Spa Village in Hamat Gader
Tucked away to the South East of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) amongst the yellow-brown hued hills of the Yarmouk River is a Spa resort called Hamat Geder, originally discovered and built up by the Romans in the 2nd Century CE the Spa Resort has had three main periods of construction and usage from late Roman times to the Byzantine period. During the Umayyad caliphin 633 until it was destroyed by earthquake in 749 and lastly in the modern era from 1977 onwards. 8 years later my wife Sarah came with her youth group Habonim Dror. Her recollection is of a few Sulphur pools some alligators and a ramshackle shower block, to get rid of the Sulphur smell when you wanted to leave. So we decided to come and visit and to spend a couple of nights here. The facilities are far more developed than 35 years ago, there is now a Spa Hotel with a kosher restaurant. Within the site there are several covered Sulphur pools a swimming pool a small zoo, archaeological ruins, a campsite, restaurants, cafes and shops.
We settled into our accommodation which was in a small wooden cabin with a bedroom, bathroom and Jacuzzi, the Jacuzzi can be filled with the Sulphar spring water which is 42oC or plain water which is about 27oC. If you know Centre Parcs then you will recognize the type of set up within the Spa Village; each rustic cabin is reached by walking down a leafy path, separate enough that you have your privacy, but close enough that enough people can be on site to make the place work.
Breakfast is provided as part of your stay, the food is dairy and contains all the Israeli breakfast treats we all have come to expect, shakshuka, cheeses, fruit, omelets, vegetables etc. We took full advantage of the breakfast which is served from 8:30 until 11:00.
Once breakfast was over we stepped out into the park to use the Sulphur pools, the one in the Spa Village is covered by a pagoda and so when you are sat around on the sun chairs it feels like you are inside a beautiful tropical plant filled glasshouse. The difference is that nature is allowed in and because there is a year round good climate the un-natural feel of enclosed spas is eliminated.
After lunch we went to see the animals, there is a parrot show at one O’clock and they feed the crocodiles at one thirty, there are other animals to see not a full blown zoo but worth the visit. Other than the animals you can visit the ruins of the Roman/Byzantine bath houses.
The whole environment is created to relax and if you are in search of that feeling it will be easy to achieve. After seeing the animals we went in search of more water to enjoy. There are two thermal pools outside of the Spa Village but within the complex. One of these pools is hot direct from the springs the other is cooler. In both you can really feel the minerals working away at your skin, the effect is wonderful. Surrounding the thermal pool in the Spa Village there are treatment rooms which offer a rich variety of body, holistic and wellness treatments and facials.
The Blue Bar Restaurant in the Spa Village is also open in the evening serving fish and dairy meals this is priced at 120NIS per head. The site is lit up at night and is fun to walk around, you can enjoy the Jacuzzi in your cabin as well. There are young families who come here so the place is quiet at night and noisier during the day, this isn’t a place where it is completely quiet or where electronic devices are handed in. The infrastructure perhaps needs a little upgrading, but the overall feel is enjoyable and really relaxing.