As I wrote about extensively in my Israel Country Guide, I’ve visited Israel 7+ times before moving here, including two times living there for an extended period of time and now currently live here permanently as an expat since October 2019, so it’s fair to say I’m very knowledgeable on Israel. Whenever people ask me where to include when traveling around Israel, I ALWAYS say the South of Israel. The Middle East region is KNOWN for its desert so why should you miss out on the Israeli desert areas and only see the cities?! The unique terrain is such a contrast just a few short hours out of bustling Tel Aviv or Jerusalem and should not be missed. This guide will share everything you need to know on what to do in Eilat, the Negev Desert, Mitzpe Ramon and more in the South of Israel.
Disclosure: This South Israel, Negev Desert and Eilat travel guide may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.
Should I Visit the South of Israel On My Israel Trip And For How Long?
YES! If you are traveling to Israel on a long holiday with a few days in each area, I highly recommend not skipping Israel’s desert region. I highly encourage both – they are both amazing and totally different! It is such a special and distinct area of Israel – fun facts about the Negev Desert: Israel is comprised of 55% desert, and that’s mostly the Negev! If you like adventure, I suggest AT LEAST TWO NIGHTS, THREE DAYS visiting the Negev Desert. If you are doing that as a stop on the way more South to Eilat (and Jordan/Sinai) you need to add THREE NIGHTS IN EILAT. The Gaza Border/West Negev area can be added on stops as well, but they can also be day trips from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem! The Negev Desert must be a part of your Israel holiday trip!
Must-Know Southern Israel Travel Tips
- For all of my Israel travel tips and what to expect when visiting Israel including renting a car, visas, safety in Israel and more, head to my detailed Israel Country Guide.
- Names!?: Negev, South Israel, Mitzpe Ramon, Makhtesh Ramon… lots of names regarding the Israel’s Southern region! All of these will be used throughout the article:
- South of Israel here is referred to as the entire area SOUTH of Jerusalem within Israel above and including Eilat (the Southern tip city on the Red Sea).
- The Negev Desert is the massive desert region within Southern Israel. The Negev makes up 55% of Israel’s entire land! It’s main city is Be’er Sheva which you likely will not visit except to stop in for gas or a bathroom break on your road trip.
- ***Mitzpe Ramon (or Mizpe Ramon) is a tiny city in the Negev that is home to the WORLD’S largest crater: Makhtesh Ramon (Ramon Crater). It is in the center of the Negev, which is where the hotel I recommend below is.***
- This guide will also have tips on what to do in the Western area of the Negev Desert (near the Gaza Border) as well as Eilat region.
- Renting A Car In Israel: I write extensively how to rent a car in Israel and why you should in this article: Israel Travel Guide. I highly suggest renting from Eldan. Getting around Israel is easiest by car, not public transport!
- TRAVEL INSURANCE: Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world. We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
When To Visit The Negev Desert/Packing for the Israel’s South: Visiting the Negev is great in ANY season. I have been in the dead of summer and the dead of winter. In the summer it is EXTRA HOT and humid and dry. Bring lots and lots and lots of water. A Swell bottle to keep cold water is a MUST especially for hiking the Ramon Crater (buy one here)! In the winter it is pretty mild around but may be windy and at night it gets pretty cold- so bring layers! For all of my travel/packing essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my page on Amazon here for a complete list or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here!
How To Get To South Israel & The Negev Desert
DRIVE ON YOUR OWN! Have I mentioned this enough?! Driving in Israel and driving to the Negev is the easiest and quite frankly the only way to get to the Negev Desert. Getting around Israel is by far easiest by car. Yes you can take public transportation but it will involve transferring at least 2x whether you are coming from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. You also can hire a car service but it’s insanely expensive. If you do have a tour guide for your entire trip to Israel then it will be easy to get here but for cost efficiency and overall ease, rent a car! Ben Gurion Airport, Jerusalem or Tel Aviv to Mitzpe Ramon are all only a 2.5 hour drive so it’s really not bad! The drive is also BEAUTIFUL. As you drive out of the massive cities you see how the terrain changes so drastically, you pass through lots of greenery and then through Be’er Sheva (a big city) and then brown sand and desert views. It’s really a peaceful drive on one main highway that goes from North to South Israel (Road 40). Make sure to read my tips for driving in Israel and traveling around Israel and how to rent a car in Israel with Eldan before going!
