Merhav Am: Desert Landscape and Hiking

Merhav Am was founded in November 2001. The community is located between Sde Boker and Yeroham, opposite the Halukim Ridge and amid a desert landscape. If you’re looking for a hotel in Merhav Am, you can base your choice on two specific features: the desert landscape and the Mount Negev Trail, which begins in Merhav Am. This lets you weigh whether the scenery or a hike is especially important to your trip.

A local view of the Sde Boker Valley

As part of its accommodation offering, Khan Merhav Am serves coffee or hot tea and a variety of dishes on a terrace overlooking the Sde Boker Valley.

The Mount Negev Trail

The trail begins in Merhav Am and ends in Mitzpe Ramon. It is also described as suitable for beginners and families with young children. Since the start and finish are in different places, take both into account when planning. Check current local trail information before setting out.

You can consider these details separately when making your decision: the location and valley view describe the surroundings, the Khan’s offering covers food and drink, and the trail is an activity with a destination of its own. This lets you weigh the landscape as a travel destination separately from the hike as a specific activity.

In the wider destination of the Southern District

The wider destination of the Southern District offers a range of nature and culture topics to explore. Avdat National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along the route of the ancient Incense Road in the Negev Highlands. Ein Gedi Nature Reserve encompasses Israel’s largest oasis, with springs, waterfalls, ibex, hyraxes, and flowing streams. A hiking trail follows Nahal Arugot, which flows year-round, to a hidden waterfall and pools in its upper reaches. Conditions on the trail may change after floods; check current information before your hike.

Masada is another historical highlight in the Southern District. The site preserves remains of Herod’s palaces and intact Roman siege works, among the most complete of their kind in the Roman world. Masada is also a symbol of the ancient Kingdom of Israel, its violent destruction, and the last stand of Jewish patriots against the Roman army in 73 CE. At the Ramon Crater, the visitor center combines the life story of Israel’s first astronaut, Lieutenant Colonel Ilan Ramon, with an introduction to the world’s largest crater and its distinctive natural phenomena.

Besor Park (Eshkol) lies on the river’s eastern bank at the Ein Besor spring and is an oasis with expansive lawns, picnic facilities, and children’s playgrounds. Signposted cycling trails and a disc golf course add to the activities available there.

Discover more destinations: Amatzia, Eilat, Mitzpe Ramon, Meitar, Sede Boker, Hatzeva, Ein Bokek, Mishmar HaNegev

Return to the wider travel overview: Southern District.