Nestled in the Galilee Hills of northern Israel, Mitzpe Hila is a small community near the border with Lebanon. It was established in 1980 under the “Lookouts in the Galilee” scheme and is a popular place for city dwellers to escape for a weekend in the countryside.
Stretch your legs on a hike to the ruins of Montfort Fortress, a 12th-century Crusader castle perched atop an outcrop north of Mitzpe Hila. It once served as the Holy Land headquarters of the Teutonic Order and now lies within the protected nature reserve of Nahal Kziv. Aside from its ruins, the reserve is home to Persian fallow deer, golden jackals, and rare striped hyenas.
For a day on the water, head to picturesque Monfort Lake where you can enjoy kayaks and pedal boats. If you’re travelling with kids, they’ll love the paintball arena, ice skating rink and high ropes course.
Getting there
Mitzpe Hila is a 20-minute drive from Nahariya and 45 minutes from Haifa Airport while Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport is just under two hours away. Buses connect Mitzpe Hila to towns across the region and the village is compact enough to explore on foot.