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.
223 km and more than 2,900 m of climbing, from Ashkelon railway station to Neve Zohar on the shore of the Dead Sea. You cross the northern Negev from west to east: along Nahal Shikma, through Lahav and Yatir Forest to Arad, then down through the desert to about 380 m below sea level. From the coastal dunes to the quiet of the desert.
One-way · Ashkelon3–4 daysNov–AprModerate
223km
2,913m climbing
97.1km, longest stretch without fuel
10fuel stations within 200 m (300 m in the desert)
13water taps along the way
11night campsites near the route
There is no fuel station or shop between Ashkelon (km 8.9) and Meitar (km 106), almost 100 km, with only one restaurant on the way, at km 64.1, and water at km 37.3 and 50.5. There are no services between Kfar Hanokdim (km 168.1) and Neve Zohar either.
Firing zones on the way
The route crosses 2 firing zones, about 7 km of 224. Entering a firing zone requires advance coordination and approval, and zones can be closed on weekends and holidays too.
Firing zone 526km 132–138Southern Command coordination center08-9902926
Firing zone 522km 169–172Southern 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Boundaries from OpenStreetMap (source: IDF) and may be out of date.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 0–30
Ashkelon and the Zikim dunes
You leave Ashkelon railway station and ride through Bat Hadar to the Holot Zikim dune reserve. By Zikim beach you meet Nahal Shikma and its lagoon, then turn east along the stream, through the Karmia reserve and past a Mamluk bridge.
Along the way
km 12.2Holot Zikim nature reserve
km 16.3The Shikma lagoon and Zikim beach
km 17.2Maglesh lookout over the Shikma reservoir dam
km 20Karmia nature reserve
km 26.3A Mamluk bridge
Resupply · km 8.9 A 24/7 Yellow and Paz. After them there is no fuel or shop until Meitar, km 106
02km 30–70
Nahal Shikma and the Ruhama badlands
You carry on along Nahal Shikma, past Or HaNer and Hurvat Marshan, with a lookout and benches. Then the kurkar caves and the Ruhama badlands, the Israel Trail library at Nahal Sad and Tel Nagila, and at the end of the section the Pura reserve and the Turkish bridge. A gradual climb, from about 40 m to about 230 m.
Along the way
km 37.3Water by the Or HaNer picnic site
km 43.9Hurvat Marshan, a lookout
km 51.4The kurkar caves
km 56Ruhama badlands lookout
km 59.7Tel Nagila, 290 m off the route
km 62.1The Turkish bridge and the Pura reserve
Resupply · km 64.1 HaShmura 215, the only food between km 9 and 106
03km 70–107
Lahav and Abu Hof
Up Nahal Shikma, past Dvir, into the Lahav area. At Abu Hof there is an ancient well and the remains of a Byzantine village and church, then the Lahav campsite and Hurvat Rimon, with the remains of an ancient synagogue. After a high point of about 500 m and Hurvat Sansana you drop to Nahal Hebron and the Meitar fuel station, the first since Ashkelon.
Along the way
km 83.7Be'er Abu Hof
km 83.6A Byzantine church, 480 m off the route
km 88.3Lahav night campsite
km 90.3Hurvat Rimon, 450 m off the route
km 101.9Hurvat Sansana
Resupply · km 106 Delek at Meitar. The next one is in Arad, km 154
04km 107–140
Yatir Forest
You climb into Yatir Forest. The Noam lookout and a row of picnic sites with water taps, then Nahal Eshtamoa, Hurvat Yatir and Krembo Hill. By the forester's house there are more picnic sites with taps, and near the end of the section you pass the route's highest point, almost 670 m.
