Recommended Routes

The Be’erotaim Coppice at Ezuz

The starting point is at the Club Ramon spa Hotel in Mizpe Ramon, from where all participants drive together.

From road 211 proceed to Mizpe Ezuz and the coppice at Be’erotaim. The numerous Eucalyptus and Tamarix trees were planted by the disciples of Charles Netter, founder of Mikveh Israel, the first modern Jewish agricultural settlement in the Land of Israel; the graduates of Mikveh Israel served together in the Ottoman army as a planters company.

In the coppice are two very ancient wells – known as “Moses’ Well” and “Aharon’s Well” – and comfortable picnic tables. Nearby is the route of the Ottoman railroad from Be’er Sheva toward the Suez Canal, built during the First World War and never completed. The remains of a small train station are also visible.

Observation Points along the Western Border

The starting point is at the Club Ramon spa Hotel in Mizpe Ramon, from where all participants drive together.

From Nitzana to Mount Arif, along road 10 running parallel to the border with Egypt, several panoramic observation points have been erected for the pleasure of tourists. These include:

  • The Bar-Lev Observation Point near Nitzana, named after Haim Bar-Lev, Israel’s erstwhile army chief.
  • The Kadesh Barnea Observation Point overlooking biblical Kadesh.
  • The Kadesh Barnea Ridge Observation Point.
  • The Mount Arif Observation Point.

 Lotz Cisterns

The starting point is at the Club Ramon spa Hotel in Mizpe Ramon, from where all participants drive together.

In this scenic location on road 171, between Mizpe Ramon and Mount Arif, there are dozens of water cisterns, from the Israelite period (10th century B.C) onward. During this era Negev agriculture was flourishing.

It is delightful to walk around this site during the blossoming of the flowers in February-March; the entire region is covered with Tulips and other flowers.

Arod Observation Point

The starting point is at the Club Ramon spa Hotel in Mizpe Ramon, from where all participants drive together.

At the western rim of Ramon Crater, this is the western-most Observation Point over the crater. From road 171, a good 4-Kms. long all-vehicle dirt track leads to the site.

This is one of the most beautiful spots in the Negev. In spring, it is filled with Desert Rhubarb flowers, their giant leaves covering the ground.

Avdat National Park

The starting point is at the Club Ramon spa Hotel in Mizpe Ramon, from where all participants drive together.

The Nabataean town of Avdat, as well as the other Nabataean towns in the Negev, has recently been declared World Heritage sites by UNESCO.

Avdat National Park contains the remains of one of the famed Nabataean towns of the Spice Route, the road over which spices and incense were brought from Arabia across the Negev desert to the ports of the Mediterranean and to Rome.

Almost nothing remains of the Nabataean temple on Avdat’s acropolis, but its magnificence can be imagined from its restored gateway. Other attractions include the Roman bathhouse near the visitor’s center a Roman watchtower with an inscription dating from the third century AD. A cave-tomb with burial niches can also be seen, as well as caves that served as combined cisterns, tombs and storerooms. The churches from the fourth century are another highlight. The visitor’s center offers a short film that showcases the Spice Route.

Nahal Havarim

The starting point is at the Club Ramon spa Hotel in Mizpe Ramon, from where all participants drive together.

This is a popular tourist destination, leading from point on road 40 south of Sde Boker to the entrance to the Ein Ovdat National Park. The trail provides a magnificent view of the Tzinn valley and passes through pale white (“havar”) dunes of chalky rock.

The trail begins at the Byzantine Cistern near the road, passes through a beautiful rock “gate” and meanders through a labyrinth of chalk/clay soft rock. Tourists often come here on full-moon nights, when the beautiful hills are illuminated by the moon.

The Sculpture Garden

The starting point is at the Club Ramon spa Hotel in Mizpe Ramon, from where all participants drive together.

The sculpture Garden is an Observation Point on a hill outside Sde Boker. On this hill artist Ezra Orion placed his monumental sculpture.

The approach to this site is from road 40. A good, 2 Kms all-vehicle dirt road leads to the hill, which is found near the Sde Boker landing strip, at the edge of Tzinn plateau. A short walk from the landing strip takes you to the hilltop, which offers a spectacular view of the Tzinn valley and the Tzinn cliffs.

Tomb of Ben Gurion National Park

The starting point is at the Club Ramon spa Hotel in Mizpe Ramon, from where all participants drive together.

