Best Things to Do in the Negev Desert, Israel
Here is our list of the best things to do in the Negev Desert in Israel. From hiking in the canyons, stargazing, biking in the desert, or snorkeling to staying in luxury resorts or wine tasting, Negev Desert has it all.
After visiting it ourselves, we believe that the Negev Desert is one of the most spectacular places in Israel. And how can it not be when it covers more than two-thirds of the country.
Yes, when you look at the Negev Desert map for the first time, you will immediately notice that the desert area covers a massive part of the country.
Now you might think there's not much to do in this inhospitable desert region.
Those were precisely our first thoughts as well. But that's not entirely true.
While the density of top tourist attractions in the Negev desert is lower than in other parts of Israel, it still offers plenty of things to do and see.
Negev Desert results from millions and millions of years of natural processes, so you can expect stunning scenery even it can be hiding under the surface at times.
I still vividly remember that when we had planned our combined trip to Jordan and Israel last year, we had glanced at the Negev Desert and said that there would probably be nothing to see nor do.
At least compared to other areas in Israel. We had agreed upon that we'd just fly by quickly as possible through the desert as we had had limited time.
Later on, we had had to cancel our Israel journey while still in Jordan, so we didn't make it to Negev Desert that year.
At the time, we couldn't know that something good would come up from this.
One year later, we grabbed the opportunity to come back to the Middle East. But this time, we looked into this area more closely and discovered that there's more than meets the eye.
So we decided to include it in our Israel itinerary.
Having more time for Negev Desert allowed us to see some of its most fascinating places, which we would have missed entirely probably or just didn't have enough time to explore them fully.
Every cloud has a silver lining, and sometimes bad things can turn into positive things.
In this travel guide, we are excited to share with you the best the Negev Desert has to offer, including practical information on how to get around, when to visit, or where to stay.
What to See and Do in the Negev Desert
Negev Desert is full of hiking and biking trails, historical sites, fascinating scenery, and we believe that almost every type of traveler will have a good time there.
As we'll soon find out, it's also an excellent place for stargazing, wine tasting, staying in Bedouin Camps, 4x4 jeep tours, and other fun activities.
Due to its remoteness, Negev is so different from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem.
All of the places we put on our list of the best places to visit in the Negev Desert have something in common. The history.
From ancient Egyptians mining copper and making bronze, Bedouins traveling across the desert, monks seeking solitude in the caves, Nabateans building waystations, Roman armies camping in the desert, Byzantine erecting churches to a modern Israel state history or astronauts, the Negev Desert has it all.
So here are some tips on what to do in the Negev Desert.
Makhtesh Ramon
Approximately in the middle of the Negev Desert is located Makhtesh Ramon, one of the fascinating places in the entire region.
Even the exotic-sounding word makhtesh is not something you come across every day. Admittedly, we had never heard it before our trip to Israel.
Makhtesh Ramon is a large crater, but its origin is very different from every single one you've ever seen.
Most of the craters in the world are formed by volcanic activity or meteors. It's a different story when it comes to makhtesh, as it's only one of seven places (or craters) in the world formed by erosion.
The crater is 40 kilometers long and 2 to 10 kilometers wide.
It will take you days to see everything this spectacular place has to offer, but it's possible to visit some of the best places in Makhtesh Ramon even when you're short on time.
However, if you do have more than just a couple of hours, then you could consider staying at Mitzpe Ramon or one of the campgrounds in the crater's bottom.
As there is very little light pollution from the big cities, Makhtesh Ramon is one of Israel's best places for stargazing in Israel.
Another popular activity to do here is hiking and biking, but be prepared that it's going to be hot when you arrive in summer.
Our favorite place in Makhtesh Ramon is definitely the trail that leads around the crater's rim.
When you get closer to the edge of the cliff, the entire space opens up in front of you, and the views are simply breathtaking.
It's also free, so you can easily admire the canyon even when visiting Israel on a budget.
An educational museum with an exhibit explaining the crater's origin is located on the top of the cliff.
However, the museum is mostly dedicated to Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon who was on the Columbia space shuttle where he died together with the rest of the crew during the accident.
Eilat
Located at the southern end of Negev, Eilat is the best place to visit in Israel if you love luxury resorts, sandy beaches, snorkeling at the coral reef, or shopping.
While we are not particularly fond of overly developed resort cities ourselves, we can't deny that Eilat has its own style and charm.
The city itself is not the most beautiful one, especially when you see the packed Hotels Zone area, plenty of shopping malls, or the nearby port.
But when you look back across the bay from one of the resort's peers, you will see the towering mountains in the backdrop.
Soon enough, you will realize that Eilat is not only about lying on the beach, snorkeling in the Red Sea, and leisure activities but hides some surprisingly beautiful nature as well.
And thanks to its strategic location, Eilat is a great place to base yourself for a few days to explore the Negev Desert more intensively.
We recommend you to arrive outside peak season and Jewish holidays to avoid the crowds and have a better trip.
Long term travelers might visit Eilat for one more reason, as it is the only place where you can cross borders to Egypt by land and one of the best places in Israel to cross the borders to Jordan.
