+ Start your adventure by renting a car! Not for the faint of heart! This will be the easiest way to travel to the spots we’ve listed below. However, if that’s not for you, it is possible to use the extensive Israeli bus system.

+ We recommend a multiple-day trip to the south of Israel. There are a few lodging options down there, ranging from your typical hotel to the more expensive and luxurious spa options by the Dead Sea, as well as a hotel in Ein Gedi.

+ Whether you’re coming south directly from the airport or coming from Jerusalem, we recommend stopping at Machane Yehudah shuk and stocking up on snacks and easy, portable food for your trip south.

Here’s a sample itinerary:

EXPERIENCING ISRAEL:
FOR THE ADVENTURE SEEKER

- Start early with a quick breakfast at your hotel.
- Visit Ein Gedi Nature Reserve and hike the natural oasis. It’s a good idea to get here early – it gets hot and the lines get long. In addition, most of the hikes can take hours to complete, so put on your step counter and be prepared for a very active day! As of our last visit, it was possible to swim in some of the waterfalls - bring your suit! Ein Gedi is almost like a mini Grand Canyon, and the wildlife is both exotic and beautiful. Be prepared for little to no shade and foot traffic to visit the biggest waterfall (a popular tourist attraction because it’s the easiest to get to – there are multiple other waterfalls along some of the hiking trails). We recommend a picnic lunch!
- Head back to your hotel for a shower and a simple dinner.


- Hike the switchback trails of Masada! Again, start as early as you can get there in the morning, so you can watch the sun rise from the top of the mountain (Masada opens 1 hour before sunrise). The view from the top of Masada is unmatched. Bring your breakfast!
- If you’re into the history of Masada, you can easily spend the morning exploring this ancient palace. However, if that’s not your thing, go ahead and head over to the Dead Sea.
- The Dead Sea has a few options – for free, you can float in the saltwater and slather yourself in black mud. For a higher price tag, check out one of the spas and have a relaxing afternoon out of the heat. There are day pass options available, and they also have very nice restaurants if you don’t feel like a beach lunch. Remember, the “beach” at the Dead Sea is black mud and rocks, not white sand.
- Head back to your hotel for a shower and a simple dinner.


- Start with a quick breakfast at your hotel.
- Pack up your stuff – it’s time to move! Find a hotel near the Ramon Crater. It’s about a two-hour drive from the Dead Sea / Ein Gedi area.
- The Ramon Crater (Mitzpe Ramon) is the coolest hike in Israel. There is nothing else quite like it. It is the largest erosion crater in the world. If you like hiking and natural, rustic beauty, this is the excursion for you! An absolute must-see for the adventurer. Plan to be here the entire day – there is so much to see, and the hikes are long. Bring a picnic lunch!
- Israel Extreme (israel-extreme.com) offers ATVs and sandboarding at the Ramon Crater (among other things). You might want to check them out before you go!
- After a day at the crater, you could head back to your hotel for a shower and a simple dinner, OR bring a picnic dinner with you and stay until after dark for the stargazing. You won’t believe what you can see away from the city lights! There are actual stargazing tours offered ($$$), or you can do it on your own.


- Start with a quick breakfast at your hotel.
- Time for a daytrip! Eilat is about a two-hour drive from the Ramon Crater area.
- Recommended snorkeling locations in Eilat are Coral Beach and Three Sisters – they are world-famous! Three Sisters is billed as an underwater safari!
- If you don’t feel like getting wet or the weather isn’t cooperating, Eilat also has an underwater observatory. Coral World International Underwater Observatory at Almog Beach is an approachable way to see the wonders of the water without renting SCUBA or snorkeling gear.
- For a higher pricetag, Eilat also offers the opportunity to swim with the dolphins. Dolphin Reef has guided group snorkeling tours that last about an hour – if you love the idea of seeing wildlife in its natural habitat, this is for you!
- Eilat is a touristy beach town, so there are lots of options for grabbing a quick lunch. Of course, you can also pack a picnic and eat on the beach!
- When you’ve seen all you wish to see, pack up and head back to your hotel in the Ramon Crater area for a quick dinner, a shower, and a warm bed.


- Start with a quick breakfast at your hotel.
- Time for a daytrip! If you don’t want to go to Eilat, Timna Park is about an hour-and-a-half drive from the Ramon Crater area. The other option is to visit Eilat on Day 4 and then make the 15-minute drive to Timna Park at the end of the day and set up camp at their campground. Wake up ready to explore the park!
- Timna Park an Israeli National Park full of history and geology. Mount Timna was the world’s first copper mine, and there are multimedia displays throughout the park to educate visitors on the importance of this historic site. The towering sandstone columns are breathtaking – so perfect that they look manmade but are, in fact, completely natural. The beautiful landscape includes a lake – in the desert! – and diverse wildlife. It is truly spectacular!
- Timna Park provides a guided tour for groups ($$$), or you can explore on your own.
- Pack a picnic lunch or take advantage of the onsite restaurant.
- When you’ve seen all you wish to see, pack up and head back to your hotel in the Ramon Crater area for a quick dinner, a shower, and a warm bed. OR, head back to your campsite at the park for dinner over the fire and a sleeping bag under the stars!


- Start with a quick breakfast at your hotel or campsite.
- It’s time to head back to Jerusalem! On the way, Beit Guvrin is about an hour-and-a-half drive from the Ramon Crater area.
- There is a special program allowing anyone to join an archeological dig for a day on a real site – check for availability (08-6811020).
- The main attractions at Beit Guvrin are the 800+ bell-shaped caves, some of which are linked by underground tunnels. They are beautiful and unlike anything you’ve seen before!
- Pack a picnic lunch or visit one of the food trucks, wineries, or breweries in the area for some great food!
- When you’ve seen all you wish to see, pack up and finish the drive to Jerusalem to prepare for Shabbat. Keep in mind if you’re driving back on a Friday that stores will start to close around 1:00.

- Hot tip: if you are parking your rental car in Jerusalem overnight, it might be tricky to find a good parking spot, or you might not know if where you’re parking is legal. Do your best and be thoughtful of others, but don’t worry if you find a parking ticket the next morning – you’re a tourist, so you don’t have to pay it.


SHABBAT SHALOM!

DAY ONE

DAY TWO

DAY THREE

DAY FOUR (option A)

day four (option B), or day 5 (if you brought camping supplies)

DAY five (or six)

DAY seven 

EXPERIENCING ISRAEL:
FOR THE ADVENTURE SEEKER

+ Start your adventure by renting a car! Not for the faint of heart! This will be the easiest way to travel to the spots we’ve listed below. However, if that’s not for you, it is possible to use the extensive Israeli bus system.

+ We recommend a multiple-day trip to the south of Israel. There are a few lodging options down there, ranging from your typical hotel to the more expensive and luxurious spa options by the Dead Sea, as well as a hotel in Ein Gedi.

+ Whether you’re coming south directly from the airport or coming from Jerusalem, we recommend stopping at Machane Yehudah shuk and stocking up on snacks and easy, portable food for your trip south.

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