Mount Meron Nature Reserve

At Mount Meron, near Safed, you'll find the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, Mishnaic-era rebel against Rome and author of the Zohar. Rabbi Shimon's tomb is a magnet for Jewish pilgrims, especially on Lag Baomer. Adjacent to Rabbi Shimon's tomb is the burial cave of Rabbi Hillel the Elder. The nearby Meron synagogue dates from the late third century CE. Off the main road from Meron, to the northwest, lies an hour-long loop trail at the 3,000-foot-high forested peak which reveals fabulous vistas.

Images credit: Eitan Naftali.