Finding Peace in the Desert

For those looking for a quite respite within the vast outback of the Negev desert, hiking amongst the eroded canyons set between the mountain tops, scaling the ridges of the desert hills and discovering abundant waterfalls amongst the dry pink and yellow tones of the desert, nothing beats the Sde Boker region. Located approximately 45 minutes south of Beersheva, Sde Boker is the perfect starting point for any number of hikes. The kibbutz itself was the home of Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion. A modest field school complete with rooms for six people offers lodging and meals to groups and individuals. A small grocery is also available for essential purchases while the kibbutz dining hall provides necessary meals to those that want. But the big attraction are the numerous hikes that abound in the area. We hiked two different routes, Nahal Avdat (known as Ein Avdat) and Nahal Zin. Nahal Avdat took us by the dry and wet riverbed then up and out of the canyon via metal steps and handrails that had been carefully drilled into the bedrock walls. Nahal Zin was a bit more challenging offering a steep descent into the canyon as well as careful walking along the connecting mountain ridges. Both valleys were important trade routes in ancient times.
Ein Avodat charges a small fee to enter (approximately $5 per person) and is open daily from 8 to 4 during the winter, 8 to 5 during the summer and is managed by Israel's Park Service. Nahal Zin is freely accessed and there is no entrance fee.