Israel round trip with a rental car one week nature and culture

From and to Tel Aviv, Israel

2 weeks | May 2015 (low season)| road trip | with partner

flight: from Schiphol to Tel Aviv
travel guides: Reise Know How & lonely pl

Car rental: be careful, because there are a lot hidden costs. My advice: book a navigation system in advance, otherwise they charge you a lot.

Where to stay? we stayed in hostels, hotels and airbnb, was a perfect mix. We just booked the first night in the Eco Lodge in advance, the airbnb always one night before.

Mizpe Ramon (two nights)

Tel Aviv to Mizpe Ramon: we drove at night, you can not drive fast, but driving itself at night was no problem. We woke up in the morning with a stunning view in the Negev desert after our first night in the Negev Eco lodge:

ten mud huts with a view from the bed to the crater of the desert. An experience I still remember, you can sit outside with a glass of wine at night and watch the stars:

What to do in Mizpe Ramon

# go to the point of view, which is a „dromedar view point“ (stunning!!)

# drive with the car in the crater and watch the sunset:

En Avdat

A deep, white gorge with a waterfall (fee 10 €). You can make a two hours hike with an ascension in the rock wall (it is heigh!!) where you can enjoy a beautiful view ultimately to the gorge: it is a great experience, don’t miss it:

Massada

„the fortress of Massada was built in the year 30 BCE by King Herod, whose architectural feats have left their mark throughout the country.“

The Massada youth hostel is just 5 minutes away from the way up to Massada. You can sleep in a private room: not cheap 100 € per night but view to the death sea, a pool and super breakfast with fresh fruit. We didn’t book in advance which was no problem.

Visiting Massada

# Leave the hostel early enough in the morning: be on the way up at least at 10 a.m. then they close the gate cause of the heat otherwise you miss the amazing hike
# bring enough water and wear good hiking shoes
# the fortress is big and there is a lot to see (around two hours)
# you can take the cable car down or just climb down.

The Dead Sea

En Gedi Spa: there is a shuttle (5 minutes every 15 minutes) to the dead sea, which is one of the few options to enter the dead sea. The entrance fee also includes the use of facilities like pools and sunshade.

Jerusalem

We booked an airbnb room but had a problem with parking near the center, so we recommend to book a hotel with a fix parking place for a similar price.

What to do in Jerusalem

# Area ‚Zikhron Josef‘: a nice market and local restaurants

# visit impressive city – but be aware, it is exhausting, we just stayed two nights what was enough

# walk around use the free App: go Israel which has short explanations to the different places.

Check the opening hours for the places you want to visit and in advance!

Jordan Valley

Beautiful nature and a relaxed drive with the car from Jerusalem to Nazareth.

Nazareth

We recommend to book a room in the Hotel Rimonim with a stunning view (bt bad breakfast)- ask for 4th floor! Especially at night, enjoy the view with a glass of wine (and forget about the breakfast..):