THE NORTHERN ROAD OF THE WESTERN GALILEE

Betzet Stream

The Betzet Stream trail is a very friendly, short and beautiful route of about 3 km. The trail takes you along a green path, full of trees while you walk beside the river. The two banks of the Betzet stream are guarded by huge Plane trees and oleander bushes and ensure a pleasant chill even in the summer.

Trip For the Whole Family in the Christian Village of Fassuta

Blossoming Winter Trip

We will start, or end the trip (your choice!), with a visit to Safta Maha’s. If it’s a starting point – her fabulous breakfasts are highly recommended and if it’s an ending point – the lunches are also a delightful experience!

An Accessible Route Through the Western Galilee

Start the tour with a rich breakfast at the Alto Dairy – a boutique family dairy for rural goat cheeses in Kibbutz Shomrat.

Tour in the Druze Village of Hurfeish with a Local Guide & Authentic Meal – Safta Maha

You are welcome to walk with the tour guide Amir Amer (Maha’s husband) among the alleys of the beautiful village of Hurfeish. The tour will focus on the ancient nucleus, the hysteria of the Druze village – Hurfeish. It is possible to combine a home meeting with creative Druze women, where you can hear their personal stories and their confrontation with the dilemmas of tradition versus progress. The tour is recommended to open or end with an authentic traditional meal at Safta Maha’s. The duration of the tour is between 2 to 4 hours. About Safta Maha: Safta (Grandma) Maha Amer and her husband Amir open their home in the beautiful Druze settlement of Hurfeish. Maha grew up in a village in a traditional home and like most girls her age, she graduated in eighth grade and stayed home to help her mother with the housework. Maha says that she always loved the preparation of the dishes and when there were many events in the village, she used to accompany the preparations and learn from the older women who prepared the food for the celebration. Come hear the moving story of Maha Amer, talk to her about the status of the Druze woman today and in the past, and of course savor breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Come and enjoy the fresh air, the view from the terrace, and of course the variety of authentic delicacies from the Druze cuisine.

Safta Maha — Druze Experience

Safta (Grandma) Maha Amer and her husband Amir open their home in the beautiful Druze village of Hurfeish. Maha grew up in a village in a traditional home and like most girls her age, she graduated in eighth grade and stayed home to help her mother with the housework. Maha says that she always loved the preparation of the dishes and when there were many events in the village, she used to accompany the preparations and learn from the older women who prepared the food for the celebration. Come hear the moving story of Maha Amer, talk to her about the status of the Druze woman today and in the past, and of course savor breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Come and enjoy the fresh air, the view from the terrace, and of course the variety of authentic delicacies from the Druze cuisine By prior arrangement, you will be served dishes such as shulbato, beef or chicken stew, grape leaves, stuffed cabbage, maqluba, mugrabi (a stew of chickpeas with meat, pumpkin, and burgul), or Druze-style breakfasts. You can also experience cooking workshops or combine all this goodness with a tour of the ancient village to be led by Amir, Maha’s husband, a certified tour guide. Suitable for families and groups of 6 people or more.

Culinary Tour in Fassuta with Rima Khoury

You are invited to a guided tour of the alleys of old Fassuta accompanied by Rima Khoury. After a meeting at The Rima House where we will hear the story of Rima and her unique path, we will go on a tour of the alleys of the picturesque village of Fassuta. We will enter the spectacular Greek Catholic church ‘Maralias’ (which still belongs to the popes), the local houses for warm human encounters, we will taste bread from the local bakery with homemade labaneh and za’atar. We will taste special and rich cakes that are considered the “Bavaria of Europe” and also traditional cookies that will be prepared especially for us and that can usually only be eaten during Christmas. We will visit Raida’s roasting house, taste the roasted coffee, smell and try the local spices, and taste Raida’s crackers. The duration of the meeting is about 3 hours by prior arrangement and costs 100 NIS per person.

