For our remaining days in Israel, we decided to drive around and explore the country. Driving out of Jerusalem was a lot easier than driving in Jordan as most people actually stay within the lines and respect the road rules. We drove toward Tel-Aviv, and went north to reach Akko. Akko has a old fortified city and a citadel. We wanted to visit the citadel, but unfortunately, because of a theater festival, the citadel was not available for regular tourists. We walked for a few minutes in the old city, and in the market but we didn’t feel like being stuck in people so we decided to get out of the old city and have a look at the Mediterranean Sea from the Israeli side.We enjoyed the view and the wind before getting back into our rental Smart and driving East.
Because we were early, we went to the viewpoints mentioned in the Lonely Planet. We drove along the Syrian border to Majdal Shams, but couldn’t see the viewpoint. The views were pretty good anyway and we got up to Mt. Hermon, were the road was blocked by a gate so we stopped and took a few pictures. The Golan Heights region is scenic with nice valleys and some orchards and wineries. During our stay in Katzrin, we stayed at Golan Garden, a brand-new hostel run by really friendly owners Milou and Alon.
On our second day discovering Israel, we went for a hike in the Yehudiya Nature Reserve. We followed the upper Zavitan trail from the hostel to the waterfalls. It was a good three-our walk. We saw some natural pools and a nice waterfall. After our morning walk, we came back to the hostel to shower and relax, before getting back in the car to have a look at Mt Bental lookout (an Israeli bunker turned tourist attraction) We tried to go in the bunker, but it was too dark to be able to see where we were going.
On our last day of discovery, we drove toward the Dead Sea. On our way we stopped to a nice viewpoint over the Sea of Galilee. Alon from the hostel had mentioned another nice viewpoint where we could see three countries; Israel, Jordan and Syria. We had GPS coordinates so we though this was going to be easy to find. It was not.
We followed the small road,which looked like a farmer’s private road all the way to a United Nation building. We turned around and kept going on the road, thinking we were going to see the viewpoint. As soon as we started going downhill, we were driving along the Syria, Jordan borders… lined with very tall barbed-wire fences. We kept driving, but soon there was a closed gate. So we turned around. On the other side of the electrified barbed-wire fence, the view seemed really amazing, over the mountains of Jordan and Syria, but we didn’t feel it was the kind of place to stop and snap pictures. We were just worried somebody was going to stop us and ask us what the hell we were doing on the border line, in a rented Smart…
We kept driving to the Dead Sea, entered Palestine, no question asked, and followed the groups of slow driving tourists. The Dead Sea is nice on the Israeli side as well, the turquoise water and the Jordanian mountain makeup for a good scenery. But again there are some barbed-wire fences so no great photo opportunities while driving.
We arrived in Masada early in the afternoon. Masada was a fortress, a palace and a rebel stronghold perched atop a mountain. It has a pretty surprising history giving that it is not easily reachable and located in less than human friendly setting. After spending a about an hour at the top, exploring the ruins, and enjoying the view of the Dead Sea and sand dunes, we came back down the 700 steps and drove some more. We stayed in Arad for the night and the next morning we brought the car back to Jerusalem.
The next day was already time to leave Israel and go back to Jordan in order to catch our fight. We left the hostel at 7:30, walked to the bus station and arrived just in time as the minibus was almost ready to leave. We passed a few checkpoints on the way to Allenby bridge. When we arrived to the passport control, we put our bags on a trolley and walked in the building. The way out of Israel was a lot faster and easier than coming in. They looked at our passports and our visa cards and sent us to the next counter. After getting our exit stamps and paying the exit fees, we walked out and waited for the tourist bus to arrive and take us to the other side. The Jordanian side was as hectic as coming in. The officer gathered everybody’s passport, and went out of the bus. The guy selling tickets for the bus than got on and collected money. As soon as we paid, we were allowed outside and went to wait in front of the three officers for them to call out our names and give us our passports back. We walked outside and were assaulted by taxi drivers, and finally made our way back to Amman where we spent the remaining of the day doing what we loved most in Jordan: eating, walking around, and trying to find something to spent our last dinars on.
