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 short loop from Midreshet Ben-Gurion through the wadis and desert farms of the Negev Highlands. As the name says, there's almost no water on the way, so load up before you start. A great first desert trip.
68 km and about 780 m of climbing in a loop that starts and ends at Midreshet Ben-Gurion. Through Nahal Havarim and Ein Avdat to Avdat, up the Incense Route to almost 710 m, then a long descent along Nahal Tzinim and a climb back past Ein Akev. A short desert route, with very little water on the way.
Loop · Midreshet Ben-Gurion2 daysNov–AprEasy
68km
777m climbing
53km, longest stretch without fuel
1fuel station within 300 m
4water taps along the way
10night campsites near the route
On the way itself the only water is at Avdat (km 15.1) and Hod Akev (km 53.6), and the only fuel station and shop are at Avdat, km 15. Between Avdat and Hod Akev there are about 38 km without water, including the climb to the high point, so fill up at Avdat. Midreshet Ben-Gurion, at the start and finish, has water, a supermarket and food.
Firing zones on the way
The route crosses one firing zone, about 12 km of 68. Entering a firing zone requires advance coordination and approval, and zones can be closed on weekends and holidays too.
Firing zone 520km 19–32Southern 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Boundaries from OpenStreetMap (source: IDF) and may be out of date.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 0–13
Nahal Havarim and Ein Avdat
You leave Midreshet Ben-Gurion, cross Nahal Karkash and pass the Havarim lookout, with a view over the Zin valley. Then along Nahal Havarim, past Khan HaShayarot and the Upper Ein Avdat campsite, to the Ein Maarif waterfall and rock engravings near Nahal Zin.
Along the way
km 4.5Havarim lookout, over the Zin valley
km 6Upper Nahal Havarim night campsite
km 8.4Khan HaShayarot, 170 m off the route
km 9.7Upper Ein Avdat night campsite
km 10.6Ein Maarif waterfall, 350 m off the route
km 11.7Rock engravings
02km 13–28
Avdat and the Incense Route
At Avdat, the Nabataean city, you find the only fuel station, shop and water on the route until Hod Akev. From there you climb along the Incense Route, past ancient milestones, to the route's highest point, almost 710 m.
Along the way
km 15Avdat, the Nabataean city, 430 m off the route
km 15.1Water at Avdat
km 22.1Milestones on the Incense Route
km 25.2More milestones
Resupply · km 15 Avdat: Paz, Yellow and Aroma. The only shop on the way
03km 28–46
Down Nahal Tzinim
Here the big descent begins, about 450 m, from almost 700 m to about 240 m. Along Nahal Akev, past the Nahash Tzame storage caves, then the Nahal Tzinim gorge to Nahal Tzame. There is no water on this whole section.
Along the way
km 28.1Nahal Akev
km 33.1The Nahash Tzame cisterns
km 34.7Nahal Tzinim, until km 42
km 38.9Ein Sharav night campsite, 610 m off the route
km 45.3Nahal Tzame
04km 46–68
Ein Akev and back to the Midrasha
You climb back up, about 200 m, through the Gan HaPsalim national park. The Hod Akev campsite has a water tank, and soon after you pass Ein Akev, one of the largest springs in the Negev, with a deep pool. The last kilometres run through Nahal Divshon and the Serpantinot campsite, to Ben-Gurion's tomb and the Midrasha.
Along the way
km 51.3Gan HaPsalim national park
km 53.8Hod Akev night campsite, water and toilets
km 59.5Ein Akev, a deep pool all year
km 64.7Nahal Divshon
km 66.2Serpantinot night campsite
km 67.6Ben-Gurion's tomb
Resupply · km 53.6 Water at the Hod Akev campsite
Where to sleep
For one night, the Hod Akev campsite (km 53.8), right on the route, with water and toilets. Halfway round there is the Ein Sharav campsite (km 38.9), 610 m off the route, without water.
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 3.5Free
חניון לילה בור חוורים380 m off the route
km 6Free
חניון לילה נחל חוורים עליון10 m off the route
km 9.7Free
חניון לילה עין עבדת עליון40 m off the route
km 9.7Free
חניון לילה עין עבדת עליון40 m off the route
km 9.7Free
חניון לילה עין עבדת עליון40 m off the route
km 12.8Free
חניון לילה המחצבה290 m off the route
km 38.9Halfway
חניון לילה עין שרב610 m off the route · Free
km 53.8Water and toilets
חניון לילה חוד עקב10 m off the route
km 57.8Water and toilets
חניון לילה משטחים לבנים720 m off the route
km 66.2Water and toilets
חניון לילה סרפנטינות20 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 0.1
2 cafés and restaurants
km 15
Paz, yellowA café or restaurant
km 67.6
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
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.
