Category: Hiking in the Negev
Ein Zik (and Ein Shaviv)
Ein Zik is an oasis located in a horseshoe valley surrounded on three sides by towering cliffs. Rainwater runs down and through the cliffs and is trapped in this basin close to the surface, a large, soggy underground lake (the technical name for this is ‘layer spring’). The Israel trail goes through it.
Mount Ardon
Mount Ardon (Har Ardon) can be attacked in any season, it requires planning and precision timing, it is moderately challenging. All Israeli hiking aficionados know about Har Ardon but there is a good chance that you will not meet another soul on this three-hour hike
Mount Ramon and Karnei Ramon View Point
Important update: before you venture to Mount Ramon, check that road 171 is open. Due to some flood damages; it was closed to civilian circulation in October 2022 and no date for reopen has been announced as far as I know. But repairs are scheduled.
Like the Albert Promenade and the Sculpture Park, this excursion to Mount Ramon and the Karnei Ramon viewpoint allows you to look down into the immense geological phenomenon which is the Ramon Makhteshm but this time, from the other extremity.
No, the blog is not dead!
It is just that the bloggers have found new toys!
Annual June renovation job: the South African room is having a face lift. Like the others it will very soon have a kitchenette, bigger terrasse and a livingroom/sleeping area for children.
Upper Ein Avdat when it is wet
The hike from Upper Ein Avdat to the ancient city of Avdat is highly recommended in most tourist guides…
… but I would never send one of my guests along it. Upper Ein Avdat is delightful, the city of Avdat is beautiful and fascinating, but
Khamsin
Khamsin is a word in Arabic designating a hot wind coming out of the deserts of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, carrying dust and extreme temperature. In Hebrew it is called the sharav, in North Africa and Southern Europe it is known as the sirocco.
Hike down Nahal Karkash
This is one of those hikes (like Sculpture Park, Ein Akev, Nahal Haverim or Har Tzaror) that don’t require a car. You leave the guesthouse, walk for 15 minutes to the start of Karkash and describe what is roughly a circle, it’s a one and a half hour excursion.
A Steep Descent
Borot Lotz
Borot Lotz hike is a 45 minute drive from Sde Boker and the guesthouse.
Update: before you venture to Borot Lodz, check that the road 171 is open. Due to some important damages to the road, it has been closed in October 2022 until repaired.
How to get there?
You start driving South on road 40 in the direction of Mitzpe Ramon. About 6 km before Mitzpe Ramon, you turn right on road 171.
Dawn Hike (with John)
Every morning I wake up at 5am and for want of a better thing to do I go for a walk. The first half of the walk I do on a paved road because it is pitch dark and I don’t want to fall over a rock or a hyena.
