Discover Israel: reefs, desert fortresses and holy sites

Israel can be explored through a wide range of landscapes, cultural sites and trails. At the Gulf of Eilat, the underwater world of the coral reefs takes center stage; in the Judean Desert, Masada shapes the view toward the Dead Sea. On the Mediterranean coast, meanwhile, Caesarea recalls a former port city. These contrasts offer concrete starting points for planning your trip: Would you like to spend time at the reef, explore hiking routes, or visit historic and religious sites? When choosing a hotel, it helps to first prioritize the experiences you want to shape your stay.

Reefs, hiking trails and cycling routes

At Eilat Coral Beach Nature Reserve, visitors can snorkel at the reef; snorkel masks can be rented on the beach. The reefs in the Gulf of Eilat are home to corals, fish and a wide variety of unique creatures. A visit thus combines snorkeling with a view of a biodiverse reef ecosystem. At Hermon Stream (Banias) Nature Reserve, the Hanging Trail is one of the named experiences. It offers a different focus: here, a trail through a nature reserve takes center stage, while at the Gulf of Eilat, it is the reef.

The two national routes also differ in their mode of travel and length. The marked Israel National Trail, also known as “Shvil Israel,” runs through Israel and is more than 900 kilometers long. The Israel Bike Trail is a mountain biking route from north to south, connecting Mount Hermon with Eilat. For travelers comparing hiking and cycling as interests, these are two clearly distinct routes: a long, marked hiking trail and a nationwide mountain biking connection.

Desert landscapes and coastal history

Masada is a natural fortress in the Judean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea. Its location makes the contrast between the desert landscape and the neighboring sea a defining impression of the site. On Israel’s Mediterranean coast, Caesarea National Park is home to the site of a former port city. Its Roman theater is now used as a concert venue. Masada and Caesarea therefore offer different reasons to visit: a natural fortress with sweeping views in one place, and a coastal site with a former port and a theater used for concerts in the other.

Another archaeological point of interest is in the northern part of Bet Guvrin-Maresha National Park: the remains of Roman and Crusader-era settlements are located there. Unlike Masada, a visit here brings together settlement remains from two distinct periods. This precise distinction helps visitors see these places not as interchangeable stops, but choose them according to their particular historical connection.

Cultural sites from Haifa to the Negev

The Bahá’í Holy Places include the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh in Acre and the Shrine of the Báb in Haifa, along with the surrounding gardens. The Bahá’í shrines in Haifa and Western Galilee are also visited as part of the Bahá’í pilgrimage. Thus, the individual shrines and gardens can be considered both as named sites and in the context of a religious pilgrimage.

The Biblical Tels site extends across Israel, from Tel Hazor in the north to Tel Beer Sheba near the Negev Desert in the south. It provides a nationwide framework for exploring the two named tels, rather than focusing on a single site. In the Negev, the Incense Route site includes the Nabataean cities of Haluza, Mamshit, Avdat and Shivta, as well as associated fortresses and cultural landscapes. This combination of cities, fortresses and landscapes differs from the individual shrines, gardens and settlement remains found elsewhere. Together, these examples show how nature, archaeological sites and religious places can be incorporated in different ways into a trip through Israel.

Discover more destinations: Bat Yam, Ramat Gan, Yonatan, HaZore‘im, Kibbutz Snir, Hashmona'im, Khavat Yair, Kefar Aharon, Alonei Habashan, Hukok, Odem, Giv'at Ze'ev, Kidmat Tsvi, Matta‘, Yeroẖam, Sha'al, Kibuz Kinneret, Sharona, Metulla, Daliyya, Ramot Naftali, Bethlehem, Nir Dawid, Bet Oren, Moran, Northern District, Vered Hagalil, Kfar Kisch, Mizra‘, Nachscholim, Schelomi, Bet Sheʼan, Southern District, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Jerusalem, Safed, Netanya, Haifa, Shefayim, Shoresh, Ein Gev, Gesher Haziv, Beit Hillel, Ra'anana, Mazkeret Batya, Ein Harod, Sde Nehemia, Petach Tikwa, Hagoshrim, Gidona, Kerem Maharal, Parod, En Hod, Ezuz, Kfar Tabor, Kerem Ben Zimra, Migdal, Jokne'am, Hoshaya, Jabneel, Ein Tzurim, Hararit, Tzofar, Alonei Abba, Livnim, Mi'ilya, Arbel, Neve Zohar, Kfar Szold, Liman, Ein Al-Asad, Kfar Shamai, Tze'elim, Yehud-Monosson, Elifelet, Sitria, Sde Eliezer, Ma'ayan Baruch, Dalton, Ilaniya, Nes Harim, Isfiya, Elkosh, Kfar Vradim, Udim, Rishon LeZion, Tur'an, Tzfat, Kfar Yehezkel, Ne'ot Golan, Yanuh-Jat, Amnun, Giv'at Yo'av, Ramat Hasharon, Evron, Kadarim, Chorazin, Naham, Mevo Modi'im, Daliyat Al-Karmel, Sde Tzvi, Nir Akiva, Shomera, Yahel, Hazon, Tuval, Hurfeish, Betzet, Avdon, Givat Yeshayahu, Ein Yahav, Shtula, Sde Yitzhak, Ma'ale Gamla, Jisr az-Zarqa, Bruchim Qela' Alon, Ya'ara, Ein Ya'akov, Afikim, Kahal, Amuka, Kfar Rut, Keramim, Lohamei HaGeta'ot, Menara, Kfar Ruppin, Kfar Blum, Amir, Sde Yoav, Ramat Tzvi, Manot, Geva Carmel, Beit Hashita, Haon, Even Menachem, Caesarea, Kfar Hess, Beit Alfa, Sallama, Kfar Bin Nun, Nahalal, Beit Hanania, Lehavot Habashan, Nimrod, Havatzelet Hasharon, Mevaseret Zion, Hosen, Gan Ner, Ani'am, Yarka, Kfar Baruch, Bustan Hagalil, Kafr Qasim, Shomria, Kiryat Anavim, Kabri, Paran, Menahemia, Gornot Hagalil, Abirim, Adi, Kiryat Ono, Eshtaol, Almog, Vered Yeriho, Holon, Mikhmanim, Shivta, Ka'abiyye-Tabbash-Hajajre, Nov, Shefer, Hila, Kokhav Ya'ir, Hadera, Central District, Judea and Samaria, Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut, Jericho, Avnei Eitan, Ein Kinya, Ein Zivan, Eli Ad, Elon, Gadot, Geva Binyamin, Gevulot, Had Nes, Moshav Ramot, Kfar Adumim, Kalia Beach, Nes Ammim, Ammiad, Yesod Hamaala, Maagan, Kibbutz Ginnosar, Shaar Hagolan, Lavi, Ma'alot Tarshiha, Rosh Pinna, Mikhmoret, Acre, Kfar Saba, Gonen, Amirim, Almagor, Nazareth, Herzliya, Nahariya, Malkiyya, Yuval

For the broader travel overview: Asia.