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.
A desert loop of about 380 km: the Arava, Mitzpe Ramon, Yeruham, Arad, Masada and the Dead Sea. Shaded stream beds, cliffs, craters and a low point of −376 m by the Dead Sea. A ready-made 7-day riding plan is available.
378 km and almost 4,800 m of climbing in a loop that starts and ends at Ein Yahav in the Arava. You climb the Incense Route into the Ramon Crater and up to Mitzpe Ramon, continue through Avdat, Sde Boker, Yeruham, Dimona and Arad, drop to Masada and the Dead Sea, near the lowest point on earth, and return through Sodom and the Arava. A long desert route, with long stretches without services.
Loop · Arava6+ daysNov–MarModerate
378km
4,756m climbing
152.5km, longest stretch without fuel
9fuel stations within 300 m
18water taps along the way
24night campsites near the route
The first 54 km, from Ein Yahav to Khan Be'erot, have no water and no food. From Arad (km 225.5) to the end there is no fuel station, and between Kfar HaNokdim (km 241.6) and the Ein Tamar mini market (km 334.2) there is no shop. On that stretch, water only at Masada (km 259.4) and Neve Zohar (km 299.9).
Firing zones on the way
The route crosses 8 firing zones, about 76 km of 378. Entering a firing zone requires advance coordination and approval, and zones can be closed on weekends and holidays too.
Firing zone 1005km 28–30Southern Command coordination center08-9902926
Firing zone 1390km 32–48Southern Command coordination center08-9902926
Firing zone 600km 86–94Southern Command coordination center08-9902926
Firing zone 520km 94–105Southern Command coordination center08-9902926
Firing zone 504km 140–161Southern Command coordination center08-9902926
Firing zone 502km 173–184Southern Command coordination center08-9902926
Firing zone 503km 194–209Southern Command coordination center08-9902926
Firing zone 522km 242–245Southern Command coordination center08-9902926
Boundaries from OpenStreetMap (source: IDF) and may be out of date.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
01km 0–40
From the Arava to the Incense Route
You leave Ein Yahav, about 80 m below sea level, and climb west along the Nabataean Incense Route. On the way you pass the Moah caravanserai and fortress, Horbat Qazra above Nahal Kazra and Mezad Masa, rising to about 350 m. The section ends by the Nekarot fortress, at the gateway to the Ramon Crater.
Along the way
km 16.2Nahal Omer night campsite
km 20.4The Moah caravanserai and fortress, and the Israel Trail library
km 30.5Horbat Qazra, a Nabataean fort above Nahal Kazra
km 33Har Masa night campsite
km 35.6Mezad Masa, on the Incense Route
Resupply · km 0.3 Ein Yahav: Mahsanei HaShuk and a canteen. After them, no food or water until Khan Be'erot, km 55
02km 40–76
Through the Ramon Crater
You cross the Ramon Crater from end to end. From the Nekarot fortress, at about 240 m, you pass Ein Ardon and Khan Be'erot, the mine lake and vulture lookouts, and climb to more than 850 m on the crater rim. At the top waits Mitzpe Ramon, with fuel stations, a supermarket and a row of restaurants.
Along the way
km 40.5Mitzad Nekarot night campsite, 100 m off the route
km 51.3Ein Ardon spring
km 55.1Be'erot night campsite, paid, with water
km 64.9Vulture lookout and the coloured sands of Even, Ruach, Mayim
km 71.1Barak and Amichai viewpoint, on the crater rim
km 71.9KKL grove night campsite, Mitzpe Ramon
Resupply · km 71.6 Mitzpe Ramon: Delek, Sonol, Shufersal Sheli and dozens of restaurants and cafés
03km 76–125
Avdat and Ein Avdat
From Mitzpe Ramon you descend gradually, past Har HaGamal and the Noam BaMidbar ranch, to Nahal Zin and Avdat, the Nabataean city. Then into the Ein Avdat national park, with the Ein Maarif waterfall and the Havarim lookout, to Midreshet Ben-Gurion and Ben-Gurion's tomb, at about 470 m.
Along the way
km 76.1Har HaGamal, above the Ramon Crater
km 108Avdat, the Nabataean city, 430 m off the route
km 113.7Ein Maarif waterfall
km 114.6Upper Ein Avdat night campsite
km 119.7Havarim lookout, over the Zin valley
km 123.9Ben-Gurion's tomb, 250 m off the route
Resupply · km 108.1 Avdat: Paz, Yellow and Aroma. Super Zion at Midreshet Ben-Gurion, km 124
04km 125–170
From the Zin wadis to Yeruham
From Sde Boker towards Yeruham, past the Byzantine Mezad Zin, crossing Nahal Hatsats, Nahal Ahdir and Nahal Revivim, with a climb to almost 690 m. At the end you pass the Helmoniot nature reserve and the Yeroham stronghold and ride into Yeruham.
