Attractions and excursions around the suite
Choose the activity topic that interests you.
Activities for children and the whole family
Guru Garden:
At the farm you will get to know the wildlife of Australia. There you will meet dozens of free-ranging kangaroos of various types with the opportunity to pet them, enter the loris zoo, meet and get to know dozens of colorful parrots that will make you happy and you can feed them. Also at the farm you will get to know the world of dinosaurs closely throughout history. Throughout the garden you will meet a variety of other interesting animals - cassowaries, emus, flying foxes and rare reptile species. There is also a buffet at the farm and you can easily and pleasantly spend half a day or more there.
Horseback riding:
At the Gazit Farm in Moshav Avital in Gilboa, you can enjoy riding lessons and horseback riding trips in the Gilboa area, the Jezreel Valley and the Spring Valley. The horses at the farm are calm and skilled, know the trails and are suitable for any beginner or advanced rider. The horse farm area has new, well-kept lawns, dining tables and cozy seating areas suitable for entertaining and events. On couples' trips, you can combine a stop with wine and a cheese platter, and on family/group trips, you will look out over the fields of the Jezreel Valley and the agricultural crops unique to the region, and the natural, pastoral woodland that surrounds the entire area and makes it so dreamy.
Park of the Senses:
About a 10-minute walk from the suite, in the grove of Gideon in Gideon, there is a park whose path leads to a slide, a rock climbing facility and a giant tube for children to walk inside. There is a seating area and a wooden walkway over the stream. A great place to soak up clean air and nature, have a picnic or dip your feet in the streams of water that run along the grove, or in the Gideon Pool, which is right at the beginning of the grove. During the summer, on weekends, a coffee cart opens and the place is pastoral, pleasant and free
Livestock:
In the heart of Kibbutz Beit Hashita and in a large area of 15 dunams you will meet: donkeys, ibex, sheep, goats, peacocks, hamsters, cats, turkeys, pelicans, emus, chickens, rabbits, geese, ducks and more. All the fun of a livestock farm that you can see here as the animals roam freely around. In addition, there are children's facilities and games made from recycled materials, recycled cars and tractors and more. Before you arrive, it is recommended to call to confirm opening hours.
Water activities and springs
Kibbutzim Stream:
This is one of the most beautiful trails the Valley of Springs area has to offer. It flows all year round and its waters are crystal clear. Entrance to the site is free and there is a well-organized parking lot, walking paths, picnic tables and shade facilities, drinking water and a snack bar. One of the biggest attractions is the passage through the pipes that drain the water. The pipes serve as excellent water slides that children love to try again and again. The trip to the place is suitable for families and allows you to choose between a fun walk in the water, or a leisurely route along the stream - which leads to the beautiful kibbutzim pool.
Harod Spring (National Park):
Adjacent to the suite (5 min walk). A large spring in a beautiful natural area, feels like Europe in Israel. Excellent for children thanks to the water that is up to 40 cm high. Contains, picnic areas, a children's playground, a snack bar, and organized parking. The clear water of the spring flows into a variety of streams, including the large wading pool. You can also walk between the pools while walking in the water. In addition to the wading pool, there are fountains and a large lawn so you can have fun playing with the children.
National Park - Gan Hashlosha (Hasachna):
The temperature of the spring water in Sakhna is constant all year round – 28 degrees Celsius – which is the origin of their Arabic name, Sakhna, which means “hot”. Contains spring water pools and waterfalls in the “Amal” stream channel. The site features huge pools surrounded by spacious lawns, rich vegetation and ornamental trees, picnic areas and grill facilities. Visitors have access to taps, hot water showers and restrooms. The convenience store sells coffee, light food and toiletries. Open every day of the week and all year round.
Hoga Gardens:
3 large natural pools with water constantly flowing into and through them through waterfalls, which come from a spring. The natural pools have varying depths and are therefore suitable for all ages. The water temperature is constant all year round (24 degrees). There are natural shaded lawns with trees, benches, toilets, showers with hot water, children's playgrounds in the water and a convenience store.
