Ein Gedi: Desert Trails and Ancient Sites
Accommodation in Ein Gedi
Ein Gedi offers two specific points of interest in the surrounding area for planning your trip: hiking trails in the Nahal David area and the antiquities of Ein Gedi, with an augmented reality experience. The broader travel destination of the Southern District offers additional nature and cultural destinations.
Nearby Trails and Experiences
The Nohah Trail connects Nahal David, Nahal Arugot, and the antiquities of Ein Gedi. It is pleasant to walk. The section between Nahal David and the Ein Gedi Antiquities National Park is accessible to visitors with disabilities.
The Nahal David Nature Reserve has a wheelchair-accessible path about half a kilometer long. Its features include rest and viewing points, an audio station, and a viewpoint overlooking the waterfall at the “Olympic” Pool. The path is designed to blend into the desert landscape. Rest areas lie in the shade of acacia trees; ibexes and rock hyraxes live in this area.
At the Ein Gedi Antiquities National Park, visitors can borrow 3D glasses free of charge at the ticket office to experience life in the ancient synagogue through augmented reality. If you plan to try this experience, check the availability of the glasses on site.
More Nature Destinations in the Southern District
The Ein Gedi Nature Reserve is also in the broader travel destination of the Southern District. It includes Israel’s largest oasis, with springs, waterfalls, and flowing streams; ibexes and rock hyraxes are also part of this landscape. A hiking trail along Nahal Arugot, which flows year-round, leads to a hidden waterfall and pools in the upper reaches. Trail conditions may change after floods.
The trail information can be compared by focus: the Nohah Trail connects sites, the Nahal David Nature Reserve features a wheelchair-accessible route about half a kilometer long, and the Nahal Arugot trail leads to a waterfall and pools in the upper reaches.
Culture and Other Landscape Highlights in the Southern District
Cultural destinations in the Southern District include Avdat and Masada, each with a distinct focus. Avdat National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along the route of the ancient Incense Road in the Negev Highlands. Masada is a symbol of the ancient Kingdom of Israel, its violent destruction, and the final resistance of Jewish patriots against the Roman army in 73 CE. The remains of Herod’s palaces and intact Roman siege works are preserved there; they are among the most complete of their kind in the Roman world.
The visitor center at Ramon Crater is also among the Southern District’s attractions. It combines the life story of Israel’s first astronaut, Lieutenant Colonel Ilan Ramon, with an introduction to the world’s largest crater and its unique natural phenomena.
Another nature and recreation destination in the Southern District is Besor Park (Eshkol). It lies on the river’s eastern bank, at the Ein Besor spring, and is an oasis with extensive lawns, picnic facilities, and children’s playgrounds. The park also has signposted cycling trails and a disc golf course.
Discover more destinations: Beersheba, Kfar Menahem, Mishmar HaNegev, Arad, Kiryat Malakhi, Mitzpe Ramon, Tzukim, Dimona.
View the broader travel guide: Southern District.