Where To Stay In The Negev: Beresheet Hotel Israel
When planning an overnight trip to the Negev you want to base yourself at a hotel in Mitzpe Ramon. Mitzpe Ramon is a small city in the middle of the desert and a 2.5 hour drive from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. All of these hotels and hostels in Mitzpe Ramon offer a ton of different excursions where you can book all the different activities of what to do in the Negev. Mizpe Ramon is the most popular spot to stay because it is the town that overlooks Makhtesh Ramon (Ramon Crater) with stunning views and excursions at your fingertips.
There are a ton of hostels (search here for Mitzpe Ramon hostels) and smaller Ramon Crater hotels to stay at. However, Israel’s Beresheet Hotel looking over the crater steals the show. You have likely seen pictures of this hotel with its beautiful turquoise blue infinity pool. This is THE HOTEL in Israel. If there is one place to splurge on your full Israel trip, it is at this hotel. Beresheet Hotel exemplifies luxury, nature and perfection altogether. The hotel was built into the edge of the crater so the views could not be any better, the hotel blends right in with the terrain and there are ibex roaming around the property. There are different levels of rooms with different budgets to fit every size group and cost. No matter what room you choose they all maintain the luxury of the hotel. We stayed in the ‘cheapest’ and it was still phenomenal. The main infinity pool AS WELL as their indoor pool for those few colder days are the heart of the hotel. They even built the indoor pool overlooking the crater so it didn’t lose the allure of the infinity.
Besides the room and keep of the hotel, there are a number of other factors that make Beresheet the top hotel in Israel.
- THE FOOD. They have one main dining room that is kosher (meat) and then a restaurant in the lobby bar next door. We ate at the dining room and had steak and it was delicious and worth the price of the meal which includes a massive appetizer buffet (which literally was enough food to be dinner), one main course and a dessert. The brunch buffet, which is included in the hotel room price, was probably one of the best hotel brunches I have had. Ever.
- THE SPA. I had one of the best massages ever at the Beresheet Hotel. If you have time to relax, I highly recommend one.
- An every season hotel. We went in February (one of the coldest months in Israel) and the weather was not in our favor. It was pretty cold and windy and raining half the time. It was still amazing and SO worth it. While we wish we could have gone in the outdoor pool at Beresheet Hotel – that’s what the indoor one is for!
Overall, if you couldn’t tell, I HIGHLY recommend Beresheet Hotel Israel (book here). You can’t go wrong here. It’s by far the best hotel in Mitzpe Ramon and likely the best hotel in Israel itself. Whether it’s one night (we only did one) or three, you will not want to leave. It’s also the perfect stop on the way to Eilat. They have everything you could need in a luxury hotel in the desert you won’t even want to leave to go on your excursions (but trust me, they’re worth it).
Book Israel’s Beresheet Hotel here (and trust me, it sells out, fast)! Alternatively, search here for cheaper hotels and hostels in Mitzpe Ramon by clicking here.
Related Post: Israel Country Travel Guide
WHAT TO DO IN MITZPE RAMON & THE NEGEV DESERT
Sde Boker & Ben Gurion Grave
Once you make your way into the Negev Desert Israel from the cities towards Mizpe Ramon, your first stop is right on Route 40 – Sde Boker and Ben Gurion’s Grave.
You know the name Ben Gurion because of Tel Aviv’s main airport. David Ben Gurion was the first prime minister of Israel so he is a very important figure in Israeli history. Sde Boker is a Kibbutz within the Negev and where Ben Gurion retired. The house has turned into a museum so you can learn about Ben Gurion and his legacy in Israel and walk around the premises. A few meters away is the Ben Gurion Memorial and Ben Gurion’s tomb, which is the main attraction here and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Israel. Honestly what steals the show here is the view from the Memorial overlooking the Zin Valley (more on that later). I highly recommend visiting Ben Gurion’s Grave (it’s free!) as a stop on your Israel road trip South.
