Why are Paddington, Winnie the Pooh, Teddy Robinson and Rubert the Bear all abuzz with excitement?  It's honey time!!!  In honor of Rosh HaShana, from September 4th - 17th  there is a Honey Festival taking place around the country.  Here's your chance to learn everything you've ever wanted to know about bees and honey.

Where to go?

Northern Region

"Flowers of the Galilee", Moshav Manot (near Shlomi)

The visit includes a tour of the apiary, a movie that explains the world of bees, a viewing glass where you can watch bees at work in the hive,  a look at wax sculpture, and costume dressing. Visitors will also learn about herbs and medicinal plants, and taste an apple dipped in honey. There is a seating area where you can drink a cup of coffee while admiring the view of the Galilee.

Where?: Moshav Manot is in the Western Galilee, on the banks of Nahal Kziv. There are sign posts around the moshav.

Activity times:  31.8. - 17.9  Sunday - Thursday  15:00 - 19:00,  Fri. 10:00 -16:30, closed on Shabbat..
Admission: Child - 20 shekels, Adults: - 10 NIS
Additional information: 04-980-6005, 054-4967418, 054-4967420

Galilee Beehive, Kibbutz Shamir (near Kiryat Shmona)

The visit includes a huge glass observation hive, explanations, a film showing the life of bees and the production of honey based products. You can taste the honey, and children will receive a jar of honey to take home.

Where?: At the entrance to Kibbutz Shamir, after the gate turn left and there are signs.

Activity times: Sun - Thurs 8:00 - 16:00, Fri. 8:00 - 14:00, Sat. 9:00 - 16:00. Groups by appointment.
Admission: Child -  6 NIS, Adults - FREE
Additional information: 04-694-7826

Ophir Beehive, Alon HaGalil (Jezreel Valley)

The visit includes a movie about the world of bees, watching bees inside a beehive behind glass, harvesting honey, wearing beekeepers clothing,  making a bees wax candle and tasting honey. Those interested can tour the winery and taste the next Yiftachel wines. They recommend bringing a camera.

Where?: The beehive is at the entrance to Alon HaGalil just before the gas station. There is a signpost to Yiftachel winery

Activity Times: Saturdays 1.9 and 8.9  10:00 - 14:00
Admission: 20 NIS
Additional information: 052-2824644

Honey Michmanim - Eichut HaGalil

You can visit the apiary and hear about nature therapy - healing with bee products.  There is beeswax candle-making and other workshops. You can also explore "The Way of the Bible in Nature", an ecological  "biblical" village.  The tour takes three hours and combines a visit to the apiary, activities with nature: the preparation of whole-wheat pitas, natural milk honey, tahini and herbal teas.

Where?: Through the Industrial Area at Carmiel (Big Center) continue straight for about 6 kilometers to the summit of Har Camun, Moshav Michmanim, within the Moshav there are sign posts.

Activity times: Sunday - Friday - to be arranged in advance, Sat. 10:00 - 16:00
Admission: Free, creative workshops surcharge. Tour of "The Way of the Bible in Nature" - 40 NIS
Additional information: 04-988-1337, 052-247-6768

Tabor Bee Visitor's Center, Shdamot Devora (near Kfar Tavor)

The visitors center will be celebrating its 20th anniversary.  Visit the honey-making section, and have the children enjoy creative activities such as the preparation of Indian honey chocolates, scented beeswax candles,  making a bee cape and more. Twice a day there will be a fashion show of  beekeepers clothing, and an apple and honey eating contest. Outdoor oven bread will be served with honey (for a fee). There is also a petting zoo with pygmy goats

Where?: At Kfar Tavor, turn onto the 767 at the traffic light, after a kilometer and a half, turn right to Shdemot Devorah.

Activity times: Every Fri. & Sat  09:00 -15:00 and throughout the Holiday
Entrance: 22 NIS adult, 45 NIS child
Additional information: 04-676-9598, 050-563-7645

Honeysuckle, Aloni Abba

The visit includes a tour of the apiary located near the visitors center, watching a movie on the life of the bee, wearing a suit, a viewing through glass of the hive and then making honey with real honeycomb. See how honey flows out of a barrel, and taste as much honey as you like. The activity takes about an hour.

Where?: The beehive is at Aloni Abbi.  At an ancient church turn left towards a furniture store called Zeus, the visitors center is located on the other side of the street, near the bicycle center. There are sign posts.

Admission: Adult - FREE, Child - 20 NIS
Activity times: Open Saturdays and Holidays. During the week, including Fridays, by appointment.
Additional information: 054-443-7402, 077-916-3549.

Central Region

Levana Apiary Kfar Bilu B: (near Rehovot)

Levana Apiary offers visitors pure honey straight from the beehive. They have a variety of different types of honey including eucalyptus, thyme, wild flowers, cornflower blossoms and more.

Where?: From Bilu Junction, on entering the village, continue on Rehov Hadarim about a kilometer and turn right (after the kindergarten).

Activity times: by appointment
Admission: free.
Additional information: 08-941-4389, 050-5744198

Lynn Bee Farm, Kfar Bilu A (near Rehovot)

Visitors will learn about the similarities and differences between human and bee families, dress in work clothes of beekeepers, participate in creative activities, watch a video, and a hive through glass. The activity takes place in a cool environment.

Where?: At the traffic light at Bilu Junction continue about 500 meters to the Bilu village. At the first square out of town, take the second exit into Rehov HaMeyasdim, continue straight to the end, after the last house, turn right onto a dirt road between the greenhouses.

Activity times: By appointment. Sunday - Friday, 9:00 - 13:00
Entrance: 30 NIS - Child, 15 NIS -  Adults
Additional information: 08-941-5859

Visitors Center at Bees and Honey, Moshav Mishmeret (near Tel-Mond)

The tour includes tracking the whole honeymaking process, and making a jar of honey. The tour takes about two and a half hours.  There is a small petting zoo where you can pet and feed the animals, and a shop selling honey, hive products and cosmetics.

Where?: You can ask for a map by email.  Moshav Mishmetert is in Tel-Mond.  After entering the Moshav,  continue straight on the main road till the tenth house.

Activity times: by appointment, closed on Saturdays
Admission: Child - 34 NIS, Adult - 17 NIS
Additional information: 09-796-1260, 09-796-7146

Honey-making at Lin Bee Farm

Southern Region

The House of Honey and the Bee - Yad Mordechai Apiary

The visit includes viewing a hive behind a glass wall, meeting with apiary workers who will demonstrate their work, watching a movie depicting honey production, tasting different kinds of honey, a creative workshop with wax candles, explanations about bees, the family structure in the hive, and health care products that are produced from the hive. At Yad Mordechai, you can also drive a tractor and wagon, see a battle tank and watching a milking in the barn.

Where?: At Ashkelon continue south for about 8 kilometers. At Yad Mordechai turn right into the kibbutz. "The House of Honey and the Bee" is on the right hand side, opposite the barn.

Activity times: Sat.and Holidays from 10:00 -  15:00. Activities start every hour. For other days, by appointment.
Admission: 37 NIS
Additional information: 08-672-0559, 052-392-3104

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