Just Tour Israel https://justtourisrael.com/en/ Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:28:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 https://justtourisrael.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cropped-JustTourIsrael-Logo-Final-tran-32x32.png Just Tour Israel https://justtourisrael.com/en/ 32 32 The Ultimate Road Trip Guide to Eilat: Best Stops, Sights, and Hikes Along the Way https://justtourisrael.com/en/the-ultimate-road-trip-guide-to-eilat-best-stops-sights-and-hikes-along-the-way/ Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:04:04 +0000 https://justtourisrael.com/?p=1773 For many travelers, Eilat is known as Israel’s eternal sun-kissed resort city on the Red Sea. But the journey through the Negev Desert is just as spectacular as the destination itself.

הפוסט The Ultimate Road Trip Guide to Eilat: Best Stops, Sights, and Hikes Along the Way הופיע לראשונה ב-Just Tour Israel.

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צמח על רקע השקיעה
The Ultimate Road Trip Guide to Eilat: Best Stops, Sights, and Hikes Along the Way

For many travelers, Eilat is known as Israel’s eternal sun-kissed resort city on the Red Sea. But as a licensed Israeli tour guide, I always tell my guests: the journey through the Negev Desert is just as spectacular as the destination itself.

The drive from central Israel to Eilat takes between three to five hours. Rather than rushing through the desert, you can transform this drive into an unforgettable road trip. The Negev is teeming with ancient history, biblical heritage, breathtaking geological craters, and oasis hikes.

Whether you are traveling with toddlers who need to burn off energy, teenagers looking for adventure, or a group of history enthusiasts, here is your ultimate guide on what to do on the way to Eilat.

Choosing Your Route to Eilat

Before you pack your bags, you need to decide which route fits your travel style. There are three main options:

  • The Mitzpe Ramon Route (Road 40): This is the ultimate scenic route. It takes you right through the heart of the Negev Highlands, leading down into the dramatic Ramon Crater before connecting to Road 12 or Road 90.

  • The Dimona & Arava Route (Road 40 to Road 25, then Road 90): This path takes you through the northern Negev town of Dimona, down the winding Arava curves, and straight down the Jordanian border along the Arava Valley (Road 90).

  • The Dead Sea Route (Road 90 from North/Jerusalem): If you are starting in Jerusalem or Northern Israel, you will head east on Route 1 toward the Dead Sea, joining Route 90 south to drive the entire length of the Syrian-African Rift Valley.

Route 1: Sights Along the Mitzpe Ramon Route (Road 40)

Beer Sheva and the Gateway to the Desert

Often called the “Capital of the Negev,” Beer Sheva is rich in both modern attractions and ancient biblical roots.

  • Tel Beer Sheva National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage site located just east of the modern city. While named after the biblical town, the archaeological ruins showcase a later, brilliantly planned administrative city from the Kingdom of Judah (Iron Age II, 10th–8th centuries BCE). Visitors can explore the ancient city gate, a replica of the famous horned altar, a massive 70-meter-deep well outside the gate, and an extraordinary rock-hewn underground water system. (Entry fee applies). (Note: If you are looking for the biblical covenant site associated with Abraham and Isaac, that is Abraham’s Well International Visitor Center, located in the Old City of modern Beer Sheva).

  • Midbararium: A world-class, innovative desert-themed animal park. It is divided into different ecological habitats, showing how animals adapt to harsh desert climates. It is highly interactive and perfect for families. (Entry fee applies).

  • The ANZAC Memorial Center: Located in the city, this beautifully designed heritage site tells the dramatic story of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) soldiers who captured Beer Sheva from the Ottoman Empire in World War I during the famous Light Horse charge of 1917. (Entry fee applies).

  • Lunada Children’s Museum: An excellent, hands-on museum for families traveling with younger kids. (Entry fee applies).

Sde Boker: The Legacy of David Ben-Gurion

Continuing south on Road 40, you enter the rugged Zin Valley region, heavily tied to Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, who famously envisioned making the desert bloom.

  • Ben-Gurion’s Grave & Lookout: Located at Midreshet Ben-Gurion, this quiet, beautifully landscaped site is the final resting place of David and Paula Ben-Gurion. The cliffside overlook offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the vast Wilderness of Zin ($Wilderness\ of\ Zin$), the very desert where the biblical Israelites wandered. Keep an eye out for the wild Nubian Ibexes roaming nearby! (Free entry).

  • Ben-Gurion’s Desert Home (Sde Boker): Visit the preserved kibbutz home of the Prime Minister to see where he lived a simple life, surrounded by his personal library of thousands of books. (Entry fee applies).

  • Ein Avdat National Park: A magnificent deep canyon carved out of white limestone, featuring natural springs, pools, and lush poplar trees. (Entry fee applies).

