The impressive Mount Hermon is located at the northernmost point of Israel, right on the Israeli borders with Syria and Lebanon. As a popular ski destination in winter and a great hiking place for the rest of the year, a visit to Mt Hermon is truly a great option for nature lovers touring the Golan Heights or the Northern Galilee. Here is everything you should know before you visit the highest mountain in Israel.
Mount Hermon: Flora and geology
Mt Hermon is an enormous limestone mount that stretches over 80 kilometers. Today it is mostly divided between Syria and Lebanon, and only 7% of it is in the territory of Israel. The mountain’s highest peak is on the Syrian side, at a height of 2,814 meters above sea level, while on the Israeli side, its peak height reaches 2,237 meters. However, this peak is not open to the public, as an army base is operating on it.
Mount Hermon was created as a result of a displacement of the Syrian-African rift (the rift that stretches from Africa along the Red Sea, the Jordan Rift Valley, the Sea of Galilee, the Hula Valley, and Southern Lebanon), which pushed the rock layers on its sides upwards. This created a situation where visible rock layers on top of Mount Hermon from the Jurassic period (140-208 million years before our time) are located four km below the surface of the ground.
The rainfall and snowfall in Mount Hermon seep through the limestone rock and break out before the ground in dozens of springs that feed the sources of the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee.
Although it snows in the winter there is a great variety of plants in Mount Hermon. The diverse flora stands out especially in the summer here, while the rest of Israel is mostly dry and barren.
Among the many flowers, you can see numerous butterflies and special types of flowers that do not bloom anywhere else in Israel. Among them are the Hermon tulip, the Lebanon lily, the Hermoni clove, and many others.
Best things to do in Mount Hermon
Go skiing in winter
At Mount Hermon Ski Site, you’ll find ski slopes stretching to about 45 kms/28 miles, a gondola, and T-bar lifts. Ski slopes No. 2 and No. 3 are recognized as competitive trails by the International Ski Association F.I.S.
Among the cable cars and lifts available to skiers, with the lower one being at a height of 1,600 meters, and the upper one at a height of about 2,100 meters – the S’ion route is the most challenging and professional in European terms and is considered a “red route” – a difficult route intended for skiers with at least a few weeks’ experience. Apart from the skiing tracks, during the snow season, there is a special complex for families, where young children can slide on plastic sleds, build snowmen and throw snowballs at each other.
It’s important to note that Mount Hermon is extremely busy during weekends in wintertime, with waiting times and traffic jams that usually take several hours. For that reason, it is highly recommended to arrive here on weekdays in the wintertime.
Go up the Mt Hermon Gondola
Open year-round, Mount Hermon Gondola offers a great opportunity to get very close to the highest point of Israel and see the incredible views from the top of the mountain. When you’ll see the landscapes that unfold in front of you from here, it won’t be hard to see why Mt Hermon is nicknamed “the eyes of Israel”. With a look at the Galilee mountains, the Golan Heights, the mountains of Lebanon and Syria, and even the Mediterranean Sea on the horizon, you’re in for a captivating look and amazing pictures.
Entrance fee:
adults – 49 ILS
kids (0-12) – 42 ILS
Hike at the foot of Mount Hermon
The melted snow of Mt Hermon is the source of several impressive rivers, flowing down from the mountain, which creates numerous great hiking trails at the foot of the mountain. One of them is the popular Hermon River, also known as the Banias River. In the Hermon River Nature Reserve, you can find great hikes with beautiful views, including a short hike to the Banias Waterfall, which many consider to be the most beautiful waterfall in Israel.
Visit Crater Lake Ram
Lake Ram is the crater of a volcano that collapsed in on itself after its explosion and then was filled with groundwater. Several natural springs originate at the bottom of the pool, making it a clean freshwater lake, which is being used for agriculture in the area.
There are several ways to experience the beauty of Ram Lake, and one of them is to go on a circular hike that surrounds the lake. it is a circular route of 3.5 km/2.2 miles, which is based on the Golan trail. On the way, you will pass through agricultural areas, and get spectacular vantage points on Lake Ram with the spectacular Mount Hermon in the background.
In addition, if you want to experience Lake Ram in other ways, you can go kayaking in the lake, or sit in a cafe overlooking it in the nearby village of Mas’ada.
Immerse yourself in the Druze culture
In the lower parts of Mount Hermon, there are 4 different Druze villages. A visit to one of them will give you a great opportunity to learn more about the fascinating Druze culture and sample great authentic food, including the famous Druze Pita Bread and many other mouth-watering options. The two most popular villages to visit are Majdal Shams and Mas’ada. Both of them also offer attractive accommodation options in beautiful scenery.
