Nature & Hiking In Israel
“Israel by Foot” is the #1 Portal for Hiking In Israel and nature lovers visiting Israel! We provide practical information for the independent tourist that wants to explore Israel “Off The Beaten Track”.
Nature and Hiking In Israel

“Israel by Foot” is the #1 Portal for Hiking in Israel and nature lovers visiting Israel!! We provide information for the independent tourist that wants to explore Israel “Off The Beaten Track”. Our hikes are accompanied by High-Quality Hiking Maps and GPS Files.
ISRAEL TOP TEN HIKES
EILAT RED CANYON
The Red Canyon in the Eilat Mountains is one of Israel’s most beautiful yet accessible hikes. Twenty minutes drive from Eilat, and it offers a real desert experience also for beginners. If you looking for more demanding hikes in the area, check our Eilat Hiking section.
WADI QELT
Less than a 30 minutes drive from Jerusalem’s city center, hides one of Israel’s most beautiful hikes. A desert oasis, dotted with monasteries, ancient aqueducts, and great swimming opportunities. You can make a short family trip to Ein Prat Nature Reserve, tackle a two days trek from Jericho to Jerusalem along Wadi Qelt, or anything in-between.
MOUNT ARBEL
One of the most iconic viewpoints in Israel! A climb to the summit should be on the shot-list of every hiker visiting Israel. Besides the view, you also visit an ancient fortress carved into the cliff and an ancient synagogue.
MAKHTESH RAMON
The biggest erosion crater in the world creates a unique desert landscape. There are various tours you can make in and around it. A more demanding but rewarding experience is to hike to the summit of Mount Ardon. For a real adventure tackle this Six days desert trek that reaches Makhtesh Ramon after four exciting hiking days.
EIN-GEDI RESERVE
The contrast between water and desert is always magical. Ein-GEDI is the best place in Israel to experience it. The Ein Gedi nature reserve offers leisurely family strolls (Nahal David and Nahal Arugot) but also sturdy and long hikes that climb on the mountains above and offer amazing vista on the Dead Sea. For the ultimate experience, embark on a five days desert trek from Masada to Ein Gedi.
NAHAL AMUD
The Amud stream is the most attractive in the Galilee Mountains. Plenty of shade under the enormous trees and water flow all year. The hiking options range from easy walks up to serious hikes. Another option, it the Yam le Yam trek, which starts on the Mediterranean Sea and ends in the Sea of Galilee (Through the Amud Stream).
EIN AKEV & EIN AVDAT
The Zin valley under Kibbutz Sde-Boker is packed with beautiful hiking trails. You must tackle at least one of them. An easy walk to Avdat spring or a longer hike to Akev spring is a must. If you want a deep desert adventure, tackle this Six days desert trek that passes through Ein Akev.
MASADA SNAKE PATH
A dream for many tourists is to view the sunrise from Masada over the Dead-Sea. With our super-detailed guide, you will find out all you need to know about climbing to Masada. For the ultimate experience, embark on a five days desert trek from Masada to Ein Gedi.
YEHUDIA RESERVE
If you have time for only one hike in the Golan Heights, the Yehudia natural reserve is the go-to area! An excellent selection of hiking trails for all levels and amazing natural pools to keep you cool.
MEDITERRANEAN COAST
Beaches in Israel are not only suitable for drinking beer in Tel-Aviv. If you know where to look, there are a few secluded areas that also offer excellent hiking trails near the water. If you want the best one, visit Dor-Habonim beach.
ISRAEL BY FOOT – SERVICES FOR HIKERS IN ISRAEL
Self-Guided Day-Hikes
Israel Hiking Maps
Multi-Day Self-Guided Treks
Biblical Walks in the Holy Land
Guided Hiking Tours
Scenic Road-Trips
Short walks and Unique picnic spots
Free consultation for hikers in Israel
Logistic services for hikers and mountain bikers
SELF-GUIDED DAY-HIKES
Israel by Foot offers a program of Dozens of self-guided Day-Hikes, covering the country from North to South. The hikes are planned from ½ day to a full day outing, with distance ranging from 5 to 15 km. In each region, we selected the best hikes. All the walks are circular so that they can be done easily with one car with no need for complicated logistics. We included many hikes that are also served by public transport to serve tourists that are not traveling on a rental car. All the information is free of charge. For 5$, it is possible to download a Hiking Map with Colored Waymarked trails of the hiking area and GPS files in GPX format for mobile applications.
