With the Koral cold front in the rear-view mirror, leaving Israelis with broken and frozen hearts but without the expected mounds of snow, the opportunity to enjoy Israel's snowfall atop Mount Hermon is limited to just a few short weeks before it disappears. On Tuesday morning, after about a year and a half during which the mountain was closed to civilians by order of the Northern Command, the site will finally reopen.
In a live check Monday morning using the cameras broadcasting online from Mount Hermon, there is currently very little snow seen at the lower level, much of which was artificially brought down from the upper level. Visitors will need to take the cable car to reach the expansive and natural snow-covered areas.
"Hermon’s reopening to tourists and visitors is a symbol of our efforts and hopes for the north to return to normalcy," said Miki Inbar, VP of Marketing and spokesperson for the Hermon site. "We are happy and excited to open the Hermon, which serves as a cornerstone for northern tourism, and we hope visitors will stay overnight in the area, enjoy the excellent restaurants, and purchase from the unique products of the Golan and Galilee regions."
Over the past weeks, preparations were made atop the mountain to accommodate large numbers of visitors. Tickets must be purchased in advance and visits must be coordinated through the Hermon website. As of the time of this article's publication, tickets are still available for purchase. However, ski trails will remain closed this year due to direct rocket damage from Lebanon, which caused severe harm to the skier cable car system, as well as insufficient snow on the mountain.
How much does it cost?
Entrance fees to the site remain unchanged, starting at $9.50 for children and $11 for adults (regulated prices). A cable car ticket costs $16, and an attraction ticket costs $12. Combined packages, including entry and cable car, are priced at $25.50, and a package including an attraction is $34.50. Additionally, a new family package is available, which includes two entry tickets, two cable car tickets, and two attraction tickets for $64 (available for online pre-purchase).
The site also offers dining services, including hot drinks starting at $2.40, hot soup for $4.50, sandwiches for $8, salads for $10.50, Druze pita for $6, schnitzel meals for $16, and hamburger meals for $19.
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Israeli Police, IDF, Magen David Adom (MDA), and the site’s management have completed all preparations for the reopening. "Our role is to ensure that all necessary actions are taken so that the people of Israel arrive here safely, leave safely, and everyone returns home in peace," said Chief Superintendent Eran Tabib, head of the Golan Police Station.
Police expect tens of thousands of travelers from across the country to visit the Golan Heights and enjoy its tourist attractions, restaurants and activities. Tabib reminds visitors that "the Golan region is full of open areas and stunning landscapes. However, there are also zones designated as minefields, which are marked and fenced accordingly. We expect citizens to follow these guidelines and avoid any area marked with a triangle — entry is strictly prohibited."
After months of fighting and instances of rockets falling in open spaces, police warn the public that there is a possibility of encountering unexploded ordnance. In such cases, they advise people to stay away and immediately alert authorities.
For the first time since the site’s opening, security personnel will also guard the area from "Hermon Crown," located at the mountain’s summit. This area was previously under Assad’s regime before its fall and is now under Israeli control to ensure the protection of Golan and northern communities.
The 810th Mountain Brigade, under the command of the 210th Division, is responsible for the Mount Hermon and Mount Dov sectors. Over recent months, the brigade’s forces have conducted ongoing situational assessments alongside their defensive activities in cooperation with security and civilian agencies to maintain high readiness while addressing daily challenges in the field. Over the weekend, the brigade’s fighters held a drill with all emergency and rescue agencies in Israel to finalize preparations in the area. "We are maintaining high readiness, both security-wise and operationally. The site is ready, and we are excited and awaiting your arrival," said Lieutenant Colonel G., deputy commander of the 810th Brigade.