Eli Ad lies on the southern ridges of the Golan, about 400 meters above sea level. When planning your trip, it helps to distinguish the village from destinations in its surroundings: Nahal El Al, with its gorge and two waterfalls, is near Eli Ad. A hiking route starts at the White Waterfall parking lot in Eliad and ends at the Black Waterfall parking lot in Avnei Eitan. Château Golan is located in the village itself, where tours and wine tastings are offered by prior appointment only. Local highlights therefore range from a hiking route with clearly named endpoints to a planned wine tasting.
Nahal El Al: Gorge, Waterfalls, and Hiking Route
Near Eli Ad, Nahal El Al forms a deep, three-kilometer-long gorge on the Golan. It includes the Black Waterfall and the White Waterfall. The hiking route starts at the White Waterfall parking lot in Eliad and leads to the Black Waterfall parking lot in Avnei Eitan. This means the start and end points are clearly specified and are in different villages. Check the latest guidance from the relevant authority before setting out.
Cycling and an Additional Walk
A three-kilometer cycling promenade connects Eliad and Avnei Eitan. It can also be used for a circular walk, which requires an additional 45 minutes of walking time. The 45 minutes refers to the extra walk, not cycling time. This lets you plan the length of the promenade and the additional time needed for the circular walk separately. Check current trail conditions before your trip.
Wine Tasting by Appointment
Château Golan winery is located in Eliad. Tours and wine tastings are offered by prior appointment only. If you plan to include one, arrange a time with the winery in advance and confirm the visit details before you travel.
Archaeology in the Northern District
The wider travel destination of the Northern District also encompasses the archaeological sites of Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo. They form a regional focus alongside the natural and wine-related attractions around Eli Ad. At Tel Hazor, the visit focuses on the upper city. The excavated shaft is 45 meters deep; three-meter-wide steps are cut into the walls of the vertical shaft. Tel Hazor also preserves significant remains of an underground water collection system, an advanced feat of engineering adapted to the geography for water storage.
Tel Hazor includes Solomon’s Gate, with six chambers and two towers dating to the 10th century BCE, as well as a Canaanite palace 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 different dates show that Tel Hazor brings together archaeological evidence from several periods.
Tel Megiddo is one of three tells that preserve significant remains of cities with biblical connections and are closely associated with events in the Bible. Its Early Bronze Age temple complex is exceptional in terms of the number of its temples, the continuity of cult activity, and the documented ritual practices. The orthogonal city plan from the Iron Age also has few parallels in the Levant. While Tel Hazor foregrounds different structures, including its water system, palace, and gate, Tel Megiddo offers insights into the history of worship and urban planning.
Tel Hazor National Park can be reached from the north and south via Route 90 toward Ayelet Hashahar. Check your navigation before planning the drive.
Choose Your Stay Based on Your Interests
When choosing a place to stay for a trip to Eli Ad, it helps to separate the different interests: the gorge and hiking route take you into the landscape around Eli Ad, while a wine tasting requires an advance appointment. Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo offer an archaeological perspective on the Northern District. This way, you can decide what kind of stay you want without conflating the region’s cultural sites with the local nature and wine offerings.
Discover more destinations: Alonei Habashan, Kfar Ruppin, Holon, Sallama, Mevo Modi'im, Ka'abiyye-Tabbash-Hajajre, Kfar Rut, Tur'an
For the wider travel overview: Israel.