Sandboarding in the Negev Desert
One of the cooler activities I have done in my lifetime. I first heard that you could sandboard in the Negev in 2020 and it felt like the perfect COVID activity day trip from Tel Aviv and it was! It’s RIGHT next to Sde Boker, legit a 5-minute drive so it is the PERFECT activity to do on your South Israel trip. It is also geared toward kids (even though we were 3 29-year-olds that went) so it is PERFECT for the entire family. I highly, highly recommend this sandboarding activity and booking this excursion. It’s so much fun, inclusive, and such a unique travel experience. The sand is SO soft here (I fell plenty) – this is the only place in all of Israel’s desert that it is soft enough to sandboard. It also takes place around sunset due to the weather, so you get to see an amazing sunset over the sand dunes. You can book the Sandboarding trip here.
Book the Sandboarding trip here! Read reviews on TripAdvisor here – you’ll see why this activity is so amazing.
Kornmehl Farm
When you or your kids are starving after a 2 hour drive from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv to Mitzpe Ramon, or as a break on the drive to Eilat, Kornmehl Farm is your spot for lunch. This might be one of the best meals I have ever had in Israel and I do not say that lightly. This is a small goat farm on the side of the highway with a tiny outdoor restaurant with amazing views overlooking the Negev. Every dish on the menu at Kornmehl Farm has goat cheese in it and they are all AMAZING. By far, the goat cheese Knaffeh is an absolute must. But the salads, pizzas, sandwiches and more desserts are all amazing too. Highly recommend stopping here on the way to or from your Negev Israel travel trip or on the way to visiting Eilat!
After Sde Boker, it is only about another 20 minute drive until you are in the town of Mitzpe Ramon. Check into your hotel and get ready for the excursions! You definitely should pre-book excursions from your hotel or book a separate tour before arriving no matter what hotel you are staying at as they fill up especially in the summer months! The below are my favorite and most recommended Negev desert tours and adventures in Israel to take.
Jeep Tour In Ramon Crater (Makhtesh Ramon)
One of (if not THE) most popular things to do in Mitzpe Ramon is take a Jeep Tour in Ramon Crater. Mitzpe Ramon jeep tours are the BEST (and most efficient) way to go deep into the crater and learn about how the crater was formed, see the different layers of the crater, some wildlife if you’re lucky and really feel how vast the crater is. I HIGHLY recommend booking a Jeep Tour with Adam Sela. His tours are by far the most well-known in the area and have the best tour guides. I did their “Ramon Machtesh in a Nutshell” which was perfect for my 2 day Negev trip but am confident that their other longer tours are amazing. Next time I am definitely doing their Tzin Valley tour since it’s one of my favorite areas in Israel (more on that below). Adam Sela tours are totally private and you get a jeep fully to yourself and your guide. You can really tell how passionate these guides are about their land, which is my favorite part. Even during my Mitzpe Ramon tour, which was one of only seven days it rains in the area (my luck), it was still amazing and our tour guide made the best of it. They also have rappelling trips in the Ramon Crater which is a super popular activity for the adventurous ones! Highly recommend booking Mitzpe Ramon tours of the Negev desert areas with Adam Sela here.
Book a Mitzpe Ramon Jeep Tour here!
