It may only be a one hour drive from Tel Aviv, but the Lower Galilee is worlds away

The Lower Galilee is the least hilly region of the Galilee stretches from the Jezreel Valley (Valley of the Armageddon in Christianity) on the eastern slopes of Mount Carmel across to the Sea of Galilee. It includes Mount Tavor and Megiddo, and is less than a one hour drive from Tel Aviv.

Zippori

Whilst many guides will pick out the interesting excavations at Zippori, housing mosaics of an ancient Jewish city, the site is not incredibly developed with visitors centers and so what might be more interesting for many people is in the new village of Zippori. Here there are some beautiful hiking trails through oak and pine forests, through olive groves and ancient caves and ruins. Alternatively there is the quaint Zippori Country Spa as well as a number of tranquil bed and breakfasts.

Gan Ha’shlosha

Gan Ha’shlosha was chosen by TIME magazine as their favorite destination in Israel. The National Park offers a warm river where you can swim in a landscaped surround. As well as this is a small selection of archaeological sites and a heritage museum. The main draw, however, is the natural jacuzzi under a waterfall. Although busy in the summer, this is a great place to visit.

Mount Gilboa

Nearby, the Mount Gilboa Scenic Road is perhaps the best scenic road in the country. With hiking trails off the road, as well as numerous viewpoints, this is a great way to see the beautiful landscape of the Lower Galilee and Jezreel Valley.

Nazareth

For those interested in Christianity, Nazareth is in the Lower Galilee with the ancient monuments that display the history of Christ. See the Nazareth Cultural and Tourism Association for more info.

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