4 refreshing nature escapes in Israel with Gil Aharoni
Discover 4 refreshing places in nature selected by veteran travel blogger Gil Aharoni in Israel's near north, center, and south, all deemed safe and unranked at present.
By GIL AHARONIUpdated: AUGUST 5, 2024 12:03 The waterfall in Ein Bokek (photo credit: Gil Aharoni)
It's no secret that Israel is a very hot country and every summer new heat records are broken here. The light at the end of the tunnel is that there is something to do: in Israel there are plenty of places to refresh, despite the war in the north which significantly lowered the travel map, at least in the foreseeable future.
With all this introduction, I found for you 4 places worth refreshing yourself in the near north, center and south. All the places are considered quiet from a security point of view, and as of this writing are not ranged. So how to get out of the air conditioner and travel in a sane way without swallowing distances from the car? Ein Yehuda National Park (credit: Gil Aharoni)
The northern region
The Valley of the Springs area is considered very rich in water, and in this war it was and is still considered one of the calmest and unbombed areas in the north. Beyond a large amount of springs, it is a beautiful area with magical views, such as the Gilboa mountain range which is reserved for itself.
Ein Yehuda National Park - one of the springs that reopened after a lengthy renovation of no less than 3 years and with an investment of almost NIS 7 million is Ein Yehuda National Park. It was reopened only about a month and a half ago, under the dedicated management of the Nature and Parks Authority. Three impressive and beautiful pools were opened on the site, built on the basis of the legendary and beloved spring Ein HaNaziv. Opinions differ regarding Ein Yehuda, some claim that it has become synthetic and less natural, but one thing is indisputable: these are very clean and beautiful pools with full access that are found in nature. There is even a lifeguard stationed between the pools.
The first pool complex includes two pools: one is very deep (up to 3.5 meters deep), and the other is a wading pool of only about 40 cm. A 2-minute walk along a dirt path inside the garden will bring you to a third pool that is considered exotic, intimate and separated from the garden by vegetation, in the center of which is a large waterfall and a shallow pool. You can say that this pool is closest to the "real thing".
Today the entrance is free, but it is important to coordinate arrival in advance on the website of the Nature and Parks Authority. The site has free parking spaces, toilets, open showers, buffet, lifeguard services, and seating (a small part in the shade). The only minus of the place is that there is not much shade at the moment, but the amount of water makes up for that.
How to get there: By Waze - Ein Yehuda National Park. The place is at the entrance to Kibbutz Ein Hatziv. Nahal Aboka pool (credit: Gil Aharoni)
Nahal Avuka pool
The second recommendation is intended for lovers of unsupervised and regulated wild nature. Get ready for a huge pool fed by Nahal Avuka, also in the Emek Ma'a'ain area and less than a 20-minute drive from Ein Yehuda. The pool is large and long, which runs parallel to a dirt road, shaded by an avenue of trees. Many take advantage of the pool area to do camping or barbecue along the pool. If you chose to come and bathe only - enjoyment is guaranteed, what's more, the water is not too cold. It is a spacious pool, very large and surrounded by reed vegetation. All that's left for you is to come and freshen up, listen to the chirping of the birds and jump with the tarzan rope placed on the bank of the stream. The place is not supervised.
How to get there: By Waze - Nahal Avuka. The place is near Kfar Rupin.
Baptist Village (credit: Gil Aharoni)Central Zone
Although the central area is not rich in water sources and springs like the north, the meeting area between Petah Tikva and Hod Hasharon gives rise to an interesting meeting with the clean Yarkon sources.
The sources of the Yarkon start from the Rosh Ha'Ein area and continue until it drains through the Yarkon Stream to the Mediterranean Sea. Many think that Nahal Yarkon is entirely polluted, but this is not true; There are large parts of it that are clean and serve as a biological home for many animals and plants. One of the points in the clean Yarkon Stream is near the Baptist Village near the Yarkon Junction, where you can bathe and sit beside the beautiful stream under huge eucalyptus trees that shade the entire area.
How to get there: By Waze - Baptist Village. Park on the side of the road and go down the road until you see a sign of the Nature and Parks Authority Mekorot Yarkon on the right. There, turn right and continue walking along a colorful bougainvillea boulevard. In front of you you will see a lot of eucalyptus trees - go straight. As soon as you reach the end of the road, turn left and follow the path surrounded by reed vegetation. After about 200 meters you will see on your right a beautiful spot with a huge eucalyptus tree. This is the place - paradise just a touch away from Gush Dan. The water is deep and refreshing.
The southern region
And last but not least, the southern region. Despite the prejudice that it is deprived of water sources, it turns out that there are wonderful places in it, in the heart of the wilderness, which are full of water that would not put even some of the water sources in the north to shame.
Ein Bokek
One of the streams that have been crowned as special in Israel is Nahal Bokek. Ein Bokek Nature Reserve is a complex of elements that make it a masterpiece. The saying "the sum of the ingredients exceeds the whole" fits him exactly. The perfect combination of a desert that includes cliffs and canyons, in the center of which a stream flows all year round. Above, goats look down on passers-by, along with a rich vegetation of ash trees and reed vegetation. All these make it the ultimate Israeli wet track.
The entire route is marked in black and includes a walk of about half an hour in each direction in the short variation, during which you will meet water pools and waterfalls where you can bathe and enjoy a perfect currency.
How to get there: By bus Ein Bokek. Just after the descents of Sodom from Arad, turn left and drive on road 90 above the hotels, located on the shores of the Dead Sea. Continue straight over the sea, after about a kilometer you will see a small parking lot on the left. Park and go down with the black marking to the beginning of the route. Ein Bokek (credit: Gil Aharoni)
According to what can be seen on the ground, a regulated nature reserve of the Nature and Parks Authority will soon open there with parking spaces, a buffet, toilets and access to the entrance to the reserve.
The recommendations were given by Gil Aharoni, a travel blogger, owner of the travel website "I want to travel" and the Facebook group "fun and sharing travelers". For more worthwhile recommendations of Gil, go to the website "I want to travel" and join the group: "Fun and sharing travelers", Instagram page: baliletayel
