South · Loop

All for One

Sapir · Loop
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Recent rain? Check the mud forecast before you go. Download the route’s GPX and upload it to ‘HaSingletor’ – you’ll get the chance of mud from the nearest rain station and the soil type.

Mud forecast Built by Boaz Yoffe · mtb.yoffe.net
Distance 174 km
Total climbing 2,245 m
Highest point 687 m
Lowest point -147 m
Days 3–4 days
Difficulty Moderate
Recommended months Nov–Mar

A loop from Sapir in the central Arava up to the Negev highlands: Mount Zin, the Peres ridges, the Bulbusim and more, from -147 m to 687 m. Food stops are few and far between.

Elevation profile
687 m -146 m
0 km 35 km 70 km 104 km 139 km 174 km
Route story · All for One

From the Arava to the Ramon Crater and back

174 km and about 2,250 m of climbing in a loop that starts and ends at Sapir in the central Arava. North to Ein Hatseva, west through the Makhteshim and Hor HaHar onto the Negev Highlands, at almost 690 m, through the Ramon Crater, and back along the Incense Route and Nahal Ashosh. Open desert, with 125 km without fuel or a shop.

Loop · Sapir3–4 daysNov–MarModerate
123456Sapir
174km
2,245m climbing
125.4km, longest stretch without fuel
4fuel stations within 300 m
5water taps along the way
11night campsites near the route

Between Ein Hatseva (km 27.5) and Tzukim (km 152.9) there is no fuel station or shop. The only food on the way is at Khan Be'erot (km 97), which is also the route's first marked water. More water only at km 108.5 and km 170.6, so leave Ein Hatseva with water for at least the ride to the crater.

Firing zones on the way

The route crosses 4 firing zones, about 31 km of 174. Entering a firing zone requires advance coordination and approval, and zones can be closed on weekends and holidays too.

  • Firing zone 317 km 15–18, 60–64, 68–69 Southern Command coordination center 08-9902926
  • Firing zone 520 km 73–84 Southern Command coordination center 08-9902926
  • Firing zone 1390 km 117–133 Southern Command coordination center 08-9902926
  • Firing zone 1005 km 134–137 Southern Command coordination center 08-9902926

Boundaries from OpenStreetMap (source: IDF) and may be out of date. Some sections are a road that crosses the zone. Either way, check and coordinate before you go. All coordination centers →

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The route at a glance

Fuel stationGrocery or supermarketWater tapNight campsite
1 · North along the Arava2 · Makhteshim and Hor HaHar3 · Onto the Negev Highlands4 · Through the Ramon Crater5 · Along the Incense Route6 · Tzukim and back to Sapir090174
01km ⁦0–28⁩

North along the Arava

From Sapir north along the Arava, near the route's lowest point, about 150 m below sea level. You pass Ein Shahak and its lookout, and reach Ein Hatseva and Ir Ovot, the biblical Tamar. This is the last fuel station and café before the heart of the route.

Along the way

  • km 8.1Nahal Sheizaf
  • km 14.9Ein Shahak lookout
  • km 26.9Ir Ovot, the biblical Tamar
Resupply · km 25.3
Ein Hatseva: Paz and Aroma. After them, no fuel or shop until Tzukim, km 153
02km ⁦28–55⁩

The Makhteshim and Hor HaHar

West into the Makhteshim–Ein Yahav reserve, past the lower Nahal Zin campsite, crossing Nahal Gov and Nahal Hatira. The route climbs gradually, from about 120 m below sea level to about 140 m above it, to the Hor HaHar reserve and the Bulbusim field, thousands of small round stones.

Along the way

  • km 30.8Makhteshim–Ein Yahav nature reserve
  • km 40.9Lower Nahal Zin night campsite, 270 m off the route
  • km 44.2Nahal Hatira
  • km 54Hor HaHar night campsite
  • km 54.1The Bulbusim field
03km ⁦55–95⁩

Onto the Negev Highlands

The route's big climb. Along Nahal Sharaf, past large ammonite fossils, then through Nahal Hagor and Nahal Teref, you gain more than 550 m, to almost 690 m, the route's highest point. At the end of the section the descent into the Ramon Crater begins.

Along the way

  • km 58.4Nahal Sharaf
  • km 62.5Ammonite fossils
  • km 66.5Nahal Hagor
  • km 81.4Nahal Teref
04km ⁦95–124⁩

Through the Ramon Crater

You drop into the Ramon Crater past Mezad Mohila, to Khan Be'erot, with water and food. Then across the crater: the mine lake lookout, the faults lookout, Har Gvanim and its viewpoint, and the Nahal Gvanim campsite, with shelters carved into the red rock. By Ein Saharonim and Mezad Saharonim you head out toward Nekarot.

