Odem: Forest Landscape and Seasonal Experiences

Odem is a moshav in the northern Golan, located in the heart of the Odem Forest Nature Reserve. When searching for a hotel in Odem, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on: are you mainly interested in the forest landscape and its seasonal natural features, or would you also like to explore the seasonal harvest and other local topics?

Forest and seasonal nature

The natural Odem Forest is characterized by terebinth oaks and downy oaks; Tabor oaks and other tree species also grow there. Rare species such as crocuses, autumn crocuses and Greek cyclamens bloom in the nature reserve in autumn and winter. Since flowering depends on conditions, the season is a useful guide for nature-watching, but not a guarantee of a specific day when flowers will be in bloom.

Seasonal harvest and local topics

Har Odem Winery was founded in 2003 by the Alfasi family. At Katif Odem, the pick-your-own season is usually in June and July and depends on the fruit ripening. During the harvest months, visitors can pick six varieties of cherries—sweet and sour—as well as raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, jujubes, mulberries, currants and other fruits, depending on ripeness. According to the operator, the 2026 season has already ended; check with them about the next season before visiting.

The seasonal nature and harvest themes also differ on the calendar: the forest flowers mentioned here bloom in autumn and winter, while the pick-your-own season is usually in June and July. If you are planning a trip around one of these themes, this comparison can help with initial timing; for the harvest, the exact timing still depends on how ripe the fruit is.

“חווה ביער אודם” is a rehabilitation and educational farm where rescued animals live freely, without cages or coercion. Its focus differs from both the seasonal pick-your-own harvest and the forest’s natural features: the emphasis here is on animal rehabilitation and education.

Hiking route in the surrounding area

In the vicinity of the destination, a hiking route in the Odem Forest area passes through oak woodland and between apple orchards on the way to the summit of Tel Qatze'a. The summit is 1,099 meters high; from there, the view faces Mount Hermon. A visitor’s account from 2022 describes this route. Check current trail conditions before setting out on a hike.

Archaeological context in the Northern District

The broader destination of the Northern District is also home to the archaeological sites of Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo. At Tel Hazor, the visit focuses on the Upper City. Its features include Solomon’s Gate, with six chambers and two towers dating to the 10th century BCE. The Canaanite palace was used by the kings of Hazor in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE. The underground water-collection system includes a 45-meter-deep shaft, with steps three meters wide carved into its walls. The system is considered an advanced engineering achievement for water storage, adapted to the geographic conditions. Tel Hazor’s fortifications are considered the finest example of their kind in the region stretching from southern Turkey to the northern Negev.

Tel Megiddo is one of three tells that preserve significant remains of cities with biblical connections and are closely linked to events in the Bible. Its Early Bronze Age temple complex is exceptional in terms of the number of temples, the continuity of religious activity and the documented ritual practices. An orthogonal city plan dating from the Iron Age has few parallels in the Levant. These archaeological themes add different points of interest to the Northern District than Odem’s forest landscape and seasonal experiences.

Discover more destinations: Caesarea, Elifelet, Giv'at Yo'av, Gesher Haziv, Shoresh, Kibuz Kinneret, Kerem Ben Zimra, Kfar Bin Nun

For the broader travel overview: Israel.