*Thanks to Adam for helping set up my private Ramon Crater jeep tour and customizing it to my desire and the weather in order to make this blog post possible! While I did receive this tour as a gift, my review and experience is, as always, 100% personal and honest*
Related Post: Tel Aviv Insider Travel Guide
Ride A Camel / Experience Bedouin Culture
One of the most popular photos you see of people traveling around Israel is riding camels in the desert! This is a must-do one time experience in Israel and the Negev Desert is the spot to do it. All of the hotels offer this experience! Many of the Negev camel tours combine with visiting a group of Bedouin people and lunch. Bedouins are the indigenous people to the desert and make all their food and live in tents in the desert. They are BEYOND friendly and just truly want you to experience their culture within Israel (they are also in many other desert locations around the world) and enjoy their special cuisine and camels. I have now done a Bedouin experience four different times in Israel (three of which in the Negev Desert, once in the North). The most recent was only a ten minute drive from Beresheet and we sat in their tent while listening to their stories while they gave us tea and a meal (the food was SO good, especially the cheese). After lunch they took us on a private camel ride along the edge of the Ramon Crater and the views were INSANE. The day was so windy and cold walking around on the camels but the views were totally worth it. I highly recommend visiting a Bedouin community in Israel and riding camels in the Israel desert. You can book this camel Negev desert tour with your hotel!
Hike Mitzpe Ramon
Another option to seeing Mizpe Ramon besides a Jeep Tour is to hike Mizpe Ramon! There are SO many different hike trails you can take ranging from an easy hour to half a day to a full day! Ask your hotel for hike paths and you’ll be on your way. I have done a few different Mitzpe Ramon hikes over the years (around the perimeter as well as within) and they are all different and breathtaking. The Makhtesh is MASSIVE! Of course you can also book a guided Mizpe Ramon hike through your hotel or book a hike inside Mitzpe Ramon here!
Zin Valley & Ein Avdat National Park
The Zin Valley is another area of the Negev Desert that is an absolute MUST-VISIT on your trip in Israel’s desert. Ein Avdat National Park is within the Zin Valley and is one of the most serene and beautiful places….especially after hiking to get there! The Zin Valley is the view you are overlooking from Ben Gurion’s grave as mentioned above and is by far the best view overlooking the valley. The best way to explore the Zin Valley and Ein Avdat is the same as Mizpe Ramon – hike or take a jeep tour! I personally did the Ein Avdat hike and I think it was my most memorable hike I have EVER taken in Israel (and I have taken 20+!). The area is so quiet and peaceful and when you finally make it to Ein Avdat (the Avdat Spring) you are blown away with the springs as well as the panoramas you get of the valley! If you want to hike yourself, there is an entrance into the valley from Ben Gurion’s grave or one a few more miles down. Otherwise I recommend booking a tour guide from your hotel to explore! Do not miss the Zin Valley and Ein Avdat in the Negev tours in South of Israel on your next Israel trip!
Stargaze Mitzpe Ramon
Being in the middle of a desert surrounded by barely any cities and urban areas means little to no light pollution at night which means CLEAR SKIES! The Negev Desert is the best place to stargaze in Israel due to its perfectly clear skies every night. You can book a full stargazing tour here or through the Mitzpe Ramon Visitor Center…or you can just step outside of your hotel and look up! It’s truly breathtaking. Don’t forget a sweatshirt – it’s cold in the desert at night!
Book a Negev Stargazing tour in advance here!
Naot Farm
True story, I am obsessed with goat cheese. I eat it straight out of the packaging with nothing else. So when I learned how many goat farms there are in the Negev and in Israel itself and you can hang with the goats AND taste goat cheese, I was in. I have been to a few different goat farms (like Kornmehl above, but that is more of a restaurant and see the goats) but Naot Farm I think was my favorite for the goats! It’s a great farm where you can hear the story of the owners of the farm, play with the goats, and of course taste the cheese in the tasting room!
Click on any of the destination stop names above to learn more!
Don’t forget to book Beresheet Hotel here, book your Mitzpe Ramon Jeep Tour here, book Stargazing tour here, and book Sandboarding Tour here.
WHERE TO VISIT IN THE WEST NEGEV (all are day trips from Tel Aviv/Jerusalem, too!)
Like I said, the Negev and South Israel is the biggest area of Israel! There are so many other places to explore around South Israel that I would recommend if you spend way more time down in South Israel and are making your way to Eilat. The West Negev is closer to Tel Aviv if you drive along the coast and these could easily be day trips as well!
