Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Everyone will meet at one of the pick-up points in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv or Ben Gurion Airport and head south by bus. On the way to Mashabei Sadeh (our lodging for the first two nights), time permitting, we will visit Tel Gezer, the archeological site of the ancient biblical city. The site, which has undergone recent renovations, tells many concurrent stories, including the polytheistic city during Abraham’s time and the Solomonic city at its zenith, before being lost in time until modern-day archaeologists re-discovered it. After a brief tour of the area, we will stop for an optional lunch break along the way and then head to Mashabei Sadeh for our opening ceremony, dinner, and orientation meetings.

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Nachal Havarim and Nachal Zin – נחל חווארים ונחל צין
Nahal Havarim passes through an ancient Nabatean cistern and continues along the length of a narrow canyon with unique landscape formations. On the way we will likely see goats and other desert animals, and spectacular natural colors. “Havarim” in English refers to the geological sedimentary rock called marlstone. We will then hike down to the neighboring Zin Valley, famous as one of the sites visited by the 12 spies sent by Moses to preview the land of Israel. We will trace the route of Nachal Zin to its formative point in Ein Avdat before returning to the entrance of the wadi. (3 miles)

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Small Machtesh – מכתש הקטן
It is said that to really understand what a machtesh (crater) is, you have to come to the Small Machtesh. Seeing the entire crater makes it possible to understand the power of the geological phenomenon called a machtesh. Hiking through this expanse of desert is beautiful, and heading into the machtesh allows us to explore the geology, wildlife, and history. The view at the end of the machtesh is stunning! (2 miles)

Friday, March 29, 2024

Lost City – העיר האבודה
After breakfast we will head out to explore the Lost City and Mitzpe Chagai, near Sde Boker. The Lost City is an ancient farming settlement with the remains of hundreds of buildings built along a number of streambeds, dating back to the late Byzantine and Early Arab periods. The identification and purpose of this previously unknown site posed many questions and debates, hence its mystic title, “Lost City.” We will then walk to Mitzpe Chagai, a nearby point overlooking the desert. (2 miles)

Sunday, March 31, 2024

Parsat Nekarot / Ein Saharonim – פרסת נקרות / עין סהרונים
Both groups will spend the day in Machtesh Ramon before heading down to the Eilat area.

Our group will head out to hike Parsat Nekarot and Ein Saharonim—a circular hiking trail that combines a spring, antiquities, and a valley on the outskirts of the Ramon Crater.

This road is part of the route of the ancient perfume road—one of the important trade routes of the Nabateans during the Roman and Byzantine periods. The road is still used today as an all-terrain vehicle route that bypasses Persat Nakro. While walking, we will see the huge hump known as “Kerbulat Hararim,”on which the Israel Trail climbs—part of the southern wall of the Ramon Crater. Ein Saharonim is a small spring, which is the main natural source of water in the Ramon Crater, attracting goats, ferals (wild donkeys), and many varied species of birds. In the river bed, there are ash trees and samar bushes, as well as other plants, including common reed and damaged salt marsh. (3.5 miles)

Monday, April 1, 2024

Givat Yocheved – גבעת יוכבד and Har Amir- הר אמיר
The final day of hiking is in the Eilat Area, with its unique granite/sandstone formation.

This Nature reserve in the Eilat Mountains allows us to go on a circular route, between breathtaking views of the Eilat Mountains, a host of geological phenomena, mountains in unique shapes, copper mines and observatories. Mount Amir is at a height of 443 meters next to Nahal Amir and not far from it you can find the pillars of Amram from the Bible. The mountain consists of sandstones, limestone rocks, mining caves and scattered copper. Mount Amir was named after Amir Shimon who was a fighter in the Shaked patrol and saved the life of another soldier named Amir. (3 miles)

All hiking groups and riding groups will meet at Eilat Coral Beach to celebrate.

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Mount Tzror and Nachal Tzror – הר צרור ונחל צרור
Mount Tzror, located to the east of Ben-Gurion’s tomb, at the southwestern end of Hatira Ridge, is a circular hiking route. We will see three main attractions: Mount Tzror—”table mountain” covered with unique black flintstone and providing a beautiful view of the Zin Valley, Mezur Waterfall—a beautiful, high waterfall and at its foot Gev Tzror, which fills with water after floods. The route combines sections of walking on jeep roads and narrow paths, including a “balcony path” bypassing a small waterfall. (5 miles)

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Nachal Tamar/Tzafit – נחל תמר/צפית
Today we will hike through two of the nahalim (river valleys) that lead down to the Dead Sea, Nahal Tamar and Nahal Tzafit. The trail is both fascinating and challenging, with ladders, ropes, rock-stairs and a lookout-point with a beautiful view of the Dead Sea and the Arava desert valley. After ascending Nahal Tamar, we will turn south and hike the connecting ridge to Nahal Tzafit, before descending into the valley that will lead us back eastwards, towards the Dead Sea. (5 miles)

Friday, March 29, 2024

Large Fin – הסנפיר הגדול
After breakfast, we will head out into the Great Machtesh מכתש הגדול up the Fin—the side of the rim of the crater. We will start with a short walk to Ein Yorkeam – עין ירקעם, a beautiful water cistern. From there, we will walk to the Large Fin, where a challenging uphill climb leads to an incredible view of the Dimona nuclear facility and surrounding desert. The hike down is beautiful and the colored sands are mesmerizing. (4 miles)

Sunday, March 31, 2024

Mount Ardon – הר ארדון
Both groups will spend the day in Machtesh Ramon before heading down to the Eilat area.

On the eastern side of the Ramon Crater, between the Machmel Valley and the Ardon Valley, lies Mount Ardon. There are spectacular views, landscapes in many desert shades, and a challenging hike, which includes sharp ascents and steep descents.

Mount Ardon is not to be missed. It seems to be invading the crater, sprouting right from its walls and crawling towards its heart. Its imposing silhouette can be easily identified from pretty much any of the viewpoints in the crater’s center. Yet, despite its threatening appearance, Mt. Ardon invites everyone and going up to the top is a reasonable challenge. The hike is circular, starting with ascending the mountain and then going down on the other side. The top is flat and ideal for a rest while viewing the landscape. Back at the mountain foot and on the way back to the starting point, you cross a mars-looking patch of remarkable beauty, with various rocks of peculiar colors. (5 miles)

Monday, April 1, 2024

Mount Tzfachot – הר צפחות
The final day of hiking is in the Eilat area, with its unique granite/sandstone formation.

Our hike starts in the river bank and, crossing the multi-colored and layered geological rock formations, we will climb Har Tzfachot on the southern tip of the Eilat Mountain range. This hike culminates in a superb view of the four countries whose borders meet around the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba: Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. The hike is part of the last/first hike of Shvil Yisrael (the Israel National Trail). (4 miles)

All hiking and riding groups will meet at Eilat Coral Beach to celebrate.