures, with pastoral silence and with calm and kind people.
If you start your visit to Kibbutz Merom Golan, you will discover another spectacle that will remind you abroad - a beautiful show, with leaves in red, orange, yellow, burgundy and brown, in all their shades.
"When the kibbutz was established in 1972, we discovered that the trees that were here were broken under the cold snow, and we examined which trees were most resistant to these climatic conditions," says Hanoch Shenk, who was in charge of the kibbutz for 35 years.
“We discovered that the deciduous trees are the most durable, and we brought them especially from abroad.
It just so happens that they also give spectacular fall performances, which this year will continue into December. Greedy for a picnic overlooking the Merom Golan reservoir, the Valley of Weeping, the Contra Valley and Mount Hermon.
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Between the vineyards
If you want a connection closer to nature, on a tour mounted on a Segway-like spacecraft, you will find one at the nearby Kibbutz Ortal.
This is a braider - a four-wheeled vehicle that can be ridden while standing or sitting.
The family route is fun and passes through the open areas of the kibbutz, between the avenues of kiwi orchards that are painted with yellow fall, and the vineyards of Ortal Winery.
It is suitable for adults over the age of 16 and children from the age of 6-3 sitting in a safety seat behind the parent.
The more challenging route includes a field trip to the Ortal Nature Reserve and Fig Hill, and from there to the orchards and vineyards of the kibbutz, and is suitable for ages 16 and up.
For details: .052-5612293
Kibbutz Ortal also has an Ortal winery, where you can stock up on a romantic basket with a bottle of wine and two glasses.
Also in Ortal, a collective accommodation complex with cozy guest rooms and rustic and luxurious holiday cabins.
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A short drive away is the Kedmat Zvi colony, which has several points of interest.
Right at the entrance is the Belle Ofri Farm, established by Tami and Bebi Kabalo twenty years ago, and offers a tour for an adult audience that combines tradition with ecology and art.
Tammy is an artist with a master's degree in Jewish philosophy.
The farm is full of sculptures, reliefs and works by her that link ideas from the Talmud and the Mishnah to the present day.
Babi is in charge of ecological construction, and is also a stained glass artist, humpback, winemaker and goldsmith.
There is also a restaurant operating on takeaway services, a small home-made Ein Nashut winery and an art shop.
Price of the tour: 35 shekels, by prior arrangement.
For details: .052-8805026
Right next door, do not miss a visit to Sarah Kozikaro's magical jam house.
Here, inside a pavilion that looks like a customer from a children's fairy tale, Sarah established her jam kingdom 13 years ago.
About 140 different flavors of jams made from seasonal fruits and vegetables, traditionally cooked in her home kitchen with sugar and spices and no preservatives.
Special and delicious combinations such as figs, whiskey, apricot and poppy, pear and coffee liqueur, blood orange and vodka, along with garlic delicacies in special toppings, for sandwiches and sauces.
Price of jams: starting at NIS 25.
For details and prior arrangement: .052-6485803
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To the south
You can end the visit in the northern part of the Golan with a tasting visit to the nearby Golan Basalt Winery.
This is the first boutique winery, established in '98 in an area that used to be a Syrian air base. The winery produces about 80,000 bottles of kosher wine a year. Its flagship wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot. At the entrance you will find a large hospitality terrace. Beautiful covered in vine bushes. Tasting visit price: 25 shekels. Wine prices range from 125 shekels to 670 shekels. For details: 04-6965010
From here you can continue to the southern Golan, which also has something to offer at this beautiful time of year.
In Moshav Ramat Magshimim, you can connect to your artistic side in the workshop of weaving fallen leaves in the studio, a weaving act by Hani Roth.
Here, along with plenty of Roth's natural creations, a variety of materials from the area will be waiting for you - fallen leaves, dried flowers, shrubs, pine cones and pine needles, and you will learn to weave them into a colorful and beautiful circle or make works like a green picture, kokodema (moss covered with earth) .
Roth incorporates in the workshop an emotional conversation about throwing, accompanied by cards.
Price: starting at NIS 250 per person, by prior arrangement.
For details: .058-7126601
Near Ramat Magshimim is Moshav Natur, which has a Natur farm established by Karina and Yoni Rafael.
On the farm they produce about ten hard and semi-hard cheeses from sheep's milk, some with special toppings like chili or chestnut charcoal.
The energetic Karina also prepares small quiches and dairy meals that can be taken away or ordered on delivery.
Arrival by prior arrangement only.
For details: .050-4563111
Finally, we will take a sunset tour overlooking the Sea of Galilee, at the Ein Keshtot National Heritage Site.
Already at the entrance to the visitor center you will notice a panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee, Mount Tabor, Mount Meron, Safed and the Upper and Lower Galilee.
At the site of a Jewish settlement from the Talmudic period, the remains of a restored synagogue and an ancient spring that served as a water point on the way from the Galilee to Damascus, with arches above it, were found here.
The view is spectacular, especially at sunset, and you can continue on a hike in the trusty stream that flows at the foot of the site.
Arrival by prior arrangement.
For details: .04-6851002