Amir can be explored through the Shvil Ami Promenade and the stretch of the Jordan River: the promenade connects a specific story behind its name with architectural details, while the river stretch is also used for kayaking and rafting. These offer different focuses for planning a trip: walking, picnicking, culture and activities on the water. In the Northern District, there is also a distinct archaeological perspective.
Shvil Ami Promenade: Remembrance and Design
The Shvil Ami Promenade is named after Ami Peled, a student who died in a traffic accident in 1990 while cycling from Kibbutz Amir to Kfar Blum. The name thus commemorates a specific person and event. Biblical verses mentioning the Jordan River are embedded in the concrete pavement; stone pergolas with grapevines stand along the promenade. These details offer different points of emphasis: the story behind the name tells of a person, the verses connect the promenade to the Jordan River, and the grapevine-covered pergolas shape the built environment. Together, they combine a walk with local history and design.
Walking, Picnicking and Activities on the Jordan River
Shvil Ami is also suitable as a walking route for visitors with strollers. There are shaded spots next to the promenade that are suitable for picnics. This offers different ways to spend time at the promenade: walk along it or take a break in a shady spot. If you are looking for a walk rather than a focus on water sports, this distinction provides a practical guide.
The stretch of the Jordan River along the promenade is also used for kayaking and rafting. A zipline runs over the Jordan River from Kfar Blum to the Shvil Ami Promenade. The distinction matters when planning: kayaking and rafting take place on the river, while the zipline runs above the Jordan River. If you want to plan one of these activities in advance, check its current availability beforehand.
Archaeology in the Northern District
In the Northern District, Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo offer a distinct archaeological focus. Tel Hazor is a biblical tell with significant remains of a city with biblical associations; visits focus on the Upper City. Tel Hazor includes Solomon's Gate, with six chambers and two towers dating to the 10th century BCE, as well as a Canaanite palace used by the kings of Hazor in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE. The palace is considered the most elaborate in Israel and one of the most significant in the Levant.
Tel Hazor's underground water-collection system also represents sophisticated engineering adapted to the geography for storing water. The excavated shaft is 45 meters deep, with three-meter-wide steps cut into the walls of the vertical shaft. Tel Hazor's fortifications are considered the finest example of their kind in the area from southern Turkey to the northern Negev.
Tel Megiddo is also a biblical tell with significant remains of a city with biblical associations. Its Early Bronze Age temple complex is exceptional in terms of the number of temples, the continuity of cult activity and the documented ritual activities. The orthogonal city plan from the Iron Age has few parallels in the Levant. The region's archaeological highlights therefore differ from one another too: Tel Hazor is known, among other things, for its water engineering, palace and fortifications, while Tel Megiddo is known for its temples and urban planning.
Discover more destinations: Havatzelet Hasharon, Paran, Haon, Kerem Ben Zimra, Herzlia, Bustan Hagalil, Sde Yitzhak, Gadot.
For the main travel overview: Israel.