  • Avdat National Park: High on a hill overlooking the desert stands the ruined city of Avdat, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Founded by the Nabataeans in the 3rd century BCE as a stop along the ancient Incense Route, it later became a thriving Byzantine Christian city. (Entry fee applies).

יעל בטיילת של מדרשת בן גוריון המשקיפה אל בקעת צין
שמורת טבע עין עבדת

Mitzpe Ramon & The Ramon Crater (Makhtesh Ramon)

The town of Mitzpe Ramon sits on the edge of the world’s largest erosion crater (Makhtesh). This is not an impact crater from a meteor, but a unique geological phenomenon found only in Israel and the Sinai Peninsula.

  • Ramon Visitors Center: Perched directly on the cliffside, this center pays tribute to both the unique geology of the crater and the life of Ilan Ramon, Israel’s first astronaut. (Entry fee applies; booking in advance is highly recommended).

  • Albert Promenade to Mount Gamal: A scenic walking path along the crater’s rim leading to Mount Gamal, a camel-shaped lookout point that offers fantastic photo opportunities. (Free entry).

  • The Alpaca Farm: A delightful stop for families where you can feed, pet, and learn about alpacas and lamas imported from the Andes. (Entry fee applies).

  • The Prism (HaMinsara): A short, easy walk inside the crater on a wooden boardwalk leads you to a hill covered in unique, prism-shaped volcanic stones that look like wooden logs. (Free entry).

  • Ramon Colors Park: A drive-through geological park inside the crater featuring exposed, colorful sandstone layers and quarry rehabilitation sites. (Free entry).

  • The Ammonite Wall: A short walk from the highway to view a cliffside embedded with fossilized marine creatures ($Ammonites$) dating back to the Cretaceous period, when the entire Negev was covered by the ancient Tethys Ocean. (Free entry).

Detour: Kasuy Sand Dunes (Road 12)

If you branch off Road 40 onto Road 12 toward Eilat, a stop at the Kasuy Sand Dunes in the Uvda Valley is an absolute must. Unlike the coarse sand of the Mediterranean beaches, these dunes consist of incredibly fine, soft, golden wind-blown sand. Even hard-to-please teenagers will love climbing up and rolling or jumping down these massive dunes, especially at sunset. (Free entry).

Teenagers sitting on the dune at Kasuy Dunes
נערה כשברקע השקיעה

Route 2: Sights Along the Dimona & Arava Route (Road 25 to Road 90)

If you want to avoid the winding, steep mountain roads of the Ramon Crater, driving via Dimona (Road 25) is a much gentler option.

(Note: If you are driving down from Jerusalem or the Dead Sea on Road 90, you will bypass the Dimona section entirely. You will head straight south along the Jordanian border and merge with this route at the Arava Junction, where you can easily access all the Arava Highway stops listed below).

Dimona and Mamshit

  • Mamshit National Park: Another impressive Nabataean-Byzantine city on the UNESCO Incense Route. Mamshit is famous for its unique architecture, grand ancient estates (like the House of Nabato), beautifully preserved stone arches, and impressive Byzantine-era churches. (Entry fee applies).

  • Negev Camel Ranch: Located right next to Mamshit, this ranch offers camel rides, desert hospitality, and insights into how these “ships of the desert” were domesticated. (Fees apply for activities and rides).

The Arava Highway (Road 90)

As you descend into the Syrian-African Rift Valley, you will merge onto Road 90, running parallel to the Jordanian border.

  • The Peace Road (Derech HaShalom): A lovely, scenic bypass road running through agricultural fields and striking Lissan marl badland ravines (sedimentary clay formations) between Moshav Idan and Ein Yahav. It features beautiful desert lookouts over the Jordanian mountains. (Note: This road is a rustic route—some sections are paved, while others are graded gravel and dirt tracks. It is, however, completely accessible to standard family cars). (Free entry).
  • The Vidor Center (Arava Science & Development): An interactive, multi-sensory visitor center that showcases the miracles of desert agriculture—how Israeli farmers grow sweet cherry tomatoes and flowers in the middle of the salty desert. (Entry fee applies).
  • Sapir Park: A true desert oasis. This green park features a warm lake, shady grassy lawns, and picnic tables. It is the perfect spot for a refreshing lunch break. (Free entry).
  • Yotvata Visitor Center: Yotvata is famous throughout Israel for its legendary chocolate milk (shoko), making this gas station and restaurant complex the country’s most iconic road-trip pit stop. It’s the perfect place to grab food, enjoy homemade ice cream, and pick up local Negev dairy products. (Free entry to the complex).
  • Hai-Bar Yotvata Nature Reserve: Located a short drive south of the Kibbutz, this sprawling reserve is dedicated to breeding and reintroducing endangered biblical desert animals back into the wild. Visitors can drive through the open safari area to spot majestic herds of Arabian Oryx, Addax, and wild asses. (Entry fee applies).
  • Timna Park: Located just 25 kilometers north of Eilat, this stunning red-sandstone park is home to ancient Egyptian copper mines (often associated with King Solomon’s Mines), geological wonders like Solomon’s Pillars, and a replica of the biblical Tabernacle. (Entry fee applies).
  • The Chain Wells (Foggara / Qanat): Near the southern Arava (at Ein Evrona), you can view the remains of an ancient underground irrigation system that harnessed gravity to bring groundwater to desert agriculture. For a truly unique and adventurous experience, visitors can actually climb down into the restored shafts and crawl through parts of the dry, underground stone-lined tunnels. Make sure to bring a flashlight (or phone light)! (Free entry).
ילדה מטפסת על סולם במסלול הקשתות בפארק תמנע