Along the way
km 127.7Mezad Zin, 300 m off the route
km 135.7Nahal Hatsats, until km 140
km 147.4Nahal Revivim
km 161.4The Yeruham Helmoniot nature reserve
km 167.8Water in Yeruham
Resupply · km 166.3 Yeruham: Sonol and Mayushka
05km 170–228
Dimona, Har Yahal and Arad
From Yeruham to Dimona, then down along Nahal Dimona to about 170 m and back up more than 400 m to Har Kipon and Har Yahal. From the Har Yahal lookout you ride on to Arad, with fuel stations, supermarkets and a 24/7 store.
Along the way
km 174.6The Yeruham iris nature reserve
km 194Nahal Dimona, until km 204
km 208.9Water point
km 217.2Har Yahal lookout
km 224.4Eagles Park, Arad
Resupply · km 225.6 Arad: Dor Alon, Paz, Super Arad and a 24/7 Lee Lo La. The last fuel on the route
06km 228–262
From Arad to Masada
From Arad, at about 600 m, you drop into the Judean Desert. Kfar HaNokdim has a store, food and water, and from there you ride on above Nahal Tze'elim and down to Masada, almost at sea level.
Along the way
km 229.2Moav lookout, 300 m off the route
km 241.6Water at Kfar HaNokdim
km 244.7Birkat Tzfira night campsite, 620 m off the route
km 247.6Itamar Eliya lookout, over Nahal Tze'elim
km 259.2Masada West night campsite, paid, 180 m off the route
km 259.4Water at Masada
Resupply · km 241.6 Kfar HaNokdim: a store and food. The last shop until km 334
07km 262–305
Along the Dead Sea
South along the foot of the cliffs, crossing Nahal Kanaim, Nahal Rahaf, Nahal Levona and Nahal Mor, and up to the Ein Bokek and Nahal Bokek lookouts. From here the route plunges about 400 m along Nahal Zohar, past Mezad Zohar, to Neve Zohar, about 375 m below sea level.
Along the way
km 284.1Ein Bokek lookout
km 286.6Nahal Bokek lookout
km 290.6Unofficial night campsite, on a former oil drilling site
km 297.6Mezad Zohar
km 299.9Water at Neve Zohar
km 303.3Nahal Lot night campsite, 140 m off the route
Resupply · km 299.9 Water at Neve Zohar. No shop or fuel here
08km 305–378
Sodom and back up the Arava
Through the narrow canyon of Nahal Peratzim and across the Amiaz plain to the Sodom salt flats reserve, almost 375 m below sea level. Near Ein Tamar there is a mini market, and from there you climb slowly along Nahal Arava, past the Idan lookout and Ein Marzev, back to Ein Yahav.
Along the way
km 308.9The Nahal Peratzim canyon
km 310.9Mishor Amiaz night campsite
km 332.4Ein Plutit, the Hidden Spring, a pool of warm brackish water
km 350.8Idan lookout, over Nahal Arava
km 355.3Water at Idan
km 374.7Jebel al Hufeira viewpoint
Resupply · km 334.2 A mini market near Ein Tamar. Taco grocery at Idan, km 356
Where to sleep
Over seven days, for example: the Be'erot campsite in the crater (km 55), Upper Ein Avdat (km 115), Masada West (km 259) and Mishor Amiaz (km 311). Between Sde Boker and Arad there are no campsites near the route, so plan those nights in Yeruham, Dimona or Arad.
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 16.2Free
חניון לילה נחל עומר30 m off the route
km 33Free
חניון לילה הר� �שא70 m off the route
km 40.5Free
חניון לילה מיצד נקרות100 m off the route
km 55.1Paid
חניון לילה בארות10 m off the route
km 71.9Free
חניון לילה חורשת קק"ל - מצפה רמון180 m off the route
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.
km 0.3–0.8
Grocery ×2A café or restaurant
km 1.4
A café or restaurant
km 55
A café or restaurant
km 70.9–71.8
Delek, Grocery11 cafés and restaurants
km 72.6–72.8
Fuel station, Lasha Bakery4 cafés and restaurants
km 73.9–74.5
Shufersal Sheli, Grocery5 cafés and restaurants
km 108–108.1
Paz, yellowA café or restaurant
km 124.1–124.3
GroceryA café or restaurant
km 166.3
Sonol
km 168.1–168.6
2 cafés and restaurants
km 187.1–187.2
Ten, Paz, Machsanay Hashook3 cafés and restaurants
km 224.3–224.6
Dor Alon, Paz, Yishparo center +1A café or restaurant
km 225.5–226.324/7
Dor Alon, Lee Lo La, Grocery +14 cafés and restaurants
km 226.6–227.4
Grocery, Super Arad2 cafés and restaurants
km 241.6
GroceryA café or restaurant
km 334.2
Mini mart
km 356
Grocery
km 377.5
A café or restaurant
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.
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.
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.
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.