ISRAEL HIKING MAPS
Israel is very well covered by a set of 19 topographic hiking maps. However, these maps are not so helpful for foreign tourists. Each map covers a large region and costs about 80 Shekels (20$). Expensive if you are planning 1-2 hikes in each area.
The maps are available only in Hebrew. Because of this, Israel by Foot offers for each hike a map in English that zooms on the specific hike area. Each such zoom map can be downloaded for just 5$ and also comes with a GPS file.
MULTI-DAY SELF-GUIDED TREKS
To serve more serious hikers, we created a program of Self-Guided Multi-Day Treks that are offered with an “Inn to Inn” Service. The program includes Desert Treks, Treks in Northern Israel, and also near Jerusalem.
The “Inn to Inn” service includes:
- Accommodation in hotels or local B&B along the hiking trail.
- Daily luggage transfer to the next accommodation.
- Maps and a GPS application for mobile phones.
- Detailed briefing meeting.
- 24/7 phone support.
- A full pack that will enable you to trek trouble-free.
BIBLICAL WALKS IN THE HOLY LAND
For hikers that are more connected to the bible, we have a special section on the website. We created a set of hikes that follow some of the most famous bible stories, like the Battle of David and Goliath or the Elijah challenging the Baal prophets on Mount Carmel. All these walks are excellent hikes on their own, but the biblical story brings a unique added value.
HIKING IN ISRAEL WITH OUR GUIDES
Join one of Israel by Foot experts, and dedicated hiking guides for an unforgettable day outdoors
SCENIC ROAD-TRIPS
Israel by Foot offers a program of self-guided Road Trips, covering the country from North to South. The Road Trips are planned for ½ day – 2 days outing. All the itineraries combine Scenic driving with visits and short hikes to unique Natural, Historical, and Archaeological attractions along the way. Each Road Trip includes:
- Overview Map.
- Local Hiking Maps with Colored Waymarked trails for the stops along the drive.
- GPS files for the Short Hikes.
- Detailed descriptions and explanations.
- Google Maps links to all the landmarks along the drive.
SHORT WALKS AND UNIQUE PICNIC SPOTS
In some regions, we added on top of the Day-Hikes a bunch of very easy hikes. Easy walks up to 3 Km long, will bring you to amazing spots in Israel’s Nature.
All the spots and walks selected here are straightforward to reach and super easy to navigate when done with our Detailed hiking Maps & GPS Track Files. (Offered as free downloads)
FREE CONSULTATION FOR HIKERS IN ISRAEL
I am personally answering any questions regarding your plans for hiking in Israel. This service is provided free of charge with absolutely no obligation. My goal is that any tourist that would like to explore deeper into Israel’s nature will get the most out of his visit to our country! If you need more in-depth consulting including hiking maps and detailed itineraries I am providing also a Paid Consulting Service at an affordable rate.
ISRAEL HIKING FAQ’s
Why Hike in Israel?
The most striking feature of Israel’s landscape is its variety. This small area (Smaller than New Jersey) has a dramatic desert in the South, the Green Galilee & Golan mountains in the North, and many historical and archaeological sites that blend into the natural surroundings. If you have not hiked in a desert before, prepare yourself for an unforgettable experience! we also have the weather on our side. The winter months, which present unfavorable hiking conditions in most northern countries, are the best months to hike in Israel. The best month to hike in Israel are December to April.
What is the best season to Hike in Israel?
Generally speaking, the best all-around Israel Hiking season is December to April, when daytime temperatures will range usually between 5 – 15 °C. However, it also depends on the area you plan to hike in. In the Desert, the chance of rain is always very low and outside the winter months, the temperatures will usually be too hot. Therefore the best period would be December-February while November & March-April are also possible but less recommended. In the north the best period is March – April, when temperatures are still fair, Chances for rain are much lower and the landscape is fresh and Green. December-February is great temperature-wise, but the chance for a rainy period is much higher. If you are looking for an all-around sweet spot, I would choose March. For more details check out our Month by Month guide.
