Eilat & Negev

Where Adventure and Inspiration Await

An ideal destination for travelers who love adventure in the great outdoors. The south of Israel is sparsely populated, but packed with fascinating sites and activities.

With amazing natural wonders and beauty, the South boasts magnificent views that are guaranteed to take your breath away, from sunrise to sunset. A desert but definitely not deserted, there is so much to see and do here – there are many extraordinary geological marvels, significant historical landmarks and wonderful nature reserves, where you can go hiking, cycling and camel riding, or enjoy adrenaline-charged safari rides in the desert. Simply put, this majestic Southern region is one of the country’s greatest assets and an absolute must on the itinerary.

Sde Boker
A remarkable glance to the history of the State of Israel, Sde Boker is a Kibbutz originally established by pioneers, with the mission to settle the Negev in the early 50’s. Sde Boker is renowned as the home of David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister whose home is now a museum open to the public.

Vidor Center
A truly unique attraction, offering a multi-sensory experience of the exceptional nature of the Arava region. Visitors to the center can discover advanced farming methods, the local flora and fauna, climate challenges, and special qualities of the soil and water of the desert.

Nevatim
A visit to Nevatim, the home to Cochin Jews, is a fascinating experience. Cochin Jews, originally from India, immigrated to Israel after the establishment of the State. Cochin Jews consider themselves as one of the most ancient Jewish communities in the world. The Center for Cochin Heritage at Moshav Nevatim tells the story of this unique community.

MidBurn Festival
Israel’s own version of the famous “Burning Man” festival; where for 6 days, a temporary city is set up in the Negev desert, creating a platform which allows a communal life style, creativity, art and radical self-expression.

The Bedouin Experience
The Bedouin hospitality is a truly unrivalled experience, one which is both highly enjoyable and culturally engaging. A group of nomadic tribes indigenous to the area and dating back many hundreds of years, the Bedouins of Israel continue to live in traditional ways, opening their hearts, their homes and their way of life to the public, to share in their customs and their world-renowned hospitality. From camel riding to traditional Bedouin meals and even overnight stays in traditional Bedouin tents – all these are immensely popular attractions with tourists in the region, and an opportunity to discover and connect with a longforgotten way of life.

The Culinary Queens of Yeruham
For a truly memorable local experience, make sure to visit the Culinary Queens of Yeruham – a unique project, in which the wonderful women of Yeroham host tourists from far and wide for an excellent traditional meal in their homes, creating an unforgettable experience of smells, colors and flavors. Get to know the real life of locals through their fascinating stories, while tasting the ethnic delicacies and enjoying their amazing hospitality.

The Old City of Be’er Sheva
Said to have been founded by biblical Abraham, Be’er Sheva is one of the oldest cities in the country, with evidence of a settlement dating back thousands of years. As charming as it is historic, the old city of Be’er Sheva offers a fascinating mosaic of urban spaces, and exploring the Old City will reveal a rare wealth of unique architecture, extensive history and stories as old as time.

Carasso Science Park
New in the Old City of Be’er Sheva, the Carasso Science Park, spread over 4.25 acres, is the largest science park in Israel. Engaging and entertaining for all ages, Carasso Science Park features an interactive museum and a scientific garden with games and hands-on activities. The park also offers ten interactive exhibitions in various fields of science including: Genetics, Communication, Microelectronics, Nuclear Energy and more.

Arad
Arad of the new millennium is a town with young spirit and rich experience. Arad and its surroundings have been blessed with beautiful landscapes, desert tranquility, and many walking trails nestled amongst untouched desert nooks, suitable for any age or style. With lots of attractions and plenty of tourism sites in and around the city, Arad is the perfect starting point and your natural gate to the perfect desert vacation.

Yotvata Hai-Bar
The Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve is the area’s largest animal breeding and reclamation center for animals before they are reintroduced into the wild. The reserve boasts wonderful attractions that are an absolute delight for animal lovers, including the predators’ center with its live predators and small desert animals, a Nocturnal animal’s observatory in dark room conditions and 12 square kilometers of ground where herds of herbivores roam free.

