Chol HaMoed Pesach in the north: day trips from our Galilee hotels

What is Chol HaMoed Pesach, and how does it work in our Galilee hotels?

Chol HaMoed is the stretch of half-holiday days between the first day of Yom Tov and the last. In Israel Pesach lasts seven days with one Seder, so most of the days in between are open for outings while the holiday atmosphere stays. Our Pesach 2027 program runs 21 to 28 April 2027 (14 to 21 Nisan 5787), for a full week or half a week.

In the Galilee the program takes the whole hotel, and guided day trips are included. That makes our three northern hotels a true Pesach program with tours, not a hotel stay where you organise every outing yourself. The price covers full board and what our page on what the price includes calls an active vacation for the entire family: excursions, classes, lectures and more. Tips are not included.

You can see all five hotels, the dates and the comparison table on the Pesach 2027 program page. This guide stays in the north, with Ayala by Isrotel Collection, Hagoshrim Hotel & Nature and Pastoral Hotel Kfar Blum.

Which places can families visit on Chol HaMoed in the Galilee?

The Upper Galilee and the Golan offer springs, green trails, wide views and old stone villages, all around our three northern hotels. These are the Chol HaMoed trips Galilee families talk about for months afterwards. Hagoshrim lists Banias, Mount Hermon and the Hula Lake among the attractions a short drive from the hotel.

We do not publish the 2027 itinerary here. The team shares the trip plan before Pesach, so you know what each day looks like before you pack.

• Banias: a nature reserve at the foot of Mount Hermon, with springs, a stream and the Banias waterfall. Trails follow the water, which children love.
• Tel Dan: shaded paths beside the cold Dan springs, one of the sources of the Jordan, and the remains of an ancient city with a gate from biblical times.
• The Hula Valley and Agamon HaHula: a lake and wetland on the bird migration route, with flat paths that suit small legs and grandparents.
• Kayaking on the Jordan: family stretches of the upper Jordan, with life jackets and plenty of splashing. From Kfar Blum the kayak centre is within walking distance.
• Mount Hermon: Israel's highest mountain, with wide views over the Golan and the Galilee. What you find at the top in spring depends on the season.
• Rosh Pina: one of the first modern Jewish villages in the Galilee, with restored stone lanes and old houses, a calm outing for grandparents.

Which Galilee hotel is the best base for day trips?

All three hotels work well as a base, because the day trips are part of the program at each; the difference is what lies on the doorstep when you are not on a trip.

Pastoral Hotel Kfar Blum has the Jordan River promenade within walking distance, and so is the Kfar Blum Kayaks and Beit Hillel centre, which offers rafting and kayaking. Hagoshrim Hotel & Nature sits among streams and gardens, with a sports and health centre, the Fiorina Spa, and in-season jeep tours, quad bikes, bicycles, workshops and kayaking at a fixed discount for hotel guests. Ayala by Isrotel Collection, new to the program in 2027, is at Kibbutz Ayelet HaShachar, with an infinity pool looking out over the Galilee and Mount Hermon, a full spa and a kids' club.

Your choice can rest on room type, pool and budget. The largest family rooms are the Rimon Suite at Ayala, the Premium Suite at Hagoshrim and the Junior Suite at Kfar Blum, each for 2 adults, 2 children and a baby. Hagoshrim also has a Family Boutique of 64 m² for 2 adults, 4 children and a baby. We confirm rooms per family.

What is there for children, and what for grandparents?

Chol HaMoed in the north works for every age because the program mixes trips with time at the hotel. Our FAQ puts it simply: the pace can be active or relaxed, and if you prefer a slower day, you tell us and we adjust.

For children, the stars are water and movement: streams to walk beside, kayaks on the Jordan, open lawns. Back at the hotel, Ayala has a kids' club, Kfar Blum has a kiddy pool next to its Olympic pool, and Hagoshrim has a heated indoor pool all year plus sports courts.

For grandparents, the flat paths around Agamon HaHula and a stroll through Rosh Pina are gentler than a long trail. Some prefer a quiet day: the Pastoral Spa and the library at Kfar Blum, the Fiorina Spa at Hagoshrim, or the full spa at Ayala, where the heated spa pool is for guests aged 18 and over.

Mobility matters when choosing. Kfar Blum has no elevator but does have 6 handicapped accessible rooms; Ayala and Hagoshrim have an elevator in part of the hotel, and some room wings have none. Tell us about walking needs when you book and we plan rooms and trips around them.

Arye wrote to us after a stay: "Just wanted to thank you for a wonderful couple of days. My extended family really enjoyed and it was just what my wife and mother in law needed."

How do you plan and book Chol HaMoed in the north for 2027?

Plan early and let us build the days around your family. Planning Chol HaMoed Pesach in Israel starts with three choices: which hotel, which room, and whether you come for the full week or half.

Booking early has real advantages. Early bookers choose first from every room type, from a double room to a family suite. Places for a private family Seder, in a private hall or area for an additional charge, are limited, and booking early secures one. Hagoshrim also offers a discount for early booking and for returning guests. Our FAQ notes that Passover programs typically fill up 6 to 8 months in advance.

In all three hotels the food is kosher for Pesach under the Rabbanut Kiryat Shmona, with shruya (soaked matzah) and no kitniyot, and there are minyanim with a mechitza. Meira Goren and her team are on site all week, so a question about a trip, a room or a meal always has someone to go to.

Tell us who is coming on our trip form and we send a personal quote. The trip plan follows before Pesach.