Are the hiking trails in Israel Way-Marked?
Yes!!! Israel has an extensive high-quality Way-Marking infrastructure. The marking is in the form of 3 stripes. Two White stripes and between them a stripe with the color of the trail. The long-distance trails (Like the Golan Trail) have their own different markings. In most trails, it would be very clear, but sometimes you can run into sloppy marked sections where you will not spot a marker for a while. Therefore, we strongly recommend always carrying a hiking map, and better to have also GPS track on a proper mobile phone application.
Is it safe to hike in Israel?
Unlike common belief, Israel is a pretty safe place, and hiking is not a problem at all. There has never been a reported incident of anyone, foreign or national, experiencing conflict on the trail. Contrarily, many hikers have reported that they have been welcomed both by Arab and Jewish communities through which the trail passes. Always follow the basic safety guidelines.
Are there any good hikes near Jerusalem?
YES, Jerusalem is a great Israel Hiking Hub!!
To the west, the Judean mountains are characterized by steep slopes covered with evergreen forest and many wildflowers during winter and spring. However, the main attraction for hikers is the dozens of small springs that are scattered in the area. The most accessible spots to experience them are the Sataf which is a KKL-JNF regulated park, Or the Springs trail where you can visit 5 different springs in a half-day hike. To the East starts the Judean desert. Near Jerusalem, the desert still gets some rainfall and is characterized by deep canyons that some of which have a flow of water all year round. The most famous of them is Wadi Qelt (Prat Stream), One of the most popular and rewarding hikes in Israel.
Are there any serious hiking options around Eilat?
YES!!
Unknown to many, but the noisy and touristic town of Eilat is also an amazing Israel hiking location. Within a short drive from town, you’ll be able to explore wonderful desert hiking trails. What makes the Eilat mountains range unique is the contrast of colors. The sand and rocks change sharply between Black, Yellow, and Red. in the horizon, you’ve got views into the Edom red mountains and the deep blue of the Red Sea. the most known and accessible hike is the “Red Canyon”, however many alternatives for more “serious” hikes are can be tackled in the area.
What areas of Israel have marked Hiking trails?
The country has one of the best networks of trails in the world, with more than 9000 km (5500 miles) of marked trails for hiking, biking, or jeep driving. The trails all over the country from Mount Hermon in the North to Eilat in the south, including the West Bank. The trails are usually well maintained and including and include metal ladders and handle when needed.
Is it allowed to camp in Israel?
Camping is allowed everywhere in Israel, except in nature reserves. The catch is, that the most interesting places for hiking are inside reserves, even if you didn’t pass through any gate and didn’t have to pay anything at the entrance. Inside the reserves, you are allowed to sleep only in permitted campsites. Unless noted otherwise on the map, these campsites are just plain areas in which camping is allowed, and they don’t have running water or any facilities at all. The problem is, that the location of the permitted locations is noted only in Hebrew language maps. If you plan to camp in these areas, ask locals or consult with us. We will be happy to help.
ISRAEL BY FOOT – TESITMONALIAS

For our two recent trips to Israel I purchased the maps for several hikes from Israel by Foot. The hikes are well documented and the maps are good. I downloaded the coordinates and put them in the Gaia app, and this worked well. I love to hike when on vacation but had not found much information in English for Israel.
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We did a 4 day Judean desert hike organized by Erez of Israel by Foot and it was the best experience of our time in Israel. Erez arranged everything very well. He is extremely careful and thinks about every detail. At the start of our hike, he visited us in Arad where we got briefed about the hike and all the details were explained. He works with GPS files with the hiking trails and paper maps and both were very helpful.
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Israel by Foot is the best website I have seen covering the best places to hike and experience the outdoors in Israel. As an outdoor enthusiast who frequently comes to Israel, I haven’t seen a better resource. The plethora of various possibilities, ranging from short hikes that can be done with children to longer treks and road trips, are incredible.
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