Extreme Adventures
The south of Israel is a total dream destination for adventure-hungry travelers. Its unique and challenging terrain make for an ideal setting for various extreme sports and activities including abseiling down steep ravens and canyons, dirt biking and off road cycling which are extremely popular in this area as are the 4×4 adventure drives which are all the rage for locals and tourists alike.

Camel rides
A definite throwback, this is still most authentic way to explore the marvelous desert surrounding. Riding on the back of a Camel is an activity found in a number of camel farms across the Negev and one guaranteed to last in your memory.

In the heart of the western Negev lies a site considered one of the most significant landmarks in Christian history- the mysterious and beautiful Mount Karkom.

Featuring a wildly unspoiled landscape – an 847-meter-high limestone plateau scored by dramatic ravines, mount Karkom is believed by some scholars to be the site of the biblical Mount Sinai – mentioned often in the book of Exodus as the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments.

Walking down the eight-kilometer-long loop-trail, on the banks of the Karkom dry riverbed are two rows of standing stones and a rounded wall, reminiscent of nomadic shrine of the type built by the Israelites of the time. Looking closely, one can even spot 12 standing stones, believed by some to represent the 12 tribes of Israel.

Adding to the mystery and appeal, Mount Karkom features many famous rock drawings, depicting worshipping figures, animals and enigmatic symbols.

To visit the area Hikers must coordinate tour to the site in advance and use a Society for the Protection of Nature (SPNI) trail map (available in Hebrew only) to explore Mount Karkom.

At the heart of Israel’s vast Negev Desert, lies the Ramon Crater, the world’s largest erosion crater, also known as Machtesh Ramon. Encompassing a vast diversity of rocks of fantastic colors and forms, this mesmerizing natural phenomenon measures 40km in length and between 2 and 10km in width, shaped like an elongated heart, and forms Israel’s largest national park, the Ramon Nature Reserve.

Far from the city lights and crowds, featuring multicolored sandstone, volcanic rock, and fossils, the Ramon Crater is often described as Israel’s very own Grand Canyon.

The truly stunning views from the 300m edge lookout point of Machtesh Ramon, reminiscent of a Hollywood backdrop offer a powerful experience for tourists from all over the world, all year round.

A visit to Machtesh Ramon offers a range of exciting experiences and attractions specifically geared towards tourists and world travelers:

Ramon Crater Visitor Center – Built on the crater’s edge, the visitor center overlooks the awesome views from the Machtesh and offers an opportunity to learn about its unique natural phenomena, and also about the life and work of Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut.

Hai Ramon – Raising awareness to the local animal population, The Hai Ramon animal park offers a fascinating encounter with the often obscure and unseen small animals of the desert, The site features about 40 species of animals: lizards, snakes, turtles, spurs, hedgehogs, falcons, pheasants and more.

Kahn Saharonim – a short walk from this once station on the Nabatean Spice Route, is Ein Saharonim, a beautiful spring (dry in the summer) which features rich vegetation and the footprints of the many animals that come to enjoy its waters.

The Carpentry – a fascinating geological phenomenon, The Carpentry is a concentration of elongated stones in the form of prisms formed when the sandstone was “baked” at the high temperature created by a hot lava flow from the depths of the earth. During its cooling, the rock formed into thousands of ribbed columns, and the fragments of the columns act as the prisms.

The Ammonite Wall – a rock wall featuring fossils of ammonites – marine animals that lived millions of years ago in the sea which then covered the entire Negev area.

A trip to Machtesh Ramon is a fascinating experience, one guaranteed to create a strong impression and a lasting memory.

15,000 acres in a horseshoe-shaped valley surrounded by steep cliffs, Timna Park is an extraordinarily stunning experience and an absolute treat for hiking enthusiasts. Here you’ll witness the marvelous works of nature, as well as the amazing wildlife, plants and trees which make the desert their home, surviving in the harsh arid conditions.

