Hamat Gader – Thermal Baths and Antiquities
In a pastoral valley between the Gilead mountains and the Golan Heights, Hamat Gader is the most significant thermal spring in complex Israel. The site combines a popular retreat, a hotel, an alligator farm, and a large bath complex’s remains from Roman-Byzantine times.
History of Hamat Gader
Hamat Gader is based on a complex of 5 thermal springs along the Yarmuk Stream, 5 miles east of the Jordan River. The Romans primarily developed it in the 2nd century when it became a lavish bathing complex. It comprised nine decorated pools, covering an area of 400 square meters. The Spa continued to operate through the Byzantine and Muslim periods up to the 8th century. Archaeologists uncovered over 40 inscriptions, attesting to its popularity by Pagans, Christians, and Muslims alike. Jewish sources indicate its popularity among Jews, and indeed archaeologists uncovered a 5th-century synagogue nearby.
The Ottomans renewed the use of the site, and during the British Mandate period, an Arab-Jewish-owned hotel operated at the site. After the Israeli-Arab war in 1948, it became under control of Israel, who opened it to the public in 1977.
Touring Hamat Gader
Today, the springs of Hamat Gader are a popular bathing destination among Israelis and are visited by nearly half a million visitors every year. Its main bathing pool is fed by the waters of the “Balsam” spring, which are warm and rich in minerals. The Roman-era bath complex was excavated in the 1980s but still needs to be opened to the public.
A tour to Hamat Gader can be combined with a day tour in the north.