Our village is essentially a university campus named after Ben Gurion. He is buried here, in fact our guesthouse is just 400 meters from the grave site.
Midrasha – madrassa in Arabic – means place of learning, hence Midreshet Ben Gurion. Just up the road from us is kibbutz Sde Boker where Ben Gurion lived out the last twenty years of his life. Kibbutz Sde Boker and Midreshet Ben Gurion are two distinct and very different communities yet people – and that includes many Israelis – think that they are one and the same place because they are both so entirely identified with the great man. So for our purposes the two names can be interchangeable. Sde Boker Area is the hub of the Negev Highland region.
List of Activities
- Hiking
Sde Boker area has the biggest number of marked hiking trails in the Negev. Walking out from our guesthouse, ten established trails of varied length and difficulty: Ein Akev, Hod Akev, Ein Avdat, Har Tzaror, Nahal Havarim, Nahal Karkash, Ben Gurion’s grave, scultpure park, Not to mention the Israel Trail which passes within seven km of the village! And many others just a short drive away, Nahal Boker, Nahal Hatzatz, Nahal Darokh, the lost city…
2. Jeep tours
For non-walkers or in order to cover greater distances, like going to the oasis of Ein Zik or Mount Karkom. There are several operators in Sde Boker. You could also go on a Jeep Night Safari with Dr Haim Berger, of NegevJeep, a zoologist specializing in predators who takes you to see how desert life awakens after dark.
3. Horse riding
With ‘leopard man’ Arthur Dumosch A horse expert not like any other.
4. Mountain biking
This patch of desert has been described by the experts as a paradise for cyclists; you can rent a bike from Geofun. They will adjust the bike for you, you get a helmet, map and close personal attention to make sure you have a safe and satisfying biking experience.
5. Hot Air Balloon
Shai Nir is a qualified pilot, he lives in the village and he will show you our desert from 4000 ft.
6. Birdwatching
Two experienced birders live in the village and we are home to the Ramat HaNegev Birdwatching Center. Meidad Gonen is in charge of the Birdwatching Center and is a guide of reference for serious birdwatcher. Darren Burns offers an activity for people who are not afraid to hold a bird in their hands.
7. Archaeology
Three ancient cities, ‘one lost city’, tens of thousands of examples carved inscriptions and drawings, under the heading of rock art.
8. History of Modern Israel
Sites and artifacts which tell the story of the return of the Jews to the Negev in sites like Ben Gurion Desert Home and Mitzpe Revivim.
9. Restaurants and wineries Midreshet Ben Gurion has several eateries, delicious sandwiches in the K’naaniya for a brunch or a lunch, dinner at the pub, also a pizza bar and a felafel. Fifteen minutes away by car Kornmehl goat farm. Wine tasting along the newly revived desert wine road
10. Negev Safari
Run by Dr Haim Berger, a zoologist, it presents different collections about the fauna in the Negev. Snakes, buterflies, but also stuffed animals and squeletons. It also has stone age tools and a bedouin collection. The collections are growing all the time. It is a fun and very informative visit.
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How far is Sde Boker?
Sde Boker is located exactly at the geographical center of the country. The furthest point in Israel is Mt Hermon [531km from Sde Boker]. Two hours drive to the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, two and a half to the Red Sea, four to the Sea of Galilee. The village is 460 meters above sea level, average annual rainfall 90mm.
By car:
From Tel Aviv or Ben Gurion airport will take you about 1h 45min
From Jerusalem 2 hr
From Eilat 2hr 30min
From the Dead Sea is about 1hr 30min
By bus: add one hour. See our blog post come by bus