Because we were early, we went to the viewpoints mentioned in the Lonely Planet. We drove along the Syrian border to Majdal Shams, but couldn’t see the viewpoint. The views were pretty good anyway and we got up to Mt. Hermon, were the road was blocked by a gate so we stopped and took a few pictures. The Golan Heights region is scenic with nice valleys and some orchards and wineries. During our stay in Katzrin, we stayed at Golan Garden, a brand-new hostel run by really friendly owners Milou and Alon.
On our second day discovering Israel, we went for a hike in the Yehudiya Nature Reserve. We followed the upper Zavitan trail from the hostel to the waterfalls. It was a good three-our walk. We saw some natural pools and a nice waterfall. After our morning walk, we came back to the hostel to shower and relax, before getting back in the car to have a look at Mt Bental lookout (an Israeli bunker turned tourist attraction) We tried to go in the bunker, but it was too dark to be able to see where we were going.
On our last day of discovery, we drove toward the Dead Sea. On our way we stopped to a nice viewpoint over the Sea of Galilee. Alon from the hostel had mentioned another nice viewpoint where we could see three countries; Israel, Jordan and Syria. We had GPS coordinates so we though this was going to be easy to find. It was not.
We followed the small road,which looked like a farmer’s private road all the way to a United Nation building. We turned around and kept going on the road, thinking we were going to see the viewpoint. As soon as we started going downhill, we were driving along the Syria, Jordan borders… lined with very tall barbed-wire fences. We kept driving, but soon there was a closed gate. So we turned around. On the other side of the electrified barbed-wire fence, the view seemed really amazing, over the mountains of Jordan and Syria, but we didn’t feel it was the kind of place to stop and snap pictures. We were just worried somebody was going to stop us and ask us what the hell we were doing on the border line, in a rented Smart…
We kept driving to the Dead Sea, entered Palestine, no question asked, and followed the groups of slow driving tourists. The Dead Sea is nice on the Israeli side as well, the turquoise water and the Jordanian mountain makeup for a good scenery. But again there are some barbed-wire fences so no great photo opportunities while driving.
We arrived in Masada early in the afternoon. Masada was a fortress, a palace and a rebel stronghold perched atop a mountain. It has a pretty surprising history giving that it is not easily reachable and located in less than human friendly setting. After spending a about an hour at the top, exploring the ruins, and enjoying the view of the Dead Sea and sand dunes, we came back down the 700 steps and drove some more. We stayed in Arad for the night and the next morning we brought the car back to Jerusalem.
The next day was already time to leave Israel and go back to Jordan in order to catch our fight. We left the hostel at 7:30, walked to the bus station and arrived just in time as the minibus was almost ready to leave. We passed a few checkpoints on the way to Allenby bridge. When we arrived to the passport control, we put our bags on a trolley and walked in the building. The way out of Israel was a lot faster and easier than coming in. They looked at our passports and our visa cards and sent us to the next counter. After getting our exit stamps and paying the exit fees, we walked out and waited for the tourist bus to arrive and take us to the other side. The Jordanian side was as hectic as coming in. The officer gathered everybody’s passport, and went out of the bus. The guy selling tickets for the bus than got on and collected money. As soon as we paid, we were allowed outside and went to wait in front of the three officers for them to call out our names and give us our passports back. We walked outside and were assaulted by taxi drivers, and finally made our way back to Amman where we spent the remaining of the day doing what we loved most in Jordan: eating, walking around, and trying to find something to spent our last dinars on.
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| Mediterranean Sea from Akko, Israel |
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| Soldier crossing the street |
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| Welcome to Golan Heights |
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| Small town in northern Israel |
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| Go in peace |
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| Viewpoint of the Syrian – Israeli border |
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| Border fence |
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| Mt. Bental bunker viewpoint |
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| Mt Bental lookout |
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| Direction sign at Mt. Bental |
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| Inside the bunker |
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| One of the pools in Yehudiya Nature Reserve |
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| Zavitan Waterfall |
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| Sea of Galilee |
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| Carved stone head |
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| Dead Sea from the Israeli side |
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| Masada ruins |
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| View from Masada |
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| Masada, Israel |
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| Masada |