Sderot & The Path To Peace Project (Gaza Border)
Sderot Israel is a city on the northwestern side of the Negev Desert (ie. near the coast ie. on the border of Gaza) there are also a ton of different kibbutzim and areas to visit that are worth your time on a visit to the South of Israel and are totally contrasting the desert areas and other cities of life in Israel. Sderot is a beautiful city with around 25k locals and is mostly well-known because it is the closest Israeli city to Gaza (1 KM). When in Sderot, you have FIFTEEN seconds to find a shelter when a rocket siren goes off. That’s it. I recommend visiting Sderot as a tourist because it shows the TRUE LIFE of what living on the Gaza Border is like. You can tour a school playground that consists of shelters, the Sderot Media Museum which explains life on the border and shows rocket remains areas that have been hit, and more.
The Path To Peace project is a joint mosaic along the Gaza Border in the Moshav of Netiv HaAsara. It’s FOR SURE worth a visit to see the mosaic on the border in order to help understand the reality of life.
There are a ton of Gaza Border day tours from Tel Aviv that focus on the conflict that visit both Sderot and the Path To Peace project that leave from Tel Aviv. HIGHLY recommend taking one if you are not visiting on your own from the Negev. These tours are so important to see the reality of conflict life on the Gaza Border on both sides.
Book this Gaza Border Conflict tour from Tel Aviv here!
The Salad Trail
The Salad Trail is another must-visit tour in South Israel for everyone who likes food! The Salad Trail is a tour on a beautiful farm located on a Kibbutz in the North West area of the Negev and is by far the best way to learn all of the AMAZING produce that comes from Israel! You can take a 3 hour tour of the farm to learn (and taste!!) the different foods (like 15 types of tomatoes!?) that come from the land of Israel. It’s also beautiful! You must book a tour in advance. This is also a great activity when visiting Israel with kids! You also could do this as a day trip from Tel Aviv it’s only a 1.5 hour drive!
Related Post: Tel Aviv Food Guide
The Israel Air Force Museum
Another must in the Western Negev area where you can learn everything you could ever imagine about the Israel Air Force is at the Hatzerim Base where they have the main Israel Air Force Museum and you can tour the airbase and their aircraft!
WHAT TO DO IN EILAT REGION
Another 1.5-2 hour south drive of Mitzpe Ramon is the Eilat region. You need at least another minimum 3 days to visit Eilat, which is located on the Red Sea in the most Southern tip of Israel. Eilat is known for its diving in the Red Sea, proximity to Timna Park (a massive National Park in the Arava Desert in Israel and is known for its geological attractions) and its proximity to both Jordan and Egypt! Eilat is a beautiful (mostly tourist) town with tons of big hotels right on the beach.
Hidden Lake Eilat
On your drive down to Eilat, you MUST MUST MUST stop at the Hidden Lake Eilat. This is right on the outskirts of Timna Park and a 5-minute drive from the Eilat entrance and right on the highway. It’s an abandoned hidden lake (hence the name) and is SO vast and stunning and totally outdoes the pictures of it. I was blown away. It’s a must (free entrance, drive right up to it).
Eilat!
Eilat is known as the beach town in the South which has likely the best weather in Israel year-round. It sits on the tip bottom of Israel and is surrounded by Jordan and Egypt, both of which are literally right next door (if there were no borders, driving would take less than 30 minutes to get to each country!). On a good day, you can also see the mountains of Saudi Arabia. The sunrises in Eilat are simply stunning as they come over the Jordanian mountains. Eilat is mostly known for its coral reef – the only one in all of Israel, so a ton of people visit Eilat to dive! There is so much to do in Eilat Israel, even as simply as walking along the boardwalk. You can also fly to Eilat from Tel Aviv in 30 minutes if you don’t want to road trip! Either way if you have extra time and want to see a totally different Middle Eastern region I suggest visiting Eilat Israel!
