Jordan River Rafting by sachlav_texas, on Flickr

Kayaking or Rafting on the River Jordan might not quite match with the initial image people have of a Biblical stories, but once you’ve seen the Jordan from a kayak on a hot summers day, you’ll have a totally different take on the matter! And its not an activity reserved for those into extreme sports. The kayaks on the Jordan come aren’t really conventional kayaks but more like large inflatable rafts for two to five people.

The kayak centers are all based in the Upper Galilee – north of the Sea of Galilee, where the Jordan is a wider river than it is to the south. The two main kayak centers are at Kibbutz Kfar Blum and Kibbutz HaGoshrim:

A member of Kibbutz Kfar Blum thought up the idea of kayaking on the river in 1986. The original operator, the kibbutz’s route runs along the Hatzbani River, into the Jordan River. The standard route takes about an hour and fifteen minutes, although many extend this by stopping on the lush grassed banks for a break. Yoy can go on an inflatable raft boat for up to six people or a kayak for up to two people. The minimum age is five and it costs approx. 70 shekels per person.

Also at Kfar Blum is a longer route which includes both fast and calm river areas with small water falls and takes about two and a half hours. The age limit varies depending on weather conditions and costs approx. 110 shekels a person.

At Kfar HaGoshrim, the kayaking route includes a kayak slipway. The kibbutz has a family route for families with children who are five years old and over – four miles in length – taking about an hour. There is also have a challenge route that takes up to two hours.

At the bottom of the course, both centers have an area to relax – with a cafe, and at Kfar Blum, a water slide. There are also buses running back up to the start point, and your car!