The Golan Heights ascends from the Sea of Galilee to Mount Hermon and the northeast border of Israel. The area is hilly, scattered with rocks and brush, sometimes sparse, always tranquil, filled with striking landscapes and places to visit.

From north to south, it’s about 40 miles; and from east to west, about 12 miles, with a lot of beauty in between.

Here are 10 terrific things to do (just a few out of many) in the spectacularly beautiful Golan Heights.

1. Lavender fields forever

The purple lavender fields of Azizo farm in Moshav Kanaf in the southern Golan are in bloom from March through July.

Daniel Assraf began Azizo in 1987 and is still enthusiastically greeting visitors and giving talks about how lavender grows. The gift shop sells lavender oils, soaps and scent bags, along with purple baskets and accessories.

Farther north is Ruth Sdot Aromatic Plants Farm in Ein Zivan, which sells lavender wreaths, creams and other products made from aromatic plants.

Ein Zivan hosts a farmer’s market every two Fridays in the village square from 9-2. All the delicacies are from the Golan, incuding honey, olive oil, cheeses, Druze dishes, flowers and handicrafts.

2. Stop and sip at a winery

The Golan Heights Winery started the trend for winemaking in the Golan Heights about 35 years ago. Here’s a link to the Visitors Center.

With its high altitude, climate and deep basalt soil rich in clay, the Golan now boasts about 18 wineries of various sizes.

We also recommend visiting:

• Tel Shifon Winery on Kibbutz Ortal, which produces boutique wines from Rossan grapes. (072-331-9699)
• Odem Mountain Winery founded by the Alfasi family in 2003. Located on Odem Forest’s Moshav Odem, this is the northernmost winery in Israel. (052-688-1110)
• Bazelet HaGolan Winery in Moshav Kedmat Zvi, which offers Golan cheese to accompany wine tastings. (072-330-8114)

3. Indulge in chocolates

If you have a sweet tooth, visit the De Karina Chocolate Factory in Ein Zivan, established by gourmet chocolatier Karina Chaplinski. She moved to Israel from Argentina in 2003, bringing along her family’s chocolate-making tradition. Visitors can learn how to make chocolates as well as indulge in a few extra calories.

4. Take a hike

Even when the snow has melted off Mount Hermon, the chairlift still whisks visitors up to the top of the mountain at 2,236 meters (7,336 feet) where there is a view of Lebanon, the Galilee, Syria and the Hula Valley.

There are numerous trails where you can spot flowers and fauna such as buzzards, larks and other birds.

You can also hike up to Nimrod’s Fortress, which Mark Twain called “the most glorious ruins mound of its kind in the world.” The fortress was constructed during the 13^th century to defend against the Crusaders. Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority recommends making reservations in advance.

5. Waterfall wonderlands

Cool off at the highest waterfalls in Israel: Gamla and Banias.

Gamla measures 51 meters (167 feet) and flows all year round. An easy path leads to the lookout terrace, from which the waterfall can be seen in all its glory.

The 10-meter (33-foot) waterfall in the Banias Nature Reserve is in the Upper Golan, between the Hula Valley and Mount Hermon. There are four marked trails, a wooden boardwalk and a hanging trail that runs for 100 meters along the stream.

6. Pick fruits

Meshek Levi  in Shaal offers do-it-yourself fruit picking. The farm is open daily except Saturday and includes three different kinds of plums and berries.

And if it’s hanging on the tree, you can pick it in Moshav Odem and munch along the way. During the summer, there are figs, peaches, nectarines, pears and plums in season. For further information, call 052-379-1651 or 054-260-0130.

While you’re there, venture into Odem Forest, the largest nature reserve in the Golan Heights.

7. Visit a Druze village – Majdal Al-Shams

Majdal Shams on the slope of Mount Hermon is one of four Druze villages in the Golan Heights. Visitors can stop at the Why Bar and sit outside on the deck with a drink.

If you want to try home-cooked Druze meals, stop at Al Yasmeen Restaurant in a 19^th century stone building. You can dine outside in the garden on the specialties of the chef, Su’ad al-Sha’ar, who shares her homecooked dishes including sambusak, kubbeh and okra in season. There is no menu; al-Sha’ar’s children explain that they serve “whatever Mom makes.” Information: 050-217-4291.

Along the road to and from Majdal Shams are makeshift stalls where locals sell square-shaped Druze pita with homemade labeneh, olive oil and zaatar, and local apples.

8. Go back in time

The ancient city of Gamla takes visitors back to 66 CE and the start of the Great Revolt of the Jews against Rome, which ended with the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. At the archeological site, you can see Gamla’s ancient synagogue, ritual baths and oil press.

The ruins, which were discovered in the 1970s, are part of the Yehudiya Forest Nature Reserve. There are huge stones that were used for burial mounds as well as an eagle preserve and many marked trails, including one that leads to Gamla Falls (see above).

9. Aniam Artists Village

The idea for an artist’s village in Aniam began as a dream in 2000. Today, the village has dozens of artists working in a variety of media, including clay, ceramics and painting, along with blacksmiths and silver and goldsmiths. Visitors can stroll along a European-style pedestrian mall and eat at a variety of coffee shops and restaurants. Each gallery and building has its own special design and color.

10. Take a breath and look around

All along the roads in the Golan are lookout points where you can pull over and enjoy the views. If you want to sit while looking around, try Coffee Annan, named after the former secretary general of the UN, Koffi Annan, whose name sounds in Hebrew like “coffee in the cloud.”

The café is located on top of Mount Bental, 1,165 meters high. A road sign outside the restaurant indicates the distances to different places in the Middle East, in case you forget where you are. Information: 04-682-0664.

Originally posted at israel21c.org