Kibbutz hotels are a unique Israeli form of hospitality, as are kibbutzim themselves. The kibbutz is a form of collective communal settlement which was a popular way of forming communities in the run up to the formation of the State of Israel. Originally largely based around agriculture, today, many of the 270 kibbutzim have diversified into other areas, one of which is hotels. Largely rural and tranquil, the accommodation is largely basic much like the communities themselves, many of these hotels offer good value and good quality accommodation. Here is our pick of the best kibbutz hotels. If this article doesn’t have the hotel for you, see the full range of kibbutz hotels.

Kibbutz Hotel Ramat Rachel

Just a few miles south of the center of Jerusalem yet worlds away, Kibbutz Ramat Rachel Hotel is a great alternative to staying in the center of the city itself. Set among the beautiful Judean Hills, the kibbutz hotel is surrounded by stunning scenery including gardens shaded by pine trees, a great pool, four tennis courts, and over 150 large rooms for guests. If you don’t mind being outside the city center, this can be a great alternative to a Jerusalem Hotel both in terms of the experience it provides and also the price, and being based here makes it easier to explore the beautiful hills that surround the city.

Ein Gedi Kibbutz Hotel

The hotel at Ein Gedi is just a few minutes from the Dead Sea. This kibbutz is famous for the nearby Ein Gedi National Park and the botanical gardens which result from the site being an oasis, a hub of greenery amid the barren desert that surrounds it. Set above the Dead Sea, parts of the hotel have amazing views across it and beyond into Jordan, and staying here is a great contrast to the many other the resort style hotels that line the shores of the Dead Sea further south.

Kibbutz Lavi Hotel

Kibbutz Lavi Hotel is located in the Galilee, a few miles east of the city of Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee. The hotel is located high atop a mountain which means that it has some amazing views across this breathtaking landscape both towards the Sea of Galilee, and south toward the Jordan Valley, east towards the Jezreel Valley, and northwards. This hotel is popular among religious Jews (it is Glatt Kosher and has separated swimming), although all guests are welcome of course.

Ein Gev Holiday Resort

Ein Gev is a famous kibbutz that sites on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and the Ein Gev Holiday Resort is located within it. Arranged as a resort, this hotel has rooms set out across its grounds in small bungalows, some of which are literally meters from the tranquil waters of the Sea of Galilee itself. Ein Gev is incredibly popular with Israeli families getting away from the urban center of the country.

Nof Ginosar Kibbutz Hotel

Also sited on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Nof Ginosar is located about ten minutes drive south of Tiberias. The hotel has a beautiful pool and private beach on the Sea of Galilee, as well as a popular restaurant which is a great place to eat, overlooking the Sea of Galilee, as the sun sets. Kibbutz Ginosar is famous as a boat dating to about 100 BCE was found here during a drought in 1986.