The Israel Nature and Parks Authority was recently informed that the International Dark Sky Association has officially declared the Ramon Crater to be an international dark sky reserve.

Mitzpeh Ramon visitors’ center is an ideal starting point for a tour of the Ramon nature reserve. The center contains an exhibit with an excellent audio-visual presentation on the geology of the region.

The center offers information on hiking trails, weather updates, and other points of interest in the area.
The shop offers maps and additional literature about the area

The ancient Nabbatean city of Avdat was a major stopping pint for travelers on the route between Gaza and Yemen, and provided a variety of services for travelers.

The archaeological ruins of the ancient city include the largest wine press in the area, where caravans of camels would deliver the grapes.

At the bottom of the limestone slopes are wine cellars carved into the rock and caves where the wine was stored before being transported throughout the Nabbatean kingdom.

Ramon Crater is the largest crater in Israel. Its magnificent panorama and unique geological formations make it one of Israel’s most spectacular sites. The crater contains sand dunes crossed by million year old dykes, colored sands, a spring, canyons and cliffs, and an amazing basalt rock formation known as the ‘carpentry shop’.

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link to a map of the Ramon Crater

The home of Israel’s first prime minister is a pilgrimage site for school children, youth movement members, and tourists from all over the world. The modest home at Kibbutz Sde Boker where David Ben Gurion and his wife Paula spent their last years was left exactly as it was, at Ben Gurion’s request.

The home is now a small museum devoted to his legacy where visitors can learn about one of Israel’s most important leaders and the period in which he lived.

David and Paula Ben-Gurion’s Tomb
David and Paula Ben Gurion’s Tomb is located in Midreshet Ben-Gurion and is surrounded by a magnificent park overlooking the breath-taking view of Nahal Zin. The site is especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset

Ein-Avdat is the largest natural spring in the area and one of the most popular sites for visitors to the Negev Highland. The spring’s water flows through a magnificent canyon throughout the year. Ibexes - ‘the kings of the cliffs’ - can be seen drinking from the spring or leaping up and down the canyon walls.

The trail going through Ein Avdat is easily accessible. A stone stairway leads to the upper pools. As you climb you pass 6th century hermit caves, powering poplar trees and a spectacular waterfall.

On the Avdat Plateau above the canyon are the springs of Ein Akev, Upper Ein Akev, Ein Zik, and Ein Sharav, which can be reached by land vehicles or on foot.