EL AL | Atmosphere

Lifestyle I Weekend Getaway

Now’s just the right time to take a little break somewhere beautiful with your better half. The recently opened Oaks Hotel in the Golan Heights offers the ideal location – right in the heart of Odem Forest, and provides a hospitality experience in the best of Druze tradition, along with a pampering spa and fine cuisine. Get ready for the magic of the Golan Heights / By Ariel Kars The perfect couple’s weekend: a haven of tranquility in the Golan Heights

When you arrive in the Druze village of Buq’ata in the Golan Heights, you can’t help but be overwhelmed by the beauty of Odem Forest, the largest oak forest in Israel. The Oaks Hotel is a charming boutique establishment with magnificent views of the surrounding landscape. When you arrive here, it is very easy to disconnect from the chaos of Israeli life – not least due to the fact that the hotel is intended for adults only. Hotel owner Ajouad Abu Shahin

wanted to create a place that would encourage people to come and visit the Golan. “I wanted to create a haven of tranquility; a place couples could come to, to disconnect. Opening during challenging times is also an expression of confidence in the future of our beautiful region”, he explains. An invitation to fall in love Oaks is located in one of the most beautiful places in the country, at an altitude of 1,200m above

sea level. It is a modern, superbly designed hotel, each detail having been meticulously thought through. The second floor opens onto a large communal space where you can relax on comfortable sofas, read, play snooker or chess, etc., and on the roof, there is a heated pool enveloped by large windows that look out onto the forest that is open year-round. There’s also a small gym and a large flower-laden observation deck. The rooftop bar offers a light menu, refreshing

24 ATMOSPHERE NOVEMBER 2025

Photos: Aya Ben Ezra