The impressive hotel, which includes a conference center and luxury spa, was built at a cost of NIS 200 million.
By MEITAL SHARABIHop on the wagon to view the birds up close and personal at the nature reserve(photo credit: HADAR YAHAV)
A new tourist complex called the Galilion recently opened with 120 rooms spread out over 22 acres in the Hula Valley. This state-of- the-art hotel was built near the beautiful Lake Hula, a tourist attraction that draws Israelis and foreigners alike, as well as millions of migratory birds each year. Tourists will now be able to stay for longer than just a day trip.The new hotel is a great location for day trips and hikes around the Galilee, Hula Valley and Golan Heights. For winter visitors, it is also a superb location for people who’d like to spend the day on the Hermon or the many nature reserves and rivers in the area.The impressive hotel, which includes a conference center and luxury spa, was built at a cost of NIS 200 million. In the near future, they have plans to build the Agamon Market, which will be designed to look like the Sarona Market in Tel Aviv. Next to the hotel, there is another compound from which guests can go up to a height of 150 meters in a hot air balloon and see enchanting views of the entire area.Some of the modern rooms have a view of the Hula Valley, whereas others look upon the Hermon. The hotel was designed by architect Gadi Rubinstein, in conjunction with Oshrat Braun, and combines a rustic Spanish style with a local Galilee atmosphere. The two restaurants located in the complex are managed by Chef Avi Cohen and offer authentic Galilean cuisine.Guests can indulge in the bounty of dishes available at the buffet-style breakfast. The hotel also boasts a wine room which is overseen by a professional sommelier who has stocked it with an impressive number of local boutique wines. Wine workshops can be booked at the reception.The hotel’s spa is located adjacent to the pool. It has eight treatment rooms, a Turkish hammam, a dry sauna, a cosmetics station, and of course a relaxation room. After spending time there, you’ll feel like you’ve just returned from a luxury trip in Europe – but without the stress of wasting time in airports and sitting on cramped planes.In addition, guests are welcome to purchase an inclusive “attractions pass” which enables them to visit a large number of attractions in the region at reduced rates.THE MOST popular site in the area – and the closest one to the hotel – is the Agamon Hula Tourism Park, one of the world’s most prominent bird-watching sites. In the fall, multitudes of people come to the site to see the migrating birds, some of which – especially cranes – end up staying and making their home near the lake.The birds that stop in Israel to rest and eat live in harmony with local wildlife.The hotel created a number of collaborations with the park to make visits for hotel guests seamless and especially enjoyable. There are weekend bird watching excursions, photo workshops for nature lovers, sunrise and sunset photo outings on the lake, as well as a photo contest with prizes. Of course, hotel guests are welcome to visit the lake on their own, too, and everyone is welcome to walk along the eight-kilometer circular path that circumnavigates the lake.
If you like walking, you’ll enjoy this walk, on which you can stop and investigate animals and flowers that live and grow along the water. If you prefer a more dynamic outing, you can rent bicycles or golf carts on which you can visit all the shaded gardens and waterways.Alternatively, you could join a guided tour in a wagon to learn in detail about the park and the birds that pass through it.The wagon, which is attached to a tractor, passes through all of the areas that are normally closed off to the public, and gets up close to the flocks of birds, so you can see firsthand how they go about their day. This is an amazing experience, especially if you're out during sunrise or sunset. In addition, there’s a botanical garden in the park where guests can view a unique collection of 70 types of aquatic plants, some of which have been growing in the Hula Valley from the time when it was still full of swamps.Translated by Hannah Hochner