Springs Park:
The park leads travelers to three large springs and a bustling stream (Nahal Kibbutzim): Ein Mode (you can reach this spring directly and not just from the main entrance to the park) | Ma'an Shoqek | and the Mill Pond. Entry to the park by car is prohibited. Pedestrians and cyclists enter free of charge. There is an option to rent transportation on site (bicycles, clubcars and trailers that pass between the springs). At the entrance to the park (from Gan Hashlosha) there are toilets, drinking water and a convenience store, where you can sip a hot drink, or stock up on picnic supplies. Access to the Springs Park is on a first-come, first-served basis and without registration. It is recommended to arrive early in the morning and settle in comfortably. (Escape Park) Also in the Springs Park - "Skypark" A time travel combined with a mystery. You will receive a bag with a walkie-talkie and a vehicle with a locator and embark on an exciting journey through history.
Hassi River, Green Coast and South Bank:
The beautiful Hasi Stream (Nahal Amal) flows through the boundaries of Kibbutz Nir David. Its western part is open to the general public and free of charge. There is easy access to the water and the water temperature is constant at 28 degrees all year round. The South Bank of Hasi Stream, Kibbutz Nir David: The new part of the green beach offers pastoral lawns and clear, clean turquoise waters that are difficult to find anywhere else in the country. Entrance to the South Bank is free, but requires advance registration on the Nir David website.
Basalt Falls:
Waterfalls coming from the Harod Stream that flows from the summit of Givat HaMohra and crosses the Harod Valley until it meets the Jordan. It is 32 km long. Just before the meeting with the Jordan River, the stream area turns into a huge basalt canyon from which the Harod Stream Falls fall with force (especially after the rains). The Israel Fund has developed a huge park around the falls where there is a suspension bridge that passes over the falls. If you come after the rains, you can stand on the bridge and feel the power of the water. There is a trail there that is no more than 200 meters long and is also suitable for strollers. The park also has picnic benches and secluded spots
The White Falls:
This paradise contains water that flows in a foamy stream and creates beautiful bright white waterfalls. The clear water, the strong flow of water (massages the body like a natural spa) and there is also a Tarzan rope that hangs over the natural pool. Parking is available on site You can do the “wet trail” - start at the upper wading pool. Walk through the bushes following the water flowing in the stream. The height of the trail in the water varies (from knee-high to waist-high) and passes through vegetation and branches. And the walk is in a strong current.
Extreme activities
Razors and Raiders
A self-driving trip for couples, families (children from 3 years old) and groups of braziers and riders, accompanied by a leading guide, lasting an hour and a half. On the trip you will enjoy the pastoral nature of the Jezreel Valley and the Valley of Springs, and the incredible beauty of the Gilboa will thrill you at every turn. All of this with: new and diverse travel equipment, a Bluetooth audio system in all vehicles, walkie-talkies, professional guidance by a team of experienced guides. For details and arrangements: Meir 050-2296234
Paintball
When you are looking for attractions and thinking about what to do and want something that will excite you, make you laugh, challenge you and make your heart beat faster - paintball is the thing for you! The paintball field is located in an open and spacious area designed for two or more teams and allows for varied paintball games, with a complex combat strategy. Part of the complex is built as an urban area equipped with shelters, including junkyards, buses, old vehicles, huge wooden crates and more, which add a realistic and special dimension to the game. Playing on a field with an urban character allows for a fast-paced flow and full of action. Action in Gilboa in a pastoral area with a spectacular view and the fields that are closest to the real thing. Kfar Yehezkel 054-3238060
Quests - Escape Rooms:
Escape room play (from age 9) takes place when each room has a frame story, or a task that needs to be completed and is designed according to the story you have chosen. Using various objects found in the room, finding clues, moving between rooms, and solving logic puzzles will help you progress in the game to the last door, all under the pressure of a ticking clock. The escape room game is full of adrenaline and excitement from beginning to end and will make you activate all of your senses and cooperate with your group members, all with a common goal, to escape the room before time runs out. Suitable for 2 to 10 participants per escape room. Kibbutz Merhavia 052-8090195
Haskypark
At the Spring Park you can embark on a family experience of time travel combined with a mystery. This is a "giant escape room" because everything takes place in a park and not in a room. You will receive a bag with a walkie-talkie and a vehicle with a locator and you will embark on an exciting journey through history. Entrance to the activity at Escape Park must be arranged in advance. The game is held during the operating hours of the Spring Park and lasts about two to two and a half hours.