Winter Hiking Guide: The Best Trails on the Way to Eilat

Winter is the golden season for desert hiking. The temperatures are cool, the air is crisp, and the risk of heat stroke is minimal. Here are some of the best trails to break up your drive, categorized by route:

Eastern Route (Dimona / Arava Area)

Gevi Peres (Peres Waterholes):

  • The Trail: A beautiful hike to deep waterholes carved into rock canyon walls. Following winter rains, these pools fill with crisp water.
  • Options: You can choose between a circular trail (easier, no car-shuttle required) or a linear trail (requires a second car parked at the end). (Free entry).

Nahal Tamar:

  • The Trail: A short, highly adventurous canyon hike. It is a linear trail involving climbing up or down tall iron ladders and ropes bolted into the dry waterfall walls.
  • Logistics: Start at the lookout point before descending the Arava curves, and end at the gas station at the Arava Junction (requires a car shuttle or a pickup). (Free entry).
  •  

Western Route (Mitzpe Ramon Area)

Ein Avdat Canyon:

  • The Trail: One of Israel’s most iconic hikes. You walk between sheer canyon walls to a majestic pool and waterfall.
  • Options: You can take the short/medium return route (walking to the poplar grove and back). Alternatively, the long route is a one-way climb up steep rock stairs to the top of the cliff (requires parking a second car at the upper parking lot).
  • Note: Entering this trail requires a ticket from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA). (Entry fee applies).

Nahal Karkash:

  • The Trail: Starting near Midreshet Ben-Gurion, this is a fun, moderately challenging trail through a winding, flint-filled wadi.
  • Options: Can be done as a linear trail ending at the Serpentines parking lot (requires car shuttle), or as a circular loop with a steep, challenging climb back up. (Free entry).

Nahal Havarim:

  • The Trail: An easy, downward walk through glowing, soft white marl formations. It is especially famous as a full-moon night hike, but beautiful by day as well.
  • Logistics: Linear trail starting near Bor Havarim (the ancient cistern) and ending at the Serpentines parking lot. (Free entry).

Mount Gamal to The Prism (Mitzpe Ramon):

  • The Trail: A scenic one-way trail starting on the rim of the Ramon Crater at Mount Gamal, descending into the crater floor, and ending at the geological “Prism” site. Requires a car shuttle to the bottom of the crater. (Free entry).
The Prism in Ramon Macktesh
נוף בשמורת הטבע עין עבדת

Guide’s Tips for a Safe Desert Road Trip

As your guide, I want to make sure your journey is as safe as it is fun. Keep these golden rules in mind:

  1. Check for Flash Flood Warnings: In winter and spring, sudden rains can cause severe flash floods in the desert. Never enter a riverbed (Wadi) if there is a flood warning. Always check the official updates from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

  2. Hydration is Key: The desert air is extremely dry. You will dehydrate faster than you realize. Always carry at least 3 liters of water per person when hiking, even in winter.

  3. Book National Parks in Advance: To protect nature and prevent overcrowding, sites like Ein Avdat, Avdat, and the Ramon Visitors Center require reserving your entry slot online through the Israel Nature and Parks Authority website.

  4. Protect the Wildlife: Do not feed the ibexes or any other desert animals. Our food is highly toxic to them and disrupts their natural behavior.

Need Help Planning Your Israel Adventure?

The Negev Desert is packed with secrets that only a local guide can reveal. Whether you are looking for a tailored family road trip, a biblical pilgrimage, or an off-the-beaten-path desert tour, I would love to help you build the perfect itinerary.

Start Your Journey Here

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הפוסט The Ultimate Road Trip Guide to Eilat: Best Stops, Sights, and Hikes Along the Way הופיע לראשונה ב-Just Tour Israel.