Red Canyon
While we understand that most of the visitors arrive in Eilat to enjoy the luxurious features of their hotels or to see the abundant marine life and colorful coral reef, we suggest looking in the areas around the city.
And since we've talked earlier about the Eilat Mountains, we have to mention one of the best natural gems you can find there.
The Red Canyon. About thirty kilometers north of Eilat, the desert created in the time span of thousand and thousand years a canyon that will leave you in awe.
A nice hiking trail has some metal steps and ladders, but anyone who is moderately fit should be able to do it, as we saw even families with kids there.
Make sure to bring sunscreen, a hat, proper footwear, and plenty of water with you, especially if you want to extend the hike to Southern Wadi Shani.
Red Canyon is located less than a 30-minute drive from Eilat, making it a popular half-day trip from the city.
Timna Park
Timna Park is a place where you can admire archaeology and geology, and it's also one of our favorite places to visit in Israel.
The history of Timna Park dates back to 5000 BCE, and it was also one of the first places in the world where people produced bronze.
Now imagine that the nature in the park is even more spectacular than the historical aspect.
Seeing the results of natural elements and forces after millions of years is something you shouldn't miss out on.
From sandstone pillars, hoodoos, caves to arches or mineshafts, Timna Park has it all.
If you've been to Jordan and visited the Wadi Rum, then you will love this park as well. Timna Park is a bit more intimate and less grandeur, but it doesn't take away any of its brilliance.
It's close to Eilat, so if you're looking for a place to spend a day close to nature, Timna Park won't disappoint you.
The entrance fee is 49 NIS, and your Israel Pass is not valid here, as Timna is a private park.
While exploring Timna Park on foot is an incredible experience, you'll also need a car to get to and around the park.
Avdat National Park
We love visiting UNESCO sites, so we couldn't wait to see Avdat National Park in Negev Desert.
Avdat National Park is like so many other places in Israel full of history that formed a fascinating result.
When the Nabateans took control of this region in the 4th century BCE, they needed to create a safety plan for their trading efforts on the Incense Route connecting Oman and Yemen with the Mediterranean Sea.
While they mainly were a nomadic tribe that roamed the Arabian Desert at first, they built unique places such as Petra in Jordan or the waystations on the Incense Route.
Avdat was a waystation number 62 out of a total 65 the Nabateans built there, and it's one of the best and well-preserved places on Incense Route.
The journey took about two months across the desert areas, so it's pretty obvious why they needed to create some places where they could safely rest.
When the Romans annexed the Nabatean empire, things have changed.
Later on, the Byzantine era was responsible for converting local inhabitants to Christianity and building churches on the top of the fortress.
The burial caves on the hill's slopes were later transformed into storage rooms and stables.
They continued in the agriculture the Nabateans developed there and started to grow wine in Avdat.
When we walked there in the middle of autumn and saw how dry and arid this area was, we couldn't imagine how they were able to grow something in such an inhospitable place.
However, they constructed several underground cisterns and created ingenious irrigation systems. And despite the odds, their attempts were fairly successful.
By the way, the shaded and colder caves in the hill provided much-needed space and ideal temperatures for wine fermentation.
If Incense Route is something you want to learn about more, then you can also visit Shivta National Park.
By the way, if you want to see more UNESCO sites in Israel, don't forget to visit places such as Bahai Gardens, Beit Shearim, or Tel Hazor.
Ein Avdat National Park
Every time you think that Negev Desert can't surprise, the place still finds a way to do so. And Ein Avdat National Park is one of the best examples.
Ein means stream in Hebrew and Arabic, and that's what you find here.
An impressive canyon with ivory layered rock walls that hides a groove with a year-round stream is the best attraction in Tsin Valley that you shouldn't miss while driving across the Negev.
Ein Avdat was one of those places we really didn't expect to find here, so we enjoyed every second of our visit there.
Ein Avdat National Park has two entrances.
The west entrance offers a spectacular view of the canyon from a short rim walk, while the east entrance allows you to admire it from the bottom of the valley.
A nice and easy trail will take you through the canyon, and you can return via the same trail back or climb the steep rock wall at the end of the canyon.
The only thing you need to do is figure out how to get from the end of the path to the parking lot where you left your car.
Ben-Gurion Tomb National Park
For an international traveler, Ben-Gurion Tomb National Park is probably one of the least exciting places to see from our list of best places to visit in the Negev Desert.
However, the name David Ben-Gurion is quite important to remember as there might not have been any Israel state in the first place without him.
He became the first Israeli Prime Minister in 1948 after he declared the independence of the state of Israel.
This turn of events put him behind the country's steering wheel for the next fifteen years.
And while it might seem as there is not much to do, visiting this place might spark your interest in Israel's history.
And why we're talking about Ben-Gurion and Negev Desert?
Because that was the place that the former prime minister chose to live in after he retired from an active political career.
He had a strong relationship with this region and lived in Kibbutz Sde Boker until his death in 1973.
It's one of those places that you can easily skip if short on time, but as it has a convenient location and won't take too much time to see it all, we believe it's worth a visit.
Moreover, there is no entry fee to Ben-Gurion National Park, and it's right next to Ein Avdat, so it's pretty easy to get there.
