Ma'ale Gamla: Landscape and Archaeology

When looking for hotels in Ma'ale Gamla, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip. Nearby, the landscape, ancient remains and a breeding colony of birds of prey are specific points of interest. Guided activities offer a broader regional perspective; Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo represent further archaeological sites in the Northern District.

Views and history nearby

The Beit Tsaida viewpoint is located above Ma'ale Gamla and offers views of the Beit Tsaida Valley and the Sea of Galilee. If you are planning your stay around scenic views, this is a specific point of reference: its views connect the valley and the lake.

The nearby Gamla Nature Reserve contains the remains of the ancient city of Gamla, including the remains of an ancient synagogue. A viewpoint in the reserve overlooks a breeding colony of birds of prey. This offers a different focus from Beit Tsaida: at Gamla, the focus is on archaeological remains and birds of prey, while the Beit Tsaida viewpoint features the valley and lake.

Directions and guided activities

The published directions to Gamla Nature Reserve begin at the Ma'ale Gamla junction on Route 92. They continue onto Route 869 and pass by Moshav Ma'ale Gamla. Check current road conditions before setting out.

Shvilei Kama operates throughout Israel, with a focus on the Golan and its surroundings. The company offers guided themed and hiking tours, as well as rappelling, climbing, canyoning and cave exploration. If a specific activity affects your plans, confirm the current offerings directly with the company.

Archaeological sites in the Northern District

In the Northern District, Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo represent different archaeological sites. A visit to Tel Hazor focuses on the upper city. One of the site's features is Solomon's Gate: it has six chambers and two towers and dates to the 10th century BCE. The Canaanite palace was used by the kings of Hazor in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE. The Late Bronze Age palace is considered the most elaborate in Israel and one of the most significant in the Levant.

The fortifications are considered the finest example of their kind in the area from southern Turkey to the northern Negev. The underground water-collection system is an ingenious feat of engineering adapted to the geography for water storage. In Tel Hazor's water system, three-meter-wide steps are hewn into the walls of the vertical shaft. Tel Hazor National Park can be reached from the north and south via Route 90 toward Ayelet Hashahar. Check your route before setting out.

Tel Megiddo is one of three tells that preserve significant remains of cities with biblical associations and are closely linked to events in the Bible. Its orthogonal Iron Age city plan has few parallels in the Levant. The Early Bronze Age temple complex stands out for the number of its temples, the continuity of cultic activity and its documented ritual practices. Comparing the sites, Tel Hazor focuses on fortifications, the palace and water storage, while Tel Megiddo focuses on the city plan and temple complex.

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