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Desert South of Israel

Desert , Neghev and Sde Boker

on by webbya

At only two hours from Tel Aviv you can enjoy an amaising desert experience full aff nature, history and fun perfect for all ages:

  1. Starting point: Ben Gurion Desert Home
  2. Ben Gurion and Paola Tomb
  3. Ein Avdat National Park
  4. Nabatean city of Avdat
  5. Our personal experience: “The Sde Boker Field School”

1) Visit The Desert Home of Ben-Gurion

Ben Gurion was the first Israeli Prime Minister when he was 67 he decided to leave his comfortable life in the city he resigned from his role of Prime Minister and Defense Minister and moved with his wife Paula to Sde Boker to settle the desert, where he spent the last years of his life, in his testament he asked to preserve this house that became a must point to discover this leader ideology and life.

Opening Hours
Sunday-Thursday 8:30–16:00
Friday and Festivals 10:00–16:00
Please arrive at least an hour before closing time.
Price: 20 nis adults, 15 nis children/students
Address: Kibbutz Sde Boker
Phone: 08-6560469

2) Ben Gurion and Paola Tomb

Not far from the “Sde Boker Field School” in “Midreshat Ben Gurion” you will find the tombs of David & Paula Ben-Gurion inside a beautiful desert garden the graves sit at the edge of a cliff overlooking the amazing landscape of the Zin Valley and Ein Avdat highlands. A very pleasant and serene place with Ibex all around. The national park has a picnic area, gift shop, an information center, where you can rent hiking and camping equipment.
The park is accessible to people with disabilities.
COST:
Free
BE AWARE: during the summer is extreamly hot.

3) Ein Avdat National Park

This National Park is one of the most striking and accessible park, suitable for families and for all ages, the views are spectaculars, an easy and short (1 km) path through the valley along the stream Nahal Zin where you can enjoy the desert vegetation the Ein Avdat waterfall and the natural pool so vital for the animals that live in the valley, don’t forget to look over the rocks where you will see the Ibex that populates the area. You have two entrances the lower entrance close to the Ben Gurion and Paola Tomb the from the guesthouse, in about one an a quarter hours you will arrive at Ein Avdat, or take the car and in few minutes you arrive in the parking lot and start your trail to the Zim valley. The upper entrance (from route 40)you can reach it also from the lower trail be aware that the path is linear and climbing the stairs will take at least half an hour so if you have two cars you can leave one car at the end of the trail in order to go back to the starting point and avoid doing it by foot.


Opening Hours:
April-September: 8am – 5pm
October-March: 8am – 4pm
Last entrance one hour before closing time
Cost::
Free for “Matmon” cards
Adult: NIS 27, Child: NIS 14, Israeli senior citizen: 50% discount
Special prices are available for groups
Telephone: 08-655-5684 or 08-655-4418

4) Nabatean city of Avdat

If you love history and archeology don’t miss the Nabatean city of Avdat, 15 minutes by car from Sde Boker (route 40), this is another must site with the impressive remains of an ancient city from the 3rd century BCE.
Avdat was an important city during the Roman and Byzantine periods on the incense route from Petra. It was inhabited by Nabateans that used the city for their camel caravans.


Opening Hours:
April-September: 8am – 5pm
October-March: 8am – 4pm
Last entrance one hour before closing time
Cost::
Free for “Matmon” cards
Adult: NIS 27, Child: NIS 14, Israeli senior citizen: 50% discount
Telephone:08-6551511;

5) Our personal experience: “The Sde Boker Field School”

“The Sde Boker Field School” is situated in the center of the Negev it offers to lodge and it is a great location to start desert hikes a perfect exit point for all kinds of trips in the central Negev.
We had an amazing experience here suitable for all ages, we decided to spend an entire weekend with the entire family- we wanted to celebrate all the family birthday boys and girls that were born in January (8!!) so we took 5 rooms.
There are two complexes for accommodation: the hostel and the “Hamburg” guesthouse.

“Hamburg” guesthouse offers double / family rooms with 2-4 beds in each room, a toilet and shower, bed linen and towels, a coffee bar, TV and a mini-fridge.

Hostel rooms have 6 beds, toilet, and shower, bed linen and towels, coffee bar.

We took 5 Hostel rooms, they ARE NOT FANCY but worth the price and give to a large family (we were 16) the possibility to spend time together, outside the rooms, there are a lot of places for the children to run.
We also rented a common room with a big fridge, tables, and chairs, where we stored our food for the weekend, and we also celebrated all the birthdays.

CONTACTS
Web Site: http://sdeboker.co.il/

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