South

Places to see/sites to visit

In Israel, the south is also referred to as the Negev or the desert. The Negev is a wonderful place to hike, experience some quiet time, meditate, and escape from the big cities. You can find hundreds of hiking trails of different levels from easy 40 minutes trails to weeklong extreme trails. You must be aware of your hiking ability. Do not hike on a trail that is not suitable for you. When hiking in Israel and in the south specifically, you have to make sure you bring a lot of water (three liters recommended) with you, hat, closed-toe shoes, and sunscreen. Make sure someone knows where you are hiking and when you will be back from the hike.

Three cities you should visit are Be’er Sheva, Mitzpe Ramon, and Eilat. Each one of those cities can offer you a different experience. Be’er Sheva is the biggest city in the Negev! The city has been going through massive gentrification in the past few years and becoming a young, academic city. Ben Gurion University (BGU) has a lot to do with this process. A lot of young students are moving into this city for school and stay there after graduation. You can visit the old city of Be’er Sheva, shop in the city shuk and in the biggest mall in the country, see the university, and enjoy the restaurants and night life.

Mitzpe Ramon is a small town right in the middle of the Negev at the edge of the Ramon Crater (Makhtesh). This small place is one of the most peaceful and quiet places in Israel. This place is great if you are looking for something more calm and spiritual. You can find many hiking trails around the town, discover a rare geological phenomenon, take tours to learn about the desert animal and plants, meditation, art and dance classes, and art galleries.

Eilat is the most southern city in Israel! The focus in this city is tourism so you know you have a lot of things to do there. From scuba diving and snorkeling to hiking in the beautiful mountains surrounding the city, swimming with dolphins, visiting the Underwater Observatory Park, enjoying the lovely hot weather while walking along the coast line of the Red Sea, and of course shopping in the only tax-free city in Israel.

The Dead Sea and Masada: you cannot visit Israel without covering your body with mud and floating in the Dead Sea! The lowest point in the world! The Dead Sea is named the Dead Sea because nothing can grow or live in the water. Why? The Dead Sea is a salt water basin, but the water has no exit except evaporating and leaving the small presence of salt behind. Take that and multiply it by tens of thousands of years and a lot of salt is left behind that turns the water salty! How much salty you ask? 33% of the sea is salt! Just to compare, the Pacific Ocean salinity is 3.5 %. When you visit the Dead Sea, you can also go and visit Masada! Masada is one of the most famous national parks in the country. It is known for the palaces Herod the Great built and the siege of Masada the Romans laid during the First Jewish–Roman War. Masada is one of the most important archeological sites ever discovered in Israel.

Other places in the south: Ein Ovdat, Sde Boker, Rahat, The Arava, Neot HaKikar, Ein Gedi, Timna Park, and Yotvata (Kibbutz).

Food

Bedouin hospitality: The Negev Bedouin are traditionally, pastoral, and nomadic Arab tribes (Bedouin) living in the Negev region of Israel. The Bedouin tribes adhere to Islam. There are a lot of Bedouin “villages” that offer the “Bedouin experience,” and they are known for their amazing hospitality. You can stay there overnight, sleep in a Bedouin tent, and learn about their unique lifestyle and culture. If you do not have too much time you can also visit just for lunch or dinner. You will not regret it!

Entertainment

Darom Adom- means Red South. During the month of February, the Anemone flower blossom in the northern part of the Negev region and you can go and see the beautiful red fields that go for miles!

Midburn: the Israeli version of the Burning Man festival in Nevada. The Midburn is a 6-day event held in the Negev near the Kibutz Sde Boker. The name comes from the Hebrew word for "desert" (מידבר midbar) and the English word "burn". Some say the “Mid” is also for Middle East Burning Man.

African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem: is a spiritual group now mainly based in Dimona whose members believe they are descended from the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Most of the members of this community come from Chicago, Illinois and moved to Israel in the 1960’s. The group maintains a vegan diet, abstinence from alcohol, other than the naturally fermented wine which they make themselves as well as abstinence from both illegal and pharmaceutical drugs. You can schedule a tour with someone from the community in their neighborhood to learn more about their unique way of life.

Fun Fact

The Negev makes up 60% of Israel and only 8% of the population lives there.