Sometimes you need a little quiet, and when I think of quiet I imagine the north of Israel. Recently we wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and get some uplift for our mental health in the form of clean air, green landscape and Galilee tranquility, and we found the solution in one of the most unique and beautiful hotels in Israel – Hagoshrim Hotel and Nature.
It is a strange and wonderful combination of a first class hotel, with spa services, pool facilities, fitness and catering services as in any regular five star hotel – only in a wonderfully green location and the general atmosphere of one large B&B.
The hotel was built on the remains of the magnificent winter palace of Emir Fa’ur, the Ottoman ruler of the northern Hula Valley and the Golan Heights. It has about 180 unique rooms and suites in various styles – from standard hotel rooms to secluded cabins and B&Bs scattered throughout the site and impressively combining the surrounding nature, modern construction and the remains of the historic palace – allowing each guest to find the right type of accommodation.
All this beauty sits in the center of a nature reserve on the banks of the Dan River, surrounded by great grasslands, soothing streams of water and an impressive grove. But to talk about the hotel, we must start from the spa.
Fiorina Spa
To tell the story of “Hagoshrim Hotel and Nature” you have to go back to the 1950s and to one member of Kibbutz Hagoshrim named Ora Rice who decided to open a “relaxation house” in the heart of the Hula Valley. After all, what is good for the Ottoman ruler (who established his palace there until the end of the 1930s), will probably satisfy the residents of the young state of Israel.
What started with sitting in a beach chair on the shores of the river and immersing in its cool water has become a 600-square-foot empire on the hotel’s boutique wing. It includes 10 treatment rooms for singles and couples, an authentic Turkish Hamam, a dry sauna, a relaxation area, an outdoor Jacuzzi, a snowflake sink and a health bar, alongside a wide treatment menu that includes a variety of massages, reflexology, care and beauty treatments.
Attractions in the Area
Beyond the attractions located in the hotel complex such as the spa, gym, two swimming pools and basketball and squash halls, you can hike the “disappearing river valley” which is adjacent to the hotel. This is a route of about a kilometer in a wonderful nature reserve, next to the “Goshrim stream” that crosses the kibbutz (one of the 6 tributaries of Nahal Dan), at the end of which is a small waterfall that operates an ancient flour mill.
This open and natural surrounding creates countless lovely corners for a small picnic, meditation or just relaxation in nature – and all within walking distance of the room. All over the hotel are unique stone sculptures, created by the sculptor Arie Ashkenazi, which improve the atmosphere, and speaking of improvement of spirit – in the spectacular nature, next to the stream, is the Dharma Pub, which is open Monday to Saturday and offers a special and pleasant experience.
Along with all these there are countless other attractions and tourist sites within driving distance such as national parks and nature reserves (the Hahula lake, Banias Waterfall, Nahal Eyun or the Hasbani stream), special wineries and dairies, the famous HaGoshrim kayaks (which give a discount to hotel guests) and even The Golan Trail and Mount Hermon not far away.
The Food
Before the trip I did not see the best reviews on the hotel dining room, but personally I must say I really enjoyed it. Although the hotel was full of people I did not feel that the dining room was too crowded, and the variety and quantity offered were quite impressive. I got to eat at the hotel all the breakfasts and one dinner, and in all cases the food was fresh, inviting, varied and most of all very tasty.
It is evident that there is a focus on good quality food and an attempt to produce a culinary experience on the purity of the Galilee’s finest raw materials. If I still had to give one point for improvement, then I would be happy to see an improvement in the coffee – which was only available from those industrial machines and not at a high quality.
A Virtual Tour of Hagoshrim Hotel
I do not know how (or why) it happened, but it turns out that the hotel can be found on Google Street View and you can actually take a tour of it. It’s really nice and can give you a picture of what I was trying to describe in words.
Hagoshrim Hotel in Nature – Review
All in all, HaGoshrim Hotel in Nature offers a wonderful northern experience that includes everything this amazing area has to offer. For me it is the best of all worlds: the hotel is located in the center of a nature reserve, surrounded by green lawns and hiking trails, and on the other hand offers a high level accommodation experience with top notch facilities, a spa that reminded me a bit of the Carmel Forest boutique spa and a meal that does not embarrass any all-inclusive hotel. Add to that the proximity to countless tourist attractions and we can conclude that this is definitely a great place where you can spend a perfect 48 hours.
For more information visit the Hotel’s Website.