balloon
In our area there are 2 companies that organize hot air balloon flights throughout the year and during the month of August, every year a hot air balloon festival is held in Gilboa (in the Maayan Harod National Park, which is adjacent to the suite), which is attended by thousands of people from all over the country. The following are the two companies that provide the service: Raise Up Company (Merchavia) - offers a variety of flight packages (romantic, family, trip, bar/bat mitzvah, marriage proposal, and more) WhatsApp phone: 077-4500282 Sky Trek Company (Beit Hashita) - the same concept. 054-7711135
Gardens, Flight and Observations
Ruhak Farm, Ma'ale Gilboa:
The "Wind Farm" Renewable Energy Visitor Center is located at the top of Gilboa near Kibbutz Ma'ale Gilboa, and offers a breathtaking view of the Spring Valley, the Lower Galilee and the Gilad Mountains. The farm has plenty of facilities for producing energy from renewable and non-polluting sources - wind turbines, solar electricity, energy storage using pumped storage technology, and more. The visitor center is an enclosed, air-conditioned building suitable for visits in any weather, and is fully accessible to people with disabilities. The farm offers a variety of family or couple tours, on walking tours to giant wind turbines and water reservoirs that store energy, and in front of a breathtaking view of the Spring Valley and the Gilad Mountains.
Shaul's Shoulder, Mount Shaul
The summit of Mount Shaul stands out from the other upper parts of Mount Gilboa (and is therefore also called "Shaul's Shoulder"), from where a spectacular view of the Gilboa Ridge itself and the Harod Valley, the Lower Galilee and the surrounding area was created. Short walking trails have been opened on Mount Shaul. The mountain serves as a launching point for windsurfers. There are picnic tables in the observation area and you can also spread out a mat. There is a KKL-JNF parking lot near the lookout.
The Japanese Garden, Hephzibah
No entrance fee. Within the grounds of Kibbutz Heftsiba there is a pastoral corner of love and relaxation that unites traditional Japanese elements with flora and motifs of the Land of Israel. In Japanese gardens - no element, statue, plant or stone, is found by chance and each item symbolizes intention and meaning. In the garden, plants, statues and classic Japanese motifs such as bamboo, cranes, lanterns and soro lamps are planted and placed, and elements such as water ponds in which koi fish swim, an Azumaya pavilion used for the tea ceremony, wooden bridges, miniature sculptures of miniature Japanese buildings such as a symbolic pagoda, wooden bridges and miniature trees are built. "Israeli" landscape architecture is integrated into the Japanese tradition
Mount Barkan Observatory
Mount Barkan (a nature reserve) is the highest in the northern chain of the Gilboa Mountains. The view from the mountain is very good thanks to the fact that the surrounding ridge is not forested. The hiking trail is relatively short and is also suitable for children and dogs (but not all of it is accessible to strollers). From the parking lot at the top of Mount Barkan (which is located below the observation tower), a red-marked trail leaves, circling the peak. The trail leads to the Iris Reserve and the Gilboa Iris, which blooms here in all its glory. Walk along the accessible trail for about 200 meters until you reach the observation area. On one side of the observation you can see the village of Pekoa and the settlements in northern Samaria, and on the other side the Harod Valley and the Beit Shean Valley. About 50 meters after the observation there is a fork in the trail: Return to the parking lot (red trail) – continue the circular trail. Returns back to the parking lot. Iris Trail (green trail). On the way down to the Irosim parking lot, there are several shaded picnic tables in the parking lot area so you can combine a short walk with a nice picnic in nature.
Festivals
Hot Air Balloon Festival
The International Hot Air Balloon Festival in Gilboa is held every year in the first week of August in the Maayan Harod National Park, located about a 10-minute walk from the suite. In addition to the balloons blooming, the festival offers a variety of activities for the whole family, a circus and aerial acrobatics show, fire bubbles, giant balloons, and more. In the festival area - food stalls and more. The balloons are inflated and flown early in the morning. At the entrance to the festival, you receive bracelets that allow you to enter and exit the festival area throughout its duration - about two days.
