Did you know that more than 60% of Israel is covered in desert?

Let’s head south and appreciate a profound trip down into the Negev and Judean deserts and a chance to explore the nature and flavors of Israel’s south. This tour takes a unique focus on the magical scenery and the calming energy that the wind whipped sands and lands provide.  Here our tour is one full of nature walks, and the strange sight of water flowing through some of the driest places on earth. 

As we head south, a stop in the Judean Hills invites us to visit the Beit Guverin UNESCO site and a favorite place to start our southern adventure.  From here, we continue to the magical wonders to be found in and around Sde Boker for a breathtaking lookout from the Ben Gurion burial site and a glimpse into the wilderness of Zim.  Making our way into the valley is one of the more beautiful hikes in Israel, found at Ein Ovdat, where the ancient Nabatean people would guard the coveted waters that provided a lifeline on the spice route.  

Further onward we make our way to our overnight destination at the charming town of Mitzpe Ramon, where we have the chance to dine at one of the cooler restaurants in town and enjoy this desert paradise.  

The second and 3rd day are a mix of hikes in the Makhtesh crater, one of the more spectacular phenomena to be found in Israel if not the world over.  Break bread with the local Bedouin, head out for a Camel ride in the most majestic scenery this land can offer and finish the day at the Nana Winery who have managed to make some of Israel’s best wines in the harshest of climates. 

For guests wishing to cover a little more terrain, we hop over to the Judean desert in the Jordan Valley for a visit to Masada and the historical desert fortress built by king Herod as his winter getaway.  Enjoy this epic hike (or cable car ride) overlooking the Dead Sea and the mountains of Moab, over the border in the kingdom of Jordan.