South · One-way

On to the Desert

Zofer → Eilat

All my rides →

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 199 km

Total climbing 2,029 m

Highest point 345 m

Lowest point -65 m

Days 3–4 days

Difficulty Moderate

Recommended months Nov–Mar

The original P2P ride to Eilat: from Zofer in the Arava, south through the desert to the sea. About 199 km, long gaps between water points, and a finish at the sea after days of desert.

How to load the file to your device → Download GPX

Elevation profile

335 m -58 m

0 km 40 km 80 km 119 km 159 km 199 km

Route story · On to the Desert

Through the desert to the Red Sea

199 km and about 2,000 m of climbing from Zofar in the Arava to the beaches of Eilat. You ride through the Ashosh reserve and Nahal Paran, cross the Arava by Yahel, Ketura and Yotvata, pass through Timna Park and drop into Eilat. This is the original P2P route to Eilat: a long desert, distant water points, and a finish at the sea.

One-way · Zofer3–4 daysNov–MarModerate

199km

2,029m climbing

109.8km, longest stretch without fuel

3fuel stations within 300 m

5water taps along the way

9night campsites near the route

Between Tzukim (km 16.3) and Yotvata (km 126.1) there is no fuel station, shop or water point on the route: 110 km. The only water on the way is at the Nahal Barak campsite, 2 km off the route. Carry water for the whole stretch and confirm it before you go.

Firing zones on the way

The route crosses 2 firing zones, about 19 km of 199. Entering a firing zone requires advance coordination and approval, and zones can be closed on weekends and holidays too.

Firing zone 50 km 88–98 Southern Command coordination center 08-9902926
Firing zone 1001 km 110–122 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Boundaries from OpenStreetMap (source: IDF) and may be out of date.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 →

This story works without signal

Install the site as an app and save the route for the field. The map, elevation profile, fuel stations, water taps and campsites stay on your phone and open without internet.

Free, no sign-up.

The route at a glance

Fuel stationGrocery or supermarketWater tapNight campsite

01km ⁦0–27⁩

From Zofar to Tzukim

You leave Zofar, pass Khan Derech HaBsamim and reach Moah, with an ancient fortress and caravanserai and an Israel Trail library. Then into the Ashosh nature reserve, along Nahal Ashosh and Nahal Tsofar, past the Sheluhat Omer lookouts. Tzukim has the last shop until Yotvata, km 126.

Along the way

km 2.4Nahal Omer night campsite
km 6.8Israel Trail library at Moah
km 6.9Moah fortress and caravanserai
km 8.4Ashosh nature reserve
km 12.1Sheluhat Omer lookout, 340 m off the route
km 16.3Tzukim night campsite, 480 m off the route

Resupply · km 16.3
Tzukim: Dor Alon and Alonit 24/7. After that no fuel or shop until Yotvata, km 126

02km ⁦27–67⁩

Nahal Barak and Paran

You continue south through Nahal Barak and Nahal Eshet, past Paran and the Paran lookout. On the way, the Eshet reservoir, with a pergola and benches above it, and Nahal Menuha. The track climbs gradually, to about 210 m at the end of the section.

Along the way

km 31.3Nahal Barak night campsite, with water, 2 km off the route
km 32.3Nahal Barak
km 44.3Paran lookout
km 47.2Eshet reservoir lookout, 300 m off the route
km 53.6Nahal Menuha

Resupply · km 31.3
Water at the Nahal Barak campsite, 2 km off the route

03km ⁦67–127⁩

Along the Arava

The long, empty stretch of the route. You cross Nahal HaArava and ride south past the Gharandal farm, Yahel and Ketura, through Nahal Ketura and Nahal Grofit, and over the route's high point, about 350 m. At the end of the section you reach Yotvata, with a fuel station and a restaurant, the first since Tzukim.

Along the way

km 67.4Nahal HaArava
km 77.2Gharandal farm
km 84Nahal Yaalon, by Yahel
km 105.2Nahal Grofit
km 126.1Ya'alim campsite, 250 m off the route

Resupply · km 126.1
Yotvata: Sonol and the Yotvata restaurant

04km ⁦127–150⁩

Shaharut, Samar and Nahal Mangan

From Yotvata you continue south past the Zugan Shaharut campsite and Hai-Bar Yotvata, pass Samar and its ancient desert kites, and reach Nahal Mangan, with a campsite and an Israel Trail library. At the end of the section you enter Timna Park.

Along the way

km 131.9Zugan Shaharut night campsite
km 140.1Hai-Bar Yotvata night campsite, paid, 560 m off the route
km 142.1Samar West desert kite, an ancient hunting trap
km 147.5Nahal Mangan night campsite and Israel Trail library
km 150Timna Park campsite, with water

Resupply · km 150
Water at the Timna Park campsite

05km ⁦150–172⁩

Timna Park

The richest section of the route. You climb about 150 m, past Spiral Hill and an ancient workshop and smelting furnace, then pass Slaves' Hill and the reconstructed Tabernacle to Timna Lake. From there you descend through the Slag Valley, with heaps of slag from the ancient copper industry, toward Be'er Ora.

Along the way

km 152.9Spiral Hill
km 154.6An ancient workshop and smelting furnace
km 158Slaves' Hill, 230 m off the route
km 162.1Full-size model of the Tabernacle
km 163Timna Lake
km 170.7Slag Valley, 280 m off the route

Resupply · km 161.9
King Solomon Khan, with water

06km ⁦172–199⁩

Evrona and the beaches of Eilat

From Be'er Ora you descend past the Evrona lookout and Ein Evrona, ride by the salt ponds and the flamingo lookout, cross Nahal Shehoret and Nahal Roded and pass the bird-watching park. The finish is on Eilat's north beach, with dozens of restaurants along the sea.

Along the way

km 174.8Evrona lookout
km 178.9Ein Evrona
km 184.2Flamingo lookout
km 192.5Eilat bird-watching park
km 196.4Seagulls Beach
km 197.3Eilat Marina

Resupply · km 196.6
Eilat: restaurants along the beach and water. Paz and Neemans 24/7 at km 198.6–198.7

Where to sleep

Over two days, the Ya'alim campsite (km 126.1) or Zugan Shaharut (km 131.9), after the Yotvata services. Over three days, Nahal Barak (km 31.3, 2 km off the route, with water) and Nahal Mangan or Timna Park (km 147.5–150).

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 2.4Free

חניון לילה נחל עומר 30 m off the route

km 16.3Free

חניון לילה צוקים 480 m off the route

km 126.1Free

חניון יעלים 250 m off the route

km 127.3Free

חניון לילה גן עצמון 1,330 m off the route

km 131.9Free

חניון לילה זוגן שחרות 20 m off the route

km 140.1Paid

חניון לילה חי בר יטבתה 560 m off the route

km 147.5Free

חניון לילה נחל מנגן 50 m off the route

km 150Free

חניון פארק תמנע 130 m off the route

km 169.6Free

חניון לילה באר אורה 850 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.

km ⁦16.3–16.7⁩24/7

Dor Alon, Alonit A café or restaurant

km 126.1

Sonol A café or restaurant

km 161.9

A café or restaurant

km ⁦196.3–197.3⁩24/7

Grocery, SuperMarket 30 cafés and restaurants

km ⁦197.5–198.4⁩

Grocery ×2, Mini supermarket 13 cafés and restaurants

km ⁦198.6–199⁩24/7

Paz, Neemans, Grocery 8 cafés and restaurants

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.