Along the way

  • km 97.2Be'erot night campsite, paid, with water
  • km 101Mine lake lookout
  • km 106.5Har Gvanim, a viewpoint with a map of the crater
  • km 108.5Water point
  • km 111.6Nahal Gvanim night campsite
  • km 114.2Ein Saharonim and Mezad Saharonim
Resupply · km 97.3
Food and water at Khan Be'erot, the only food between Ein Hatseva and Tzukim
05km ⁦124–150⁩

Along the Incense Route

You leave the crater by the Nekarot fortress and descend east along the Nabataean Incense Route: Mezad Masa, the Har Masa campsite, Horbat Qazra above Nahal Kazra, and the Moah caravanserai. The route drops from about 340 m to about 40 m.

Along the way

  • km 124.2Mitzad Nekarot night campsite, 100 m off the route
  • km 129.1Mezad Masa, on the Incense Route
  • km 131.8Har Masa night campsite
  • km 134Horbat Qazra, a view over Nahal Kazra
  • km 143.9The Moah caravanserai and fortress
06km ⁦150–174⁩

Tzukim and back to Sapir

At Tzukim a fuel station with a 24/7 store is waiting, then you ride on along Nahal Ashosh and Nahal Tsofar, past the Tzofar reservoir. Just before the end, Chen's Corner has a water tap, and from there you return to Sapir.

Along the way

  • km 151.6Nahal Tsofar
  • km 152.9Tzukim night campsite, 560 m off the route
  • km 165Tzofar reservoir
  • km 170.6Chen's Corner, a campsite and lookout with a water tap
  • km 173Sapir park
Resupply · km 152.9
Tzukim: Dor Alon and a 24/7 Alonit, and Prem Ursula. Delek and Menta at Sapir, at the end

Where to sleep

To split it over two days, the Be'erot (km 97) or Nahal Gvanim (km 111.6) campsites, in the crater. Over three days, the Hor HaHar campsite (km 54) and Nahal Gvanim.

Straight-line distanceDistances from the route are straight-line distances, not riding distances. Before you set out, check on a map that a trail or road actually reaches the place.
km 40.9Free
חניון לילה נחל צין תחתון 270 m off the route
km 54Free
חניון לילה - הור ההר 60 m off the route
km 97.2Halfway
חניון לילה בארות 70 m off the route · Paid
km 105.7Free
חניון לילה גבס פנימי 570 m off the route
km 111.6Free
חניון לילה נחל גוונים 20 m off the route
km 111.6Free
חניון לילה נחל גוונים 20 m off the route
km 111.6Free
חניון לילה נחל גוונים 20 m off the route
km 124.2Free
חניון לילה מיצד נקרות 100 m off the route
km 131.7Free
חניון לילה הר� �שא 70 m off the route
km 152.9Free
חניון לילה צוקים 560 m off the route
km 173.2Free
חניון לילה פארק ספיר 150 m off the route

Where to refuel

Fuel stations, groceries and food within 300 m of the route. Fuel stations usually have water, toilets and a convenience store.

Straight-line distanceDistances from the route are straight-line distances, not riding distances. Before you set out, check on a map that a trail or road actually reaches the place.
125.4 km without a fuel stationPaz25.3Fuel station27.5Dor Alon · 24/7152.9Delek173.90174
km 0
A café or restaurant
km 25.3
Paz A café or restaurant
km 27.5
Fuel station
km 97.3
A café or restaurant
km ⁦152.6–152.9⁩24/7
Dor Alon, Alonit A café or restaurant
km ⁦173.9–174⁩
Delek, Menta

Distances along the route are calculated from the GPX file; the distance of each place from the route is a straight-line distance. Night campsites come from the site's campsite map, other places from OpenStreetMap. Not checked on the ground: confirm before you go.

Firing zones: OpenStreetMap, IDF data import

Distance, climbing and recommended months come from the routes table. Highest and lowest points are calculated from the GPX file, and difficulty is an estimate based on climbing per kilometre.

More routes nearby

PARTNERS ON THIS JOURNEY

The partners behind the community

Israeli companies that ride with us: they back our events, offer perks to community members and help bikepacking in Israel grow.

CTC · Trek Israel Trek importer in Israel

Trek's store network in Israel. Community members get 20% off bikepacking gear, and branches rent out gear for your first trip.

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Joe's No Flats Sealant and repairs

An Israeli maker of sealant, lubes and repair kits. They built a full bikepacking repair kit with us: everything you need so a flat never ends your ride.

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Small World Satellite tracker rental

Rents out satellite trackers and communicators. In the desert and in areas with no signal, your family can follow your location, and in an emergency you can call for help.

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TwoNav GPS navigation

The only devices that display Shvilnet maps perfectly, with a big screen and the Land planning app. Site visitors get special deals.

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Swift Optics Riding sunglasses

An Israeli company making quality glasses at fair prices. Protection from sun, dust and wind over long days on the trail, and 20% off for the community.

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