Sapir: Hotels, Sapir Park and Chaim Bamidbar

If you are looking for a hotel in Sapir, the places in the surrounding area offer different points of interest to help you plan your trip: a landscape with a lake, a Thai sala and a short trail. You can start by considering whether you are primarily interested in landscapes and distinctive monuments, or whether you would also like to include cultural history in your plans.

Sapir Park: Lake, Sala and Baobab Grove

Sapir Park, also known as “Ha-Emek Ha-Nelem” — “The Hidden Valley” — is in the surrounding area of Sapir, on the access road to the settlement of Sappir. It covers an area of about 150 dunams. A lake lies in the middle of the park, where water collects in a topographic depression. The name and landscape go together: the Hidden Valley is not just a name here, but refers to the depression where the water collects.

The park is home to a Thai pavilion, a sala, which was brought to Israel specifically for the park. Next to the pavilion is a small grove of baobab trees. An old Piper aircraft stands among the trees as a monument. These three striking features give the place different points of interest: the sala as a pavilion, the trees as a small group and the aircraft as a monument. Together with the lake, they create a vivid picture of the park without reducing its distinctive features to a single attraction.

Chaim Bamidbar at the Park Entrance

Next to the entrance to Sapir Park is the “Chaim Bamidbar” (“Life in the Desert”) cultural landscape site. It includes a short trail with a stated walking time of 15 minutes. The project was inaugurated in June 2002. Two different perspectives can therefore be found side by side in the surrounding area: the park is shaped by its landscape and individual features, while Chaim Bamidbar is a cultural landscape site in its own right, with a trail. The stated walking time provides a specific timeframe for this trail; it does not refer to other routes.

Cultural History in the Southern District

Beyond Sapir, the Southern District offers historical themes that are clearly distinct from the park’s features. Avdat National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along the route of the ancient Incense Road in the Negev Highlands. Masada represents a different chapter: the site 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. Remains of Herod’s palaces and intact Roman siege works are also preserved there; they are among the most complete of their kind in the Roman world.

To visit Masada National Park, registering in advance with the visitor coordination system secures a place for your selected visit date. As this operational information may change, it is advisable to check the registration details before planning your visit.

Nature in the Southern District

Nature destinations in the Southern District also offer different points of interest. The Ein Gedi Nature Reserve encompasses Israel’s largest oasis, with springs and waterfalls, ibex and rock hyraxes, as well as flowing streams. A hiking trail along Nahal Arugot, which flows year-round, leads to a hidden waterfall and pools in the upper reaches. This describes a natural area where the streams and hiking trail go hand in hand. For visitors’ interests, this focus offers a different perspective from the archaeological sites of Avdat and Masada.

Another example is the visitor center at the Ramon Crater. 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 distinctive natural phenomena. For this visitor center, too, registering in advance with the visitor coordination system secures a place on your selected visit date; check the current registration details before planning your visit. The Southern District therefore offers historical sites, natural areas and a visitor center focused on biography and natural history as distinct topics to explore.

Discover more destinations: Ein Tamar, Giv'ot Bar, Merhav Am, Sede Boker, Ein Gedi, Kiryat Mal'akhi, Dimona, Arad

Back to the regional travel overview: Southern District.