Life in Israel is never boring. As a young country that is constantly changing, there are many opportunities for retired people to explore and have new experiences. “pensioners” as they are often called in Israel have a special status in the country. Many venues offer reduced rates for people with an Israeli Senior Citizens Card.
Many cities across Israel have pensioner groups (called קבוצות גמלאים Kvutzat Gimlaim in Hebrew) that are connected to the city. Through the power of group buying, these groups offer classes, concerts, performances, day trips and extended trips to places like Eilat. Although most people attending are Hebrew speakers, it can be an ideal way of getting an excellent price for a trip to the Dead Sea, Eilat or many other Israel destinations. Talk to your local Iriya (municipal office) to see how to sign up for the notifications.
To see an example of the many activities that are offered by some groups, check out the booklet from Ashkelon (in Hebrew). The brochure shows events such as: classes or events such as: Parashat Hashavua, Tanach, health, ecology, Israeli folk dancing, history, world Jewry, theatrical events, choirs, films, computers, literature, languages classes (French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, English, Italian), bridge, chess, dance (belly dancing, Latin, 60s, folk dancing), drawing, jewelry making, Tai Chi, table tennis and swimming.
As you can see from this brochure, there are many activities offered for retirees. Keep in mind this is Ashkelon, which is a favorite spot for retirees, but there are many Pensioner Groups across the country.
Although Israel is a tiny country (around the size of New Jersey), the terrain and climate is quite varied. You can visit the snow-capped Hermon mountain and the same day be swimming in the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the planet. Israelis love to travel both within the country and abroad and as a resident, you can find many opportunities to explore.
Public transportation is half of the regular fare and by the time you reach 75, it is totally free.
Israel has hundreds of Tzimmers, where people get away for a weekend of longer periods. A Tzimmer is often owned by an individual or family and is usually a unit within a building or a separate building and is usually less expensive than staying at a hotel.
The Israel National Trail called the Shvil Yisrael in Hebrew is Israel’s most popular hiking trail. The 1,015 km (631 mi) trail was inaugurated in 1995. The Israel National Trail crosses the entire country of Israel. Its northern end is at Dan, near the Lebanese border in the far north of the country, and it extends to Eilat at the southernmost tip of Israel on the Red Sea. It does not include the Golan Heights, Yehuda or Shomron.
The Israel National Trail has been listed in National Geographic’s 20 most “epic trails.” It is described as a trail that “delves into the grand scale of biblical landscapes as well as the everyday lives of the modern Israeli.”
Since January 2016, the Israel National Trail can be explored on Google Street View. Israel National Trail on Google Street View.
The trail is marked with three stripes (white, blue, and orange), and takes an average of 45-60 days to complete is done in a single trip. Many people divide the trail into segments and hike one segment at a time. If hiking in segments, the trail can be completed in about three years. There are many organized groups, with guides that take the groups on the trail, giving guidance and taking care of transportation and food. Some groups are designed for seniors, with members in their 50s to 70s taking part in the trips. The advantage of joining a group is that you will have a guide and can visit parts of the trail that are difficult to do on your own, without storing water a head of time, such as the desert. Guides know the best time to visit specific segments, so that if there are wild flowers in an area, the guide might decided to do that segment out of order so that participants can see the best of the trail.