Discover Amir: Shvil Ami Promenade and the Jordan River

Discover Amir along the Shvil Ami Promenade: a personal memorial, Bible verses set into the ground, and stone pergolas with grapevines give the place its distinctive character. The Jordan River section is also part of the picture, where kayaking and rafting take place. For your trip, you can decide whether to focus more on walks and picnics or on activities on the water.

Shvil Ami: 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 commemorates a specific personal story. Bible verses that mention the Jordan are also set into the promenade’s concrete ground. This brings the river theme into the details of the path.

Stone pergolas with grapevines line the promenade. There are also shady spots suitable for a picnic. This design offers a quieter alternative to the activities on the river: you can enjoy the promenade as a walking path or plan a break in the shade. Shvil Ami is also suitable as a walking route for visitors with strollers.

On the Jordan: different activities

The Jordan River section along the promenade is also used for kayaking and rafting. A zipline crosses the Jordan from Kfar Blum to the Shvil Ami Promenade. These options are quite different: kayaking and rafting take place on the water, while the zipline runs above the river. If you plan to take part in one of these activities, check the current options and operating conditions in advance.

When choosing a vacation rental in Amir, you can base your decision on the kind of day you want: would you like to focus on a walk and picnic along the promenade, or include activities on the Jordan? This helps you choose based on the experiences that genuinely interest you.

Culture in the broader Northern District destination

Within the broader Northern District destination, Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo form a distinct archaeological theme. Tel Hazor is a biblical tell with significant remains of a city associated with biblical history. Visits focus on the upper city. There, Solomon’s Gate is one of the notable structures: it has six chambers and two towers and dates to the 10th century BCE. The Canaanite palace was used by the kings of Hazor in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE; it is considered the most elaborate in Israel and one of the most important in the Levant.

Tel Hazor’s underground water-collection system also illustrates sophisticated engineering adapted to the geography for water storage. The excavated shaft is 45 meters deep, with steps three meters wide cut into its vertical walls. Tel Hazor’s fortifications are considered the finest example of their kind in the area stretching from southern Turkey to the northern Negev. Tel Hazor National Park can be reached from the north and south via Route 90 toward Ayelet Hashahar. Check your navigation before setting out.

Tel Megiddo is also a biblical tell with significant remains of a city associated with biblical history. Its Early Bronze Age temple complex is exceptional for the number of its temples, the continuity of cultic activity, and documented ritual practices. Another period is represented by the orthogonal city plan from the Iron Age, which has few parallels in the Levant. These archaeological themes complement the distinct perspective on Amir and Shvil Ami with a regional look at early cities, water engineering, and religious complexes.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Kfar Szold, Alonei Abba, Bethlehem, Ramot Naftali, Hurfeish, Hadera, Vered Hagalil, Eshtaol.

For the overview of the broader destination: Israel.