Parks and Trails Fill Up as Thousands Head Outdoors for Passover

Although incoming tourism is still sluggish due to flight cancellations thorughout the current war, Israelis are visiting Israel’s beautiful sites for the Passover holiday. Many of these sites have been under rocket attack since the Hamas attack on October 7th, but have been reopened and cleaned from debris as needed. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority reports that approximately 120,000 hikers and visitors came to nature reserves and national parks across the country today (Monday), the first day of Passover’s intermediate days.

The Most Popular Sites

Among the most visited sites were: Hermon Stream Nature Reserve (Banias), Ein Afek, Gan HaShlosha (Sakhne), Caesarea National Park, Tel Afek, Beit Guvrin, and Ein Gedi.

One of the highlights of the day was the reopening of the “Overturned Syrian Tank Trail” in the Hermon Stream Nature Reserve, which had been closed for a year and a half. The trail was reopened this morning for the first time since the war and was met with high demand from hikers enjoying the pleasant weather in the north and across the country.

A Wealth of Special Activities for the Whole Family

Throughout the holiday, the Nature and Parks Authority is offering a wide array of special family-friendly activities, including: a butterfly celebration at Ein Afek, the Masada Challenge, a medieval knights event at Apollonia, guided tours at Einot Tzukim, and the “Breathing Culture” series of cultural events, now in its tenth year in cooperation with Mifal HaPais.

In addition to the activities, dozens of information stations have been set up around the country near popular hiking trails, offering the public guidance, tips, and safety instructions to help ensure a safe and enjoyable trip. The authority encourages visitors to register in advance for activities through its website and to check for updates and details there.