The Negev Highlands (Ramat Hanegev) Region is the largest political region of Israel by land area in the whole of Israel, covering over 20% of the country! Despite its large size, this region is home to less than 5,000 people who live in small settlements, moshavim, kibbutzim, and community villages in the heart of the Negev Desert. Just 90 minutes south of Tel Aviv, the Negev Highlands are one of the most beautiful areas of Israel, and an area which is not on most tourists’ radar. Check out the articles below for some of the highlights of the region.
Negev Highlands (Ramat Negev) Region
Negev Highlands (Ramat Negev) Region
Zin Valley-Ein Akev Hike
The hike in the Zin Valley is a classic desert hike – a trail that has it all: amazing views of the wilderness of the Zin Valley, the biggest spring in the Negev, Ein Akev, a small Bedouin farm and tea house, and an ancient Nabataean city. The hike is an easy going 16km full day hike on a trail... Read More
Traveling in the Negev on Road 40
Road 40 is a north south route across Israel, and the main highway heading through the center of the Negev, linking Beer Sheva, Mitzpe Ramon, and Eilat, as well as tens of smaller communities and attractions in between. The 80km stretch of road between Beer Sheva and Mitzpe Ramon has many of the Negev’s top... Read More
Israel’s Desert Agriculture
Desert agriculture in Israel is one of the country’s greatest successes, and something at which Israel leads the world. The Negev Desert which covers over 60% of the country has actually shrunk in size over the past century as agricultural activity has turned sand into green fields, the opposite to the desertification trend which much... Read More
Ezuz
Ezuz in the Negev Desert is a unique community of artists and creatives. Located on a beautiful hilltop overlooking some breathtaking desert scenery, the village is home to less than 15 families, each of whom runs some kind of tourism or culture related business. The village is a haven for eco-tourism with many unique and... Read More
Shivta
Shivta, in Israel’s Negev Desert is a Nabatean City that forms part of the series of UNESCO Heritage Site Desert Cities which were part of the Nabatean Spice Route, transporting frankincense and myrrh from Yemen to port on the Mediterranean. Relatively uniquely Shivta was never destroyed, and whilst over time many of the structures collapsed, having been... Read More
Sand Boarding in Israel
Sand boarding is one sport that requires large areas of desert sand dunes. And Israel has that! With over 50% of Israel covered by the Negev Desert, sand surfing in the Negev in southern Israel is the ultimate thrill-seekers experience in the desert. And better still, it’s incredibly simple. Starting from the road, you’ll travel... Read More
Negev Desert Wine Route
The Negev Wine Route is something surprising! Amid the harsh desert scenery which dominates the landscape of southern Israel, a series of vineyards has been built over the last decade by a number of pioneering and dedicated idealistic people, who love their land, and together with state of the art drip irrigation technology, have grown vines and created wines where just a few years before, the idea would be unimaginable. The vineyards create some highly respectable and well received wines, and offer a very unusual experience for tourists exploring the desert. Read More
Ein Avdat & Zin Valley
Ein Avdat is undoubtedly one of Israel's most striking and beautiful sites. Set within the incredible landscape of the Zin Valley in the center of Israel's Negev Desert, Ein Avdat National Park offers spectacular panoramas and enchanted hikes through the incredible desert scenery. The spectacular canyon is the result of power of the waters at Ein Avdat (the Avdat spring). It forms part of the longest wadi in the Negev, the Zin Valley, which stretches over 60km and attracts visitors from across the country. Read More
Sde Boker
The kibbutz of Sde Boker is famous as the home of David Ben Gurion, Israel's first Prime Minister whose home is now a museum open to the public, and is the feature of a number of supporting exhibits in the kibbutz. Sde Boker is located in the center of the Negev Desert in southern Israel, a community founded in 1952 by a number of pioneering families who were later joined by Ben Gurion after an interesting encounter. Today, visitors from around the world visit to learn about the life of Israel's iconic leader. Read More
Bedouin Hospitality
Bedouin hospitality experiences including camel riding, Bedouin food, and staying overnight in traditional Bedouin tents are an increasingly popular experience for tourists in Israel. The Bedouins are a group of nomadic tribes who have lived in Israel's Negev Desert for many hundreds of years, tracing their heritage back to the traders on the ancient Spice Route which crossed the region. Today, many Bedouins in Israel continue to live in traditional ways, with more and more opening up their traditions for the Israeli and international public to see, experience, and understand. Read More
Biking in the Negev
Biking in the Negev in southern Israel is becoming an increasingly popular way for Israelis and tourists alike to explore the beautiful Negev, and satisfy their passions for cycling. Over the past few years, bike trails in the Negev have been developed at an unprecedented rate, making it easy and safe for bikers of all levels of experience to enjoy the varied terrain, magnificent landscapes, and striking peace and tranquility which biking in the desert provides. As well as the trails, supporting services have been developed: bike centers from where bikes can be rented, tours planned, or guides taken, and accommodation along the trails. Read More