With its multitude of attractions, colorful sands and craggy mountains, Timna Park is an incomparable visitor magnet.

Explore the Natural Beauty and Exciting Attractions Timna Park Has to Offer
Timna Park is a one-of-a-kind experience, located just 20 minutes from Eilat, in the heart of the enchanted Israeli desert and ensconced between breathtaking natural scenery. With attractions and activities that combine nature, historical antiquities and adventure, the expansive grounds house excitement and enchantment that dare to impress visitors of all ages and interests.

Witness outstanding natural phenomena
Walk through the park’s grounds and gaze at the site’s unique rock formations With interesting names and rare shapes you can touch with your bare hands “Mushroom,” “Mushroom & a Half,” “Pink Canyon,” “Arches,” “Solomon’s Pillars” and “Valley of Rock Drawings -” depict life from an era long ago, allowing you to feel as though you are witnessing something truly spectacular.

Trek through the great outdoors
Embark upon one of the park’s 20 well-marked hiking trails, each varying in level of difficulty, selected to fit your individual or group needs and capabilities. Trek through the spectacular, geological and archaeologically-significant trails, or choose instead to take it easy and lounge by the shaded Timna Lake and its adjacent camping grounds and King Solomon’s Khan restaurant, where desert-related crafts such as colored sand bottles can be made, or pedal boats can be taken for a spin.

Extreme sports more up your alley? Try out the park’s rappelling, zip line and bike tours, each sure to leave you feeling invigorated and accomplished.

Experience ancient times today
Learn about biblical history in the desert, during a guided visit of the reconstructed Tabernacle, complete with a replica of the Altar, Holy of Holies and Ark. Watch as younger visitors gaze in awe at the reproduction of the holy structure God commanded the Jews to build in the desert – and older visitors examine the reconstruction for historical accuracy, learning a thing or two along the way.

Timna Park. Where history meets adventure, deep in the Israeli desert.

The Bedouin hospitality is a truly unrivalled experience, one which is both highly enjoyable and culturally engaging.

A group of nomadic tribes indigenous to the area and dating back many hundreds of years, the Bedouins of Israel continue to live in traditional ways, opening their hearts, their homes and their way of life to the public, to share in their customs and their world-renowned hospitality.

From camel riding to traditional Bedouin meals and even overnight stays in traditional Bedouin tents – all these are immensely popular attractions with tourists in the region, and an opportunity to discover and connect with a long-forgotten way of life.

Re-live epic history atop the Judean Desert’s glorious fortification
Journey to Masada National Park, the lone, isolated, ancient Judean Desert clifftop fortification, overlooking the nearby Dead Sea oasis. Hike up the winding snake path or Roman staircase from the fortification’s base, or enter the Masada Visitors’ Center and travel to the site’s summit via cable car and begin to experience a part of ancient history, as if it were still in the making.

Explore regal ruins and feel a part of history
Enter what was once a series of luxurious castles forming the final stronghold inhabited by freedom fighters, who courageously waged war against the Roman Empire following the destruction of the Second Temple. A site so rich in historical narrative, that the cool, stone walls practically weep for the brave souls who chose untimely death over enslavement under enemy regime.

Where experiencing culture and religion reaches new heights
Stroll through the castle ruins and discover rooms and structures, archaeological findings highlighting life on Masada during the Roman siege. Enter the Northern Castle, the ruins of King Herod’s private fortress palace. Whisper a prayer in the ancient synagogue, where Jews congregated thrice daily to pray for salvation. Pay homage to the departed freedom fighters, who drew lots in the “Lottery Room” to determine the order of the men’s impending deaths, until the last remaining man put an end to his own life as well.

Gaze at what is left of a Byzantine-era church and its mosaic artwork, possibly used for centuries by escaped Christian monks as early as the 1st Century, for a period of roughly 600 years.

Experience Masada as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, complete with a sunset sound and light show at the fortification’s base, which delves into the way of life and battles experienced on site centuries ago.