Along the way
km 116.5The Noam lookout, water
km 117.5HaMagura picnic site, a water tap
km 121.3Nahal Eshtamoa
km 126.5Hurvat Yatir
km 129.1Krembo Hill
km 131.1HaZayit picnic site, taps
Resupply · km 116.5 Water at the Yatir Forest picnic sites, km 116.5–117.9 and 131
05km 140–160
Tel Arad and Arad
You come down from the forest into the Arad valley, cross Nahal Be'er Sheva and reach the Tel Arad national park, with a paid campsite. From there you ride into Arad, with fuel stations, a supermarket and the Arad Museum, and leave it heading east, at about 600 m, to the edge of the desert.
Along the way
km 141.3Nahal Be'er Sheva
km 144.1Tel Arad national park
km 145.8Tel Arad night campsite, paid, 250 m off the route
km 154.2Eagles Park, Arad
km 156Arad Museum
Resupply · km 154.2 Arad: Dor Alon, Paz and the Yishparo centre. Super Arad at km 156.7
06km 160–190
Down into the desert
From Arad you descend into the desert, about 650 m in thirty kilometres. Zman Midbar and Kfar Hanokdim, with a grocery and water, the Itamar Eliya lookout above Nahal Tze'elim and Har Kanaim, then along Nahal Kanaim to below sea level.
Along the way
km 168.1Kfar Hanokdim, water
km 171.2Birkat Tzfira night campsite, 630 m off the route
km 173.7Itamar Eliya lookout above Nahal Tze'elim
km 178.8Har Kanaim and its night campsite, 810 m off the route
km 179.6Nahal Kanaim
Resupply · km 168.1 A grocery, food and water by Kfar Hanokdim. No services after that until the finish
07km 190–223
To the Dead Sea
The last section crosses the stream beds that run down to the Dead Sea: Rahaf, Mor and Ye'elim. After the top of Ma'ale Yair and the Ein Bokek lookout you drop about 450 m along Nahal Zohar, past Mezad Zohar, to Neve Zohar, about 380 m below sea level.
Along the way
km 191.7Nahal Rahaf
km 203.6Top of Ma'ale Yair, 440 m off the route
km 203.7Ma'ale Yair night campsite, 690 m off the route
km 207.9Ein Bokek lookout
km 220.7Mezad Zohar
km 222.8Water at Neve Zohar, at the finish
Resupply · km 222.8 Water at Neve Zohar, at the finish
Where to sleep
Over two days, the Lahav campsite (km 88) or the paid Tel Arad campsite (km 146). Over three days, Lahav and Birkat Tzfira (km 171).
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 31.6Free
חניון לילה יער יד מרדכי1,310 m off the route
km 88.3Free
חניון לילה להב170 m off the route
km 130.8Halfway
חניון לילה דבורה1,110 m off the route · Free
km 145.8Paid
חניון לילה תל ערד250 m off the route
km 171.2Free
חניון לילה ברכת צפירה630 m off the route
km 178.8Free
חניון לילה הר קנאים810 m off the route
km 188.4Paid
חניון לילה מצדה מערב1,450 m off the route
km 192.9Free
חניון לילה תחתית נחל רחף1,010 m off the route
km 203.7Free
חניון לילה מעלה יאיר690 m off the route
km 207.8Free
חניון לילה חוף המלונות1,300 m off the route
km 213.7Free
חניון לילה צוק תמרור1,390 m off the route
Where to refuel
Fuel stations, groceries and food within 200 m of the route (300 m in the desert). 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 0.1–0.3
2 cafés and restaurants
km 1.2
Fuel station
km 2.6–3.324/7
Paz, SonolA café or restaurant
km 4.3–4.5
Fuel station, Osher Ad
km 6.6–6.824/7
תפוזA café or restaurant
km 8.924/7
Paz, Yellow
km 64.1
A café or restaurant
km 106
Delek
km 154–154.2
Dor Alon, Paz, Yishparo center2 cafés and restaurants
km 155.6–156.624/7
Dor Alon, Lee Lo La ×2, Shufersal Deal3 cafés and restaurants
km 156.7–157.3
Super AradA café or restaurant
km 168.1
GroceryA 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
Photos from the route
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.