Things To Do In Eilat
- Coral Beach Nature Reserve Eilat: The only Coral Reef in all of Israel! This is THE spot to snorkeling (can rent there or buy on-site) free-range or can take a tour, and this is also the place to take diving classes! I highly recommend doing this – the only place to do it in the country. Book an Introductory Guided Diving tour here! Book a guided Snorkeling tour here!
- Dolphin Reef Eilat: This is definitely a highlight of the things to do in Eilat Israel. If you’re going with kids (or not) and want to swim with dolphins – the Eilat Dolphin Reef is the place to go! They work with their dolphins a lot and no harm is done to swimming with the dolphins. You also do NOT have to book a tour/excursion – you can come here and pay just the entrance fee and see the dolphins from the beach!
- Underwater Observatory: If you love sea life but don’t want to go in the water, you can’t miss the Eilat Underwater Observatory. Great kids activity too.
- Timna Park: A massive National Park surrounded by yellow sandstone mountains with so many different hikes and viewpoints that are good for all ages. Timna Park is a vast part of Israel in the Arava Desert (another big Israeli desert region) and you can’t miss it when driving – it’s only a ten minute drive from the center of Eilat! You can either take your car and do hikes/drive around yourself and tour it, or book a guided tour! Book a Timna Park guided tour here.
- Red Canyon Hike: One of the COOLEST hikes in Israel and an absolute must-do. Looks just like the hike in Utah with the red canyons. It’s stunning. You can go and do the hike on your own (totally able for kids and not difficult at all) or can do a guided tour. Book a guided Red Canyon tour here.
Where To Eat In Eilat Restaurants
Visit Petra, Jordan or Sinai, Egypt from Eilat
Eilat is also the perfect base to visit either Petra, Jordan (book a day tour from Eilat to Petra here) or Sinai, Egypt (I suggest staying over in Sinai in a nice hotel that are like $50 per night! or can book a day tour to Sinai here) since the borders are right on Eilat! HIGHLY recommend both and you MUST book a tour in advance for both locations. You can read more about what to expect in Jordan here.
Book a diving tour in Eilat here, a full day trip to Petra here or book a full day trip to Sinai here!
Click on any of the destination stop names above to learn more!
Where To Stay in Eilat
A lot of big name hotels have been popping up in Eilat too recently, like the Shangri-La. I highly recommend staying at a hotel near the center or if you are going to Eilat with a big group to get an Airbnb – my last trip there we were 16 people and we stayed at one of the most amazing Airbnbs with amazing views and sunrises – and a 2 minute drive to the boardwalk.
Eilat Hotels
- Royal Shangri-La Eilat: New in Eilat and a huge luxury hotel chain across Asia. Book the Shangri-La Eilat here.
- King Solomon Eilat: More mid-range hotel right on the boardwalk. Book the King Solomon Eilat here.
- Royal Beach Eilat: Another luxury level hotel right in the center of Eilat. Can’t go wrong with one of the Isrotel chain resorts like Royal Beach. Book the Royal Beach Eilat here.
- Dan Eilat: Another big luxury Israeli chain hotel highly recommended in all major cities in Israel. Book the Dan Eilat here.
- Queen of Sheba Eilat: one of the older, fanciest luxury hotels in Eilat. Highly recommended and has the best views. Book Queen of Sheba here.
Airbnb Eilat
As mentioned, I HIGHLY recommend getting an Airbnb massive villa when visiting Eilat with a big group. It is the best way, the most cost-efficient and there are amazing villas right in the center. Also, if you use my Airbnb link you get $40 off your first stay!
Related Post: North Day Trips From Tel Aviv
Loved this South of Israel travel guide? Pin for later or share with friends!
Did I miss one of the things to do Eilat, Mitzpe Ramon, the Negev Desert, or South Israel? Let me know in the comments for my next visit! See my general Israel Travel Guide to know what to expect when visiting Israel, my North Israel Day Trips From Tel Aviv, or my Tel Aviv travel guide here!
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About The Author
Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 35+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.