Genesis Music Festival
As every year in May, the festival will take place at the Gilboa Amphitheater (10 minutes walk from the suite) between May 22-24, 2025 and will host a wide variety of artists on its stages. In addition, the festival complex will have a wide variety of food stalls of all kinds from morning to night, including a vegan food stall. The festival will also have bars and sales fairs. Expected performances: Thursday 22.5 Avihu Pinchasov's Beat Club | Eviatar Banai Nine Tape | BALKAN BEAT BOX Atar Mayner | Peled The Blue Elephant | Vibe Ish | Kid A special sunrise show for the festival (Friday morning): Hanan Ben Ari Friday 23.5 INFECTED MUSHROOM Marina Maximilian | Monica Sex Lola Marsh | Omri Smadar Alon Ader and Band | Jimbo Jay Shazamat | Alma Gov Shabbat Kabbalah with -Mosh Ben Ari
Museums and archaeology
Beit Shturman, Ein Harod:
The Sturman House is the first settlement museum established in the Land of Israel. The museum is named after Chaim Sturman – a member of the Guard, a member of the Haganah and a role model for heroism and love for the Land of Israel. The museum presents the spirit and image of the homeland as Chaim Sturman embodied in his personality and life experiences and the values that were important to him – love of people and the land, nature, settlement and agriculture. The museum offers a variety of programs and fascinating experiential activities, starting with an observation of the eastern Jezreel Valley, landscape and history. A visit to the museum’s exhibits and the auditorium allows you to watch videos about the animals in the area and the legacy of Sturman, whose vision was to settle the valley. The content focuses on the themes of landscape, nature and the environment, heritage and role models, settlement, history and archaeology, as well as various exhibitions on science and art that change from time to time. It is highly recommended to visit the Nature Hall, which includes fascinating scientific items and an impressive collection of stuffed animals of the valley, farm and wild animals, reptiles and birds of all species (Beit Haim Sturman is suitable for all ages.
Mishkan for Arts, Ein Harod:
One of the three most important museums in Israel and one of the leading visitor centers. Presents temporary and permanent art exhibitions by the best artists in Israel and around the world. The museum building, which was inaugurated in 1948, is a spectacular modernist architectural work. Its groundbreaking design by architect Shmuel Bickles, based entirely on natural lighting, has inspired world-renowned architects. 14 wide and high exhibition halls, hidden and magical inner courtyards and a special and magnetic atmosphere. Its extraordinary historical story, the exhibitions on display, and the architecture of natural light invite a unique experience for the visitor. The museum has a cozy and inviting cafe in an inner courtyard.
Beit Shean National Park
It contains the magnificent remains of Roman and Byzantine Beit Shean. Above all of this rises the high mound where the biblical Beit Shean was located. The Harod Stream flows through the heart of the national park, a stream whose waters flow year-round. Continue the experience with "Shean Nights" - an unforgettable sonic light performance that breaks the darkness (separate ticket required). Beit Shean played a central role in history, due to its strategic location on the sea route that connected Egypt with Mesopotamia, and at the junction of the Jordan Valley and the Jezreel Valley. In the Bronze Age, it served as the administrative center of Egypt. In the Iron Age, it was a Jewish city in the united Kingdom of Israel. In the Greek period, it was a Hellenistic city called Scythopolis. In the Roman period, the city was the capital of the Decapolis region.
Beit Alfa National Park
.... In the early years of the creation of Kibbutz Beit Alfa - remains of an ancient synagogue were discovered. The synagogue contained one of the most magnificent and famous mosaic tiles discovered in Israel. The picture is complemented by a video illustrating life during the Talmudic period. The mosaic depicts the zodiac and a description of the Binding of Isaac. The archaeological site is located on the border between Kibbutz Heftziba and Kibbutz Beit Alfa, which is adjacent to it, and is managed by the Nature and Parks Authority.