Ramat HaNadiv Gardens are located in the town of Zichron Yaakov on the southern part of the Carmel Mountain Range in Israel, and it’s a site that in 5 years of guiding, I’ve been to only once or twice with groups.
Generally speaking, this isn’t a site that makes it onto peoples 1st time in Israel list. And it doesn’t always make it onto 2nd time in Israel lists either.
It’s a lovely gardens, with 3 hiking paths of different lengths just outside the gardens area, and the Israel National Trail passes through here as well.
There’s also an amazing restaurant called Mataim on the grounds of the garden.
The Gardens
This is a place where you can spend as little as half an hour, and as long as the entire day.
If you’re just going in for a quick visit, choose one garden and enjoy it thoroughly. The place is beautifully landscaped and divided into gardens within the garden, such as the Cascading Garden, the Rose Garden (French style) and the Fragrance Garden.
There are lots of shady spots with benches to sit on, relax, enjoy the gardens, and enjoy nature.
If you have more time, check out all the sections of the gardens.
One last thing to know about the gardens — it’s also the burial place of Baron Endmond de Rothschild and his wife. When I was there the tomb was closed, but generally speaking you can also see where they are buried.
The entire garden is full of plaques with interesting facts and anecdotes about Rothschild, and his contribution to the growth and development of the area.
Hiking
And if you’re more into hiking, and less into pavement, they’ve got you covered here as well. There are 3 cicrular hiking trails that start and end here at Ramat HaNadiv, and a section of the Israel National Trail passes through here as well.
I’ve done 2 out of the 3 circular hikes. The blue trail is the shortest, and there is a small spring that sometimes even looks appealing enough to splash around in, so make sure you’re appropriately dressed. It’s very popular with kids.
The middle hike I did with my aunt, and the scenery is gorgeous. The hike it’self is a little more difficult than the blue trail.
I haven’t done yet the longest hike, nor the section of the Israel National Trail that passes through the area. But if the other two hikes are any indication, both of these will be fabulous as well.
Eating
When you get hungry, either you can pack a lunch and bring it with you, or check out the restaurant Mataim which is on the grounds of the garden.
If you’re bringing lunch with you, be aware that you’re not allowed to eat in the gardens. You’ll have to exit the gardens, eat your picnic outside, and then head back in to continue exploring.
Mataim – Restaurant
The atmosphere is lovely, the food was wonderful, and the staff were very attentive and professional.
When Oren and I were looking at venues for our wedding, we actually came here to see the place as well. And if we’d gotten married in any other season that wasn’t winter, we just might have had our wedding here. But for winter weddings, the place is too small since you can’t utilize the outdoor space they have when it’s cold and rainy.
That being said, the food was wonderful. I had split-pea soup and some sort of amazing ravioli.
Definitely worth a visit! Even if all you have time to do is eat lunch here and keep going.
They’re not open for dinner, as the gardens close in the evening, so make sure you come for lunch if you plan on coming.
For more information on the gardens, here is their official website.
And for more info about Mataim, here is theirs, though I wasn’t able to find an English button so this link brings you to the website in Hebrew.
What was your favorite part of Ramat HaNadiv? Let me know in the comments!