]]> Discover the Beauty of the Dead Sea in Israel:10 Must-Visit Places! https://justtourisrael.com/en/discover-the-beauty-ofthe-dead-sea-in-israel10-must-visit-places/ Sun, 28 Jun 2026 06:55:50 +0000 https://justtourisrael.com/?p=1695 The Dead Sea is an extraordinary destination that promises a one-of-a-kind and unforgettable experience for all its visitors.

הפוסט Discover the Beauty of the Dead Sea in Israel:10 Must-Visit Places! הופיע לראשונה ב-Just Tour Israel.

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My feet walking in the water at Ein Bokek
Discover the Beauty of the Dead Sea in Israel:10 Must-Visit Places!

The Dead Sea is an extraordinary destination that promises a one-of-a-kind and unforgettable experience for all its visitors. Renowned for its high salt concentration and therapeutic properties, this remarkable body of water attracts tourists from all corners of the globe. In this blog post, we’ll take you on a journey to discover the incredible features of the Dead Sea and suggest some exciting activities to make the most of your visit.

10 Must-Visit Places

  • Floating in the Salty Water: One of the most famous and enjoyable activities at the Dead Sea is effortlessly floating on its surface. The remarkably high salt concentration creates a buoyant environment, making sinking nearly impossible. Surrender yourself to this extraordinary experience, relax, and let the healing properties of the water revitalize your body. Just be cautious not to let the water into your eyes, as it can cause discomfort.

  • Sinkholes: While the Dead Sea itself is a magnificent attraction, it’s essential to be aware of the sinkholes that have formed primarily in the northern part of the Dead Sea. If you’re interested in witnessing this natural phenomenon, head to a viewpoint near Metzoke Dragot.

  • Ein Gedi Nature Reserve: Immerse yourself in a stunning oasis amidst the arid Judean Desert. The Ein Gedi Nature Reserve is home to diverse wildlife, enchanting small waterfalls, and picturesque hiking trails. Take a leisurely nature walk, spot ibex and Rock hyrax, or cool off in the refreshing freshwater springs. Ein Gedi provides a welcome contrast to the salty surroundings of the Dead Sea.

Fish trail - Mount Sdom
Hila at Salvadora trail

  • Enot Zukim Nature Reserve: Another captivating destination is the Enot Zukim Nature Reserve, which features a series of freshwater pools (albeit a bit salty) known as “Zukim Pools.” These pools are fed by natural springs and offer a unique and tranquil setting to explore.

  • Masada: Embark on a journey back in time with a visit to Masada, a nearby historical site of immense cultural significance. Explore the story of King Herod’s palace and discover tales of heroism and resistance that unfolded during the Roman siege.

  • Qumran National Park: For history enthusiasts, a visit to Qumran National Park is a must. According to Christian tradition, Qumran is believed to be the place where John the Baptist emerged. The archaeological site offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the Essenes, an ancient Jewish sect that inhabited the area during the Second Temple period. Explore the ruins of their settlement, including the famous caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.

  • Moshe Novomeisky Visitors Center: Located in the south of the Dead Sea, the Moshe Novomeisky Visitors Center provides an opportunity to learn about the innovative pioneer Moshe Novomeisky. He received a franchise from the British Mandate to establish a plant in the Dead Sea to produce Bromide and Potassium during the 1930s.

Climb at Ein Bokek Trail
Einot Tzukim - The Hidden Reserve

  • Pratzim Wadi: Situated in the southern part of the Dead Sea, Pratzim Wadi offers an excellent location for a full moon hike. The white marl stone shines brightly under the moonlight, eliminating the need for a flashlight.

  • Sunrise from Mount Sodom: Experience one of the most breathtaking sunrises from Mount Sodom. While not a high mountain, it offers a stunning hilltop view. Easily accessible by car with a short walk to the best location, you can witness the Dead Sea beneath you, along with the Moav and Edom Mountains in Jordan.

  • Ein Bokek offers two options for a delightful hiking experience. The first is a short, scenic trail spanning 2 km back and forth trip. Alternatively, if you’re seeking a bit more adventure, you can embark on a thrilling 4 km hike, which involves using pegs while descending to the freshwater pools. This captivating journey promises to lead you to a genuine oasis of tranquility. Opting for the longer trail rewards you with an even more magnificent scenery to behold.

Conclution

The Dead Sea is a truly spectacular place to visit, offering an array of unique experiences for travelers. From floating effortlessly in the salty water to exploring historical sites and hiking through stunning nature reserves, this destination is full of wonders. As you float in the salty water, remember to exercise caution. Additionally, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the nearby nature reserves of Ein Gedi and Enot Zukim, where you can immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the region. Embark on your journey to the Dead Sea and create memories that will last a lifetime!

Start Your Journey Here

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הפוסט Discover the Beauty of the Dead Sea in Israel:10 Must-Visit Places! הופיע לראשונה ב-Just Tour Israel.

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