Negev Desert Day Tour from Eilat
Explore the enchanted desert on this Negev day tour which departs from Eilat and visits many of Southern Israel’s most fascinating and beautiful sites. Visit the town of Mitzpe Ramon with its impressive view from above, tour the Nabatean city of Avdat, and Sde Boker, where David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister’s home is now a museum. See the breathtaking Zin Valley and optionally walk down into the valley. At the Small Crater, bottle colored sands, and on the Scorpion Trail, traverse one of Israel’s most spectacular roads. Our Negev Desert Day Tour from Eilat visits sites of natural magnificence, historic importance, and cultural interest, providing a unique insight into the amazing desert which covers most of Israel’s land area, yet is missed by too many.
Negev Day Tour From Eilat Highlights
- Drive through Israel’s spectacular Negev Desert
- Pass Israeli army bases in the desert and possibly glimpse tanks and other large pieces of military equipment
- Ascend to the Negev Highlands Region and drive through the largest ‘makhtesh’, the Ramon Crater. The ‘makhtesh’ is a unique geological landform found only in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai desert of Egypt
- Visit the town of Mitzpe Ramon (translated means ‘View of Ramon’) for a view of the Ramon Crater
- Learn about the crater and Israel’s space program at the visitor center in Mitzpe Ramon
- Tour the ruins of Avdat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Nabatean city on the ancient Incense Route
- At Sde Boker, visit the museum which is located in the house of David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, telling the history of the Negev and Ben Gurion’s plans to develop it
- Visit Midreshet Ben Gurion and the memorial for David Ben Gurion. See the amazing view across the Zin Valley, optional walk down into valley
- Visit the Small Crater and fill glass bottles with the unique colored sands found here
- Drive along the amazing Scorpion Trail, one of Israel’s most breathtaking scenic roads
- Learn about Israel’s revolutionary desert agriculture at a pepper farm in the Arava Valley (time and daylight permitting)
- Return to Eilat
Negev Day Tour From Eilat Itinerary
- 07:00 – Pickup from Eilat hotels. Drive north from Eilat into the Arava Valley of the Negev Desert.
- 10:00 – See an overview of the Ramon Crater from the town of Mitzpe Ramon. Visit the museum of Mitzpe Ramon and Ilan Ramon.
- 11:00 – Drive north from Mitzpe Ramon to Avdat.
- 11:30 – Tour the ruins of Avdat.
- 13:30 – Visit Kibbutz Sde Boker and Midreshet Ben Gurion
- 15:00 – Drive to the Small Crater.
- 15:45 – From the Small Crater, descend to the Arava Valley via the breathtaking ’Scorpion Trail’ road
- 16:30 – Visit a desert agricultural facility where peppers are farmed in Arava Valley (time permitting)
- 18:30 – Arrival back in Eilat
NB – all timings are approximateThe tour is only available in the winter season
Tour Information
- Includes: Transportation to all sites from Eilat in modern air conditioned touring vehicle
- Excludes: Bedouin style lunch, entrance fees at sites (aprox $20)
