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Ein Yahav: Tamaratushka
A lovely shop with nuts, peanuts, dried fruit and everything you need before setting off.
A desert odyssey in the heart of Israel
A ride that gathers the best of the Israeli desert: shaded canyons, towering cliffs, acacia trees offering shade and rest, skies open to the horizon and encounters with locals and travellers. It starts in the Arava, climbs to Mitzpe Ramon, follows the rim of the Big Crater to Yeruham and Arad, glides down to Masada and the Dead Sea, and from there flows back south on a fun, rolling route.
It is an invitation to a real adventure: a pace set by the trail through hidden corners of Israel, a deep silence that clears the mind, and encounters with people, nature and culture.
Along the way you will pass remains of the Nabataean Incense Route, ancient cisterns, springs and the ruins of Roman forts.
Israel's unique craters are full of viewpoints and remarkable geology, and their high rims open onto views to the horizon. In the Arava you'll find welcoming villages; in Mitzpe Ramon, a desert town on the crater's edge with views like nowhere else.
Yeruham adds a touch of culture and community, and Arad a cool mountain breeze before the big descent. Masada sits right on the route too, a World Heritage Site where desert nature meets the chapters that shaped local history.
This journey deepens your connection to the place through the small things: black coffee at a tiny roadside café, a good local beer or an early-morning bakery; a chat with a farm worker in the Arava; a night at a khan serving homemade hummus, or a guitar by the fire.
The trails vary, sometimes flowing, sometimes moderately technical, and the desert changes texture and colour through the day. There is a constant sense of discovery: every saddle reveals a new valley, every wadi opens a gate, and every sunrise paints the cliffs anew.
Files and data
We do our best to keep the route maintained and update it every few months, but it changes all the time, even without us noticing: fences go up, trails get diverted and vegetation grows. The route will never be perfect, but that's part of the adventure, and in the end you always reach your destination. Work on the trail never stops, so don't forget to download the latest GPX file before you set off.
When to ride
November – April
From November to April the desert is at its best: the air is clear, the light soft, the saddles, ridges and wadis still green, the rock pools full and the colours sharp after the rains.
Silence and stars
This is when the silence wraps around you, the stars shine bright, and riding between history, nature, landscape and people feels especially natural.
Before you go
Follow the weather forecasts and flood warnings, and choose a pleasant stay in the small villages or traditional khans. That way you get an accessible, safe and enjoyable journey with minimal gear.
Ein Yahav: the starting point
We chose to start and finish in Ein Yahav because it's simply the easiest for riders: safe parking inside the moshav, a supermarket next door, a café, a shop full of nature's treats, and a flat opening and closing stretch to warm up gently and cool down at the end. The nearby bus stop also connects to the whole country, so it's easy to arrive by public transport and easy to get home.
Points of interest along the route
From ancient and religious sites to singletrack, food, wineries and springs, in the order they appear along the route.
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Metzad Moa
A jump into the Nabataean world: ancient cisterns and ruins of caravans and trade, right on the way.
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Horvat Katzra
A small fortress hill with a wide view. Short climb, big reward.
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Ramon Crater
A first view into the crater from the Arava side. The perfect spot for a black coffee.
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Nahal Nekarot singletrack
A desert singletrack along the edges of the stream channels, with the crater all around you.
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The Colourful Wall, Nahal Ardon
Natural bands of colour on the rock, two minutes from the trail.
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Overnight campsite: Be’erot Khan
Shade, tables and a sky full of stars. Great for a break or a night.
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Crater Colours Park
Dunes and sands in many colours, and sometimes pools of water between the rocks.
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Mitzpe Ramon
A calm hilltop town with food, water and gear. An ideal refuelling stop.
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Mitzpe Ramon: HaHavit pub
Local beers, snacks and an everyone-knows-everyone vibe.
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Mitzpe Ramon: Lasha bakery
Sourdough breads, challahs and pastries. Perfect for breakfast before you set off.
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The Hanging Balcony
A “wow” view into the crater; you almost feel you’re in the air.
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Ramon and Negev Highlands singletrack
Flowing sections and open views that add flow to the journey.
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Avdat National Park
A Nabataean city on the Incense Route: arches, churches and viewpoints.
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Aroma Avdat
Coffee, sandwiches, toilets and phone charging.
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Ein Maʿarif lookout
A wide horizon, at its most beautiful in the morning and at dusk.
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Havarim lookout
Waves of rock and channels spreading out below.
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Rock engravings
Ancient markings: figures, animals and stories carved into the rock.
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Borot Hatzatz singletrack
A flowing trail with sections that are just the right amount of fun.
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Sde Boker
Water, food, shade and a relaxed kibbutz atmosphere.
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Sde Boker: HaKnaʿaniya
Generous plates and good coffee for a long stop.
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Big Crater lookout
Rock layers and colours. A place for camp-stove coffee and a group photo.
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Gev Shuʿalim and Nahal Shuʿalim
A canyon that keeps narrowing, ending in a fast flight towards Yeruham.
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Sea daffodils in Nahal Shuʿalim
In autumn (usually around November) the stream is covered in yellow blossom.
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Yeruham Lake
An oasis: water, shade and bike trails.
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Yeruham: Galo
A local bakery with fresh bread, pastries and coffee.
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Yeruham: Daves restaurant
Filling dishes, quick service and a take-away option.
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Dimona
A town stop: food, a grocery, coffee and basic gear.
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Dimona: Fedra & Medra
Generous dishes and warm service in the middle of a riding day.
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Nahal Mamshit
A classic desert canyon next to the remains of a Nabataean city.
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Arad
A high town with a good breeze and services for riders.
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Arad: Muza restaurant
A long-standing institution with big portions and quick service.
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Arad – Neve Zohar singletrack
Great flow and open views of the Dead Sea.
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Kfar HaNokdim
A desert khan: shade, tea, a shower and a comfortable night.
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Itamar Elia lookout
A wide horizon and a larger-than-life feeling.
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Masada
A mighty cliff and great stories. A World Heritage Site.
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Nahal Bokek lookout
A canyon leading down to the Dead Sea, beautiful in the soft hours.
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Gev Mor
A quiet corner, sometimes with clear water.
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Metzad Zohar – Zohar Dam pool
An ancient fortress next to a small dam with a seasonal rock pool.
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Dead Sea Works lookout
A view over the plants and the turquoise evaporation pools.
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Nahal Peratzim
A narrow canyon with white limestone walls, easy and pleasant to ride.
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Flour Cave
Leave the bikes in Nahal Peratzim and walk into a cool, photogenic tunnel.
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Ein Plutit
A small, quiet pool of water in the middle of the desert dryness.
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Ne’ot HaKikar
A grocery, simple coffee and friendly locals.
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The path through the water
The Dead Sea on one side, birds and vegetation on the other.
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Peace Road
A wide desert road that feels endless.
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Mitzpe Idan
A horizon that joins sea, desert and green fields.
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Ein Hatzeva complex
Toilets, cold water, coffee and snacks.
