Hatzeva: Arava Highlights, Farm and Nature

Hatzeva offers travelers several specific points of interest: tours and talks at the Vidor Center focus on topics related to the Arava, while Bein Hashitin Farm offers agricultural experiences, including preparing a meal together. Nearby, you’ll also find the Nahal Shizaf Nature Reserve and trails through the desert landscape. You can plan your visit around your interests: learning, hands-on activities, and an outdoor route are distinct options.

Getting there and the landscape

You can reach the Vidor Center from Route 90 at the Hatzeva junction, taking the eastern access road toward Moshav Hatzeva. Check the route before setting out so you can factor in the access road to the Center when planning your journey.

The Nahal Shizaf Nature Reserve is located near the destination. It protects habitats typical of the Arava, with reddish desert sands, acacia trees, and rare plant species. The scenic Derech HaShalom route runs along the Israeli-Jordanian border through the eastern part of the reserve and is accessible by private car. The reserve and the route offer different perspectives on the landscape: one focuses on habitats and plants, the other on a road that follows the border.

Nearby Hatzeva Hill is another landscape highlight. A route recommendation published in 2019 describes an easy family hike with a view; visitors can roll down the dune. The start and end points of the marked red trail are at Ein Hatzeva (Ir Ovot), outside the town of Hatzeva. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

While Derech HaShalom is a scenic route accessible by private car, the recommendation for Hatzeva Hill describes an easy hike with a view. These are different ways to get to know the area: one follows the border by vehicle, the other takes you on foot over a dune.

Vidor Center and farm experiences

The Vidor Center offers tours and talks on a range of topics related to the Arava. You can choose your visit format: a tour and a talk are different ways to explore the region’s themes. When planning your trip, you can distinguish these from the farm’s offerings, which focus on agricultural activities or cooking together.

Bein Hashitin Farm offers tours of its growing areas, with vegetable tastings and hands-on agricultural activities. Visits must be arranged in advance. This tour combines an introduction to the growing areas with tasting and participation, giving it a different focus from the educational program at the Vidor Center.

During cooking workshops, participants gather and harvest vegetables from the farm, then prepare a meal together with the farm team. The workshops are arranged to suit the character and purpose of each group. This sets the workshop apart from the tour: harvesting and preparing food together are part of the workshop, while the tour covers the growing areas, a tasting, and hands-on agricultural activities.

On Fridays, the farm hosts a farmers’ market and tours; a coffee cart is also open. Visits must be arranged in advance. Confirm directly with the farm whether the market, tours, and coffee cart are currently operating.

Discover more destinations: Ashdod, Revivim, Sde Boker, Arad, Merhav Am, Eilat, Kfar Menachem, Ashkelon.

For the full travel overview: Southern District.