This national park is located at the entrance to the university campus in Sde Boker. The tomb gardens are surrounded by a scenic promenade overlooking the springs of the Tzinnc cliffs. During most of the year, dozens of Nubian Ibex come to feed in the Tomb gardens. The path from the parking lot to the tranquil grave site goes through a garden of carefully nurtured local flora that can thrive in the arid climate and saline conditions of the local soil.

David Ben Gurion, Israel’s founding rime-minister and a resident of Sde Boker since the 1950’s, is buried here along with his wife Paula. The vista from the Tomb gardens calls to mind Ben Gurion’s vision – turning the desert into a garden.

Hagai Observation Point

The starting point is at the Club Ramon spa Hotel in Mizpe Ramon, from where all participants drive together.

This is a scenic Observation Point above the Tzinn valley, near Halukim Junction on road 40. The point – named after Hagai Avriel, one of the founders of Sde Boker – offers a panoramic view from horizon to horizon of the grand Tzinn and Besor valleys. In the spring season, the area around the Observation Point is covered with flowering Tulips.

Ha’ro’a Campsite

The starting point is at the Club Ramon spa Hotel in Mizpe Ramon, from where all participants drive together.

This JNF Campsite by the side of road 40, near Sde Boker, is named in memory of Barbara Poper, a member of Kibbutz Sde Boker who was murdered here during the first days of the Kibbutz in the 1950’s.

The tree-grove offers a shady picnic site. The campsite has running water, toilets, night-camping and a children’s playground. It serves as departure point for several bicycling track in the region.

“Tree Wadi”

The starting point is at the Club Ramon spa Hotel in Mizpe Ramon, from where all participants drive together.

This ravine, properly known as Nahal Noked, offers an easy and agreeable track for hiking or cycling. The wadi is so called by the locals because of the very large and old Acacia tree growing in it. In this wadi one can observe numerous Nabataean agricultural terraces, the remains of ancient cisterns and astounding spring-season blossoming of the flowers. The entrance to the wadi is on road 204, just north of Halukim Junction.

Ben Gurion’s Home

The starting point is at the Club Ramon spa Hotel in Mizpe Ramon, from where all participants drive together.

This modest wooden dwelling at Kibbutz Sde Boker, off road 40, was the home of Israel’s first and founding Prime-minister from the early 1950’s, and especially from the time he retired from government in 1963 to his death in 1973. The house is kept as it was on Ben-Gurion’s demise. It now serves to showcase the man, the leader and his times, employing a captivating audio-visual display.

Yeruham Park

The starting point is at the Club Ramon spa Hotel in Mizpe Ramon, from where all participants drive together.

Yeruham Park, just west of the town by the same name, on road 204, provides picnic tables around the lake and overnight camping. In the 1950s, right after Yeruham was established, JNF planted trees at the site. In the 1980s, more trees were planted around the lake and green lawns and a playground were added. The trees in the park include Pine, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Pistachio, Tamarisk, Date Palm, Olive and Jujube. The lake in the middle of the park is manmade, created in the Nahal Revivim streambed. Against the desert background, the lake and the greenery provide the unique scenery of a desert oasis.

In the autumn, October to November, the Yellow Crocus blooms in the Yeruham Nature Reserve. The reserve is located about one kilometer south of Lake Yeruham and can be reached by a dirt road that branches west from Highway 204 (Yeruham – Sede Boker). The Yeruham Iris blooms February to March, and an impressive concentration of this flower may be found about 3km northeast of Yeruham.  Access to the site is from Highway 204 (Yeruham – Dimona), which passes to the west of the nature reserve.

The Eucalyptus Grove at the Large Crater

The starting point is at the Club Ramon spa Hotel in Mizpe Ramon, from where all participants drive together.

This lovely spot is located on road 227 crossing the Large Crater (i.e., Hatira Crater) and linking Yeruham to the Akrabim Ascent. Found on the eastern side of the crater, this rest stop is known to the public as the best place to collect varied colored sands. The campsite here provides much shade and picnic tables.

Mamshit National Park

The starting point is at the Club Ramon spa Hotel in Mizpe Ramon, from where all participants drive together.

This Nabataean town served as a road-stop and agricultural center on the Spice Route from Arabia to the Mediterranean and thence to Rome and Europe. The largest treasure ever found by archeologists in Israel – over 10,500 silver coins, many artifacts and numerous Greek-language papyrus scrolls – was found here.  Mamshit is the smallest of the Negev’s Nabataean cities. It is also the best restored, its once-opulent dwellings featuring architectural elements unknown in other Nabataean cities. Visitors here can see Nabataean complexes featuring rooms, courtyards and terraces made of meticulously dressed stone, with strong arches to support the ceilings.