Mount Arbel is a dramatic cliff face overlooking the Sea of Galilee from the west, offering what many consider the single best view of the lake. The cliff drops nearly 400 meters to the valley floor, and the panorama from the top takes in the entire Sea of Galilee, the Golan Heights, Mount Hermon, and the surrounding Galilee hills.
The Cliff Trail
The trail down (and up) the Arbel cliff uses metal rungs and handholds bolted into the rock. It is not technically difficult but requires a head for heights. The reward is a hike that combines physical challenge with views that are genuinely breathtaking. The trail can be done as a descent from the top or as a loop from the valley below.
History
The caves in the Arbel cliff have been used as refuges since antiquity. In 38 BCE, Herod the Great sent soldiers down the cliff on ropes to flush out rebels hiding in the caves. During the Jewish revolt against Rome, and again during the Bar Kokhba Revolt, the caves served as hideouts. Their inaccessibility made them perfect for anyone who needed to disappear.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
Mount Arbel is a highlight for hikers visiting the Galilee. Hoshen Tours includes it in active itineraries that combine hiking with the Gospel sites and the lake.