Hostels in Amirim, Israel

Amirim is a moshav, or commune, in northern Israel. The closest large town is Safed; Tiberias is approximately 32 km to the southeast. Amirim was founded by vegetarians in the late 1950s and is known for its vegetarian and vegan based tourism.

The easiest way to get to Amirim is by public transport from Tel Aviv. It will take around four to five hours and there are several changes. If you are in or near the Sea of Galilee, there is a bus from Tiberias, but depending on the day of the week and time, you may have to transit through Haifa, a detour of about three hours. By private car, the journey is only 35 minutes.

Amirim is one of the founding vegetarian moshavs in Israel and its founders are among the leading organic gardening organisations. In the 1960s, the Jewish Agency funded the construction of ten zimmerim, or guesthouses, that pioneered the tourism industry here. At present, there are no traditional backpacker hostels in Amirim; there are guesthouses that are listed as hostels, but you won’t find any shared dorm rooms or a hostel-like atmosphere here. Instead, they are luxury cabins for families and couples; there are no kitchen spaces or common rooms, except in the gardens. Solo travellers may find it difficult to find accommodation in this area; in that case, both Safed and Karei Deshe are within striking distance.

This is a very organic- and religious-lifestyle-focused moshav; there is no meat to be found anywhere on the premises. Expect plenty of outdoor activities as well; there are two viewpoints overlooking the valleys around the mountain. The staff at the guesthouse will be able to direct you to any of the hikes or swimming holes. It’s possible to hike to the shores of the Sea of Galilee or along the Jesus Trail. Within the village and commune itself, there are a sculpture garden with artwork by both Israeli and international artists, communal farming plots, herb gardens, and temples.