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.
From Arad to the Dead Sea, the Arava and the Big Crater
260 km and more than 4,200 m of climbing, from Arad and back. You drop from Arad to the Dead Sea and Sodom, ride the Arava to Ein Hatzeva, climb Ma'ale Akrabim to the Big Crater and return through Yeruham and Dimona. Open desert, the towns of the periphery, and very few services along the way.
Loop · Arad3–4 daysNov–AprHard
260km
4,225m climbing
84.6km, longest stretch without fuel
7fuel stations within 300 m
5water taps along the way
21night campsites near the route
There is no fuel station or shop between Ein Hatzeva (km 130.5) and Dimona (km 217.1), about 85 km that include Ma'ale Akrabim, and there are no services between Neve Zohar (km 68.5) and Ein Hatzeva either. The only marked water points are in Arad, at Kfar Hanokdim and Neve Zohar, and the Ein Yorke'am campsite (km 167.7): carry enough water for every section.
Firing zones on the way
The route crosses 6 firing zones, about 55 km of 260. Entering a firing zone requires advance coordination and approval, and zones can be closed on weekends and holidays too.
Firing zone 522km 14–16Southern Command coordination center08-9902926
Firing zone מתכיםkm 155–157, 160–162, 163–165Southern Command coordination center08-9902926
Firing zone 504km 176–186Southern Command coordination center08-9902926
Firing zone 510km 189–192Southern Command coordination center08-9902926
Firing zone 500km 192–214Southern Command coordination center08-9902926
Firing zone 503km 224–245Southern 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Boundaries from OpenStreetMap (source: IDF) and may be out of date.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 0–35
Down from Arad
You leave Arad, at about 600 m, by the Moav lookout, and descend into the desert past Zman Midbar and Kfar Hanokdim. Then the Itamar Eliya lookout above Nahal Tze'elim and Har Kanaim, and from there you keep dropping along Nahal Kanaim, to below sea level.
Along the way
km 1Moav lookout, over the Dead Sea and the Moab mountains, 300 m off the route
km 13.4Kfar Hanokdim, water
km 16.4Birkat Tzfira night campsite, 630 m off the route
km 18.9Itamar Eliya lookout above Nahal Tze'elim
km 24Har Kanaim and its night campsite, 810 m off the route
Resupply · km 13.4 A grocery, food and water by Kfar Hanokdim
02km 35–69
To the Dead Sea
You cross the stream beds that run down to the Dead Sea: Rahaf, Mor and Ye'elim. After the top of Ma'ale Yair you reach the Ein Bokek and Nahal Bokek lookouts, then descend along Nahal Zohar, past Mezad Zohar, to Neve Zohar, about 380 m below sea level.
Along the way
km 37Nahal Rahaf
km 48.9Top of Ma'ale Yair, 440 m off the route
km 53.2Ein Bokek lookout
km 55.3Nahal Bokek lookout
km 65.4Mezad Zohar
km 67.8Water at Neve Zohar
Resupply · km 68.5 Delek at Neve Zohar. The next one is at Ein Hatzeva, km 130.5
03km 69–103
Sodom and the Sodom salt flat
South from Neve Zohar: the Nahal Lot campsite, the Nahal Peratzim canyon and the Flour Cave, and the Amiaz plain. After the Dead Sea Works lookout you enter the Sodom salt flat reserve and reach Ein Plutit, the Hidden Spring, a natural pool of warm, brackish water. The route's lowest point, about 385 m below sea level, is on this stretch.
Along the way
km 71.6Nahal Lot night campsite
km 77.3Nahal Peratzim and the Flour Cave
km 79.2Amiaz plain night campsite
km 83.1Dead Sea Works lookout
km 97.5Sodom salt flat nature reserve
km 102Ein Plutit, the Hidden Spring
04km 103–145
The Arava and Ein Hatzeva
South along the Arava, crossing Nahal Aviya, Nahal Yerusha and Nahal Sayif, climbing gradually about 400 m, from about 330 m below sea level to above it. At Ein Hatzeva a Paz station and Aroma are waiting, and from there you continue past Ir Ovot, biblical Tamar, into the Makhteshim–Ein Yahav reserve.
Along the way
km 115.1Nahal Aviya
km 123.7Derech HaArava night campsite, 370 m off the route
km 131.8Ir Ovot, biblical Tamar, 470 m off the route
km 138Makhteshim–Ein Yahav nature reserve
Resupply · km 130.5 Ein Hatzeva: Paz and Aroma. After it there is no fuel or shop until Dimona, km 217
05km 145–185
Ma'ale Akrabim and the Big Crater
From lower Nahal Zin and Khan Tzafir the route's big climb begins, up the winding Ma'ale Akrabim to the Yemin plain. From there you enter the Big Crater: Ein Yorke'am, the Coloured Sands and the quartz arenite, and leave it by Har Avnun. Almost 650 m of climbing in all, from sea level to about 630 m.
Along the way
km 145.6Lower Nahal Zin night campsite
km 149.9Ma'ale Akrabim
km 162.3Yemin plain night campsite
km 167.7Ein Yorke'am night campsite, with water, 610 m off the route
km 169.2The Coloured Sands and their night campsite
km 174.9Har Avnun lookout, 350 m off the route
Resupply · km 167.7 Water at the Ein Yorke'am campsite, 610 m off the route
06km 185–222
Yeruham, Mount Etzem and Dimona
From the crater you ride on to Yeruham, past the Yeruham stronghold and through the Yeruham national park and the Helmoniot reserve. Then up to Mount Etzem, about 650 m, and down past the Dimona reservoir into Dimona, with fuel stations, a café and the Indian Jewish Heritage museum.
Along the way
km 186.4Yeruham stronghold, 380 m off the route
km 187.3Yeruham national park
km 190Helmoniot Yeruham nature reserve
km 208.2Mount Etzem
km 219.5Indian Jewish Heritage museum, Dimona
km 220.3Ben Gurion park night campsite, 390 m off the route
Resupply · km 217.1 Dimona: Paz, Ten and Cafe Cafe
07km 222–260
The highlands on the way to Arad
The last section crosses the high ground between Dimona and Arad. Early on you pass the route's highest point, about 660 m, then ride by Mount Dayya and Johnny's Cave, along Nahal Hemar and Nahal Kina, and enter Arad by the Eagles Park.
Along the way
km 231.8Mount Dayya
km 235.1Johnny's Cave
km 238.4Har Kadim, 300 m off the route
km 252.3Nahal Kina
km 260Eagles Park, Arad
Resupply · km 259.9 Arad, at the finish: Dor Alon, Paz, Aroma and the Yishparo centre
Where to sleep
Over three days, for example: the Amiaz plain (km 79) and the Coloured Sands (km 169). Over two days, lower Nahal Zin (km 146), at the foot of Ma'ale Akrabim.
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.
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 13.4
GroceryA café or restaurant
km 68.5
Delek
km 130.5
PazA café or restaurant
km 132.5
Fuel station
km 217.1
Paz, Ten, Machsanay Hashook3 cafés and restaurants
km 219.6
Shufersal Deal
km 259.8–260
Dor Alon, Paz, Yeynot Bittan +12 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.
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.