And yes, Ben-Gurion Airport was named after him to commemorate his life.
Negev Wine Route
If hiking, biking, or rappelling sounds like too much action to you, you can try wine tasting in the Negev.
The green vineyards in the Negev are something you probably wouldn't expect to find in this inhospitable region.
But the Negev Wine Route will prove to you that anything is possible.
We already talked about winemaking in the Negev in connection with Avdat, but that was more than two thousand years ago.
Today, the local winemakers are using unique technologies to grow the wine in the desert, and the special conditions of the local soil make wine tasting an interesting activity to do while there.
Driving from Beer Sheva to Mitzpe Ramon on Highway 40 will give you plenty of opportunities to find a place where you can taste one of the locally grown and produced products.
Regardless of whether you're looking for varieties like merlot, chardonnay, or cabernet sauvignon, you won't leave disappointed.
Of course, they even produce kosher varieties if that's what you're looking for.
As you would expect, wine is not the only commodity they produce in the Negev, as the local farms also focus on olive oils, fruits, liquor, or other commodities, so it might be worth visiting them either way.
Where to Stay
Most of the visitors traveling across the Negev usually stay in one of the larger cities at the desert edges. The reason behind this is straightforward, as you'll find the largest selection of hotels there.
It's not impossible to find a bit more secluded or intimate accommodation in the desert, but the choices are quite limited in this regard.
If you're traveling on a really tight budget, there is also an option to stay in one of the campgrounds in the Negev Desert, but that's only for certain types of travelers.
So what are the cities and towns in or near Negev that are suitable for staying overnight?
Ein Bokek is a resort town near the Dead Sea, Eilat is located in the southernmost tip of Israel, and Mitzpe Ramon is roughly in the middle of the desert.
In the north, you'll find Beer Sheva. Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are obviously not in the desert, but they still can be a good alternative for some travelers.
Be prepared that the accommodation can be pricey in the resort towns.
Here, we've rounded up the best hotels to consider while road tripping the Negev Desert.
Eilat | The Reef Eilat Hotel - If you want to stay away from the busy streets of Eilat, The Reef Eilat Hotel might be a perfect choice for you. This hotel is located about a 5-minute walk from the famous Coral Beach (and about six kilometers south of the city), and the clean, modern rooms offer stunning views over the bay.
Mitzpe Ramon | Beresheet Hotel By Isrotel - Set on a cliff overlooking the crater, Beresheet Hotel is hands down the best place to stay in Mitzpe Ramon. Of course, if the budget allows. Spacious rooms offer panoramic views, and there is also a wellness center and a seasonal outdoor pool. Free private parking is possible on site.
Ein Bokek | Vert Dead Sea Hotel - New and modern hotel with newly designed suites and rooms, Vert Dead Sea Hotel features a private beach, pampering spa experience, wellness activities, and everything else you would expect from this type of accommodation.
Be'er Sheva | La Finca Luxury Suites Hotel - Despite its name, this hotel offers fairly affordable accommodation in the heart of Be'er Sheva. Rooms are air-conditioned, spacious, and clean, and there is also a shared kitchen and an outdoor jacuzzi.
When to Go
One of the most important things you should know about the Negev Desert is that it lies in an extremely hot and arid region, and the average annual temperatures prove that.
Temperatures exceeding 40°C are no exceptions during the summer, and while it might be fun to snorkel at the coral reef or lie on the beach in Eilat at this time of the year, it's not so great for the rest of the things you can do there.
We believe it's better to arrive in the spring or autumn when the temperatures drop to more bearable levels while the sea remains still warm and pleasant to swim in.
This period of the year is also perfect for hiking, biking, and other activities in the desert. In general, we believe this is the best time to visit Israel.
So you might be wondering why not arrive in the middle of the winter.
Negev Desert is vast, and some areas receive slightly different temperatures, mainly depending on the elevation.
So wouldn't it be better to enjoy the desert when the temperatures are mild and comfortable?
Well, it's certainly an intriguing idea, but there is a small catch. While Negev Desert receives only very little rain throughout the year, there are times when it does.
And when the rain arrives, it can be hazardous.
Some areas in places such as Red Canyon or kind of Ein Avdat National Park can turn into deadly traps in a matter of seconds out of nowhere.
And it's not just here. But flash floods can also happen in places such as Ein Gedi at the Dead Sea.
To stay safe in Israel, don't forget that you should regularly check the weather forecast as well, not just the local news informing you of the current security situation.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
How to Get Around
The easiest way to get around the Negev Desert is by car.
The travel distances in the desert are greater than in other parts of the country, so having your own transport available is a big help here.
Rental car will save you plenty of time and give you the freedom to visit every place on your wishlist comfortably and at your own pace.
Moreover, renting a car in Israel couldn't be easier, and you can find a rental office in almost every tourist town or city.
If driving in Israel sounds intimidating or you don't want to rent a car, you can opt for public transport.
Israel is known for a good and reliable bus network, and even the Negev Desert is no exception.
However, traveling around the Negev by bus is more time-consuming, so you need to figure out yourself whether it's worth it or not.
For more information, read our guide on how to get around Israel.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