The Rima House — Visitors Center & Workshops

Rima Khoury, is considered the “Peter Pan” of Fassuta, full of inspiration, joy for life, and giving without limits. Rima is the granddaughter of Eid Habib Khoury. After her grandfather passed away in 1983, his house, which at the time of the establishment of the state was the crowned house of Fassuta, was locked and Rima decided to bring life back to the house, through significant social and artistic endeavors with the girls and boys of the village. Being a creator herself and also an art and English teacher she saw fit to bring her worlds of knowledge and deploy them to the girls of the village and allow them to meet new worlds out of a strong desire to create social and cultural change, female empowerment, hope and horizon out of meaningful doing, discourse and giving for better tomorrow. Rima, a significant member of the village, also founded the “Women’s Club” of Fassuta that connects not only the women of the village to a common and empowering cause but also many women from the area from all religions and sectors. Beit Rima is today a cultural, tourism, and art gallery center. The house is like going back in time to discover Galilean and rural Christian culture and tradition in the Land of Israel. A place of fulfillment and empowerment under the guidance of Rima Khoury, who hosts groups from Israel and abroad. In Beit Rima, peace dialogue meetings are held between the various communities in the geopolitical area, in addition to meetings for women and female empowerment through action, conversation, and meetings of multiple workshops and classes (some of them as a contribution to the community). In the field of workshops, you will find dance, the art of traditional sewing, creation through painting, preservation of heritage and customs through objects and stories, and more! Visitors are invited to hear Rima’s personal and local story as a child living in the Mukhtar village and a daughter and wife in Fassuta. We will meet and hear from the village women about the traditional customs, culture, and local holidays While placing special emphasis on the feminine and gendered aspects and the conduct in the private and public space in an Arab Christian village in Israel, from then until today. Beit Rima was established in 2015. It began by dreaming of a place that would allow for action in a neutral space, unaffected by the opinions and meticulous spirit of the local community of Fassuta. In a sense, it was to go in a new and different current, to march without fear and without hesitation and thus bring a fresh and special breeze that speaks and discourse of art, femininity, creativity, and development – a place that allows the female voice to be heard and resonate in space.” In addition, in 2019 a new project began in Beit Rima, the “giving from the heart project”, a donation of second-hand clothes and games. Everything was donated very generously from the local community – children, women, and men. All clothing is sorted by the girls and women in the village and donated to individuals and/or centers throughout the country, where required (regardless of gender or religion) in the belief that giving should be pure and genuine that sees the other’s pain and works to improve it in every way possible. Welcome.

From River to River: A Trip From Nahal Sarach to Nahal Betset

We will drive on the north road from Shlomi to the east, we will pass Kibbutz Eilon, and about 100 meters east of the Garnoth HaGalil industrial area we will turn left following the KKL sign for the road to Nahal Sarach. After about a kilometer we will reach a large parking lot, from which a walking path leads to Nahal Sarach and Nahal Betset. At the end of the parking lot, there is a sign and trail markings to the Daniela Ruins. The route is short, marked, comfortable, and mostly shaded by an umbrella of thick-stemmed pine trees and other forest trees that compare to the ruin we will reach, the appearance of an ancient mound in the thick of the jungle somewhere in the world.

Day Trip to the Nahal Kziv Reserve & Its Surroundings

This is a trip that starts at the Hefer Ranch in Mitzpe Abirim, where we can buy excellent goat cheeses that Edna prepares using the Hefer method – take it from the fridge yourself and leave money in the box. Cool and quality wine is also in the fridge.  

Water Trip to Ein Kovashim

We will start our day in a cool, pleasant, and lesser-known spot. Ein Kovashim is a secret you will want to discover!

A Taste of Galilean Food, Wine & Magical Corners in Nature

Family Tour through Nahariya & the Surrounding Area

People & Stories in the Western Galilee

Multiculturalism in the Western Galilee

Ha-Pisga Trail

The peak of Mount Meron, the highest mountain in the Galilee, is surrounded by a path that serves as a crown. An abundance of Mediterranean vegetation accompanies the path and great views open up to the landscape below. A circular route suitable for the whole family. The route surrounds the peak of Mount Meron, the highest of the country’s peaks, with the exception of Hermon. The path allows viewing of the landscape from all directions. Along the way, there are balconies where it is convenient to enjoy the wide view of the mountains of the Upper Galilee and Lebanon, the Golan Heights and the Hermon, the coastal plain, and parts of the Lower Galilee. In winter, the peak is coated with snow, often boasting the blooming of yellow lilies, orchids, and other types of flowers. Enjoy a pleasant trip between an impressive landscape and wonderful blossoms, on one of the most beautiful short and circular hiking trails in Israel. Every season a surprise awaits you, due to the multitude of species of plants and the many orchids that bloom along the route. From the parking lot, the summit trail begins – a circular trail about 1.5 km long, suitable for the whole family. The trail surrounds Mount Meron, which is the highest of the country’s peaks, with the exception of Mount Hermon. Due to the great height of Meron, it has a lot of precipitation. The trail allows for a spectacular view of the Galilee! We recommend combining the trip with a tour of the Buza Ice Cream visitor center in Kibbutz Sasa.

Alcohol Tastings at the Jullius Distillery

Due to the security situation – closed until further notice. The Jullius Distillery and Visitor Center are located in Kibbutz Hanita, in front of an intoxicating Galilean view. At the distillery, Joov makes Akko gin in his German distiller machine, Eau De Vie distilled grapes, and schnapps from Galilean fruit like mandarins, oranges, and citron. All production processes are completely manual and natural, from the selection of the agricultural raw material to the bottling and packaging. These production principles, combined with small distillation cycles, mean that each Jullius bottle is a one-off, high-quality, rare, and one-of-a-kind creation, complete with a serial number and signature. Julius Distillery is faithful to the principles of sustainability and is one of the few distilleries in the world that is powered by solar energy. All Jullius products are kosher. You can also visit to hear about the creative process, taste various products, and get intoxicated by the flavors and gorgeous views! Operating Hours: Thursdays 12 pm – 5 pm Fridays 10:30 am – 4 pm All other days by appointment only. In addition, you can book a tour of the visitor center, including explanations of the creation process and tastings of the variety of products by prior arrangement.