Israel, Jordan · Desert Adventure

3-Day Desert Adventure Tour in Israel with Eilat and Timna Valley

3 Days Round trip from Tel Aviv-Yafo Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Cross the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea and Mt Sodom's famous Pillar of Salt
02 Visit Timna Valley to see King Solomon's Pillars, ancient copper mines, and colourful rock formations
03 Spend time in Eilat with the option to swim in the Red Sea or join a Petra excursion
04 Explore the Coral World Underwater Observatory and the Red Sea's marine life
05 See Makhtesh Ramon, Avdat, and Sde Boker on the return through the Negev

Explore southern Israel on a 3-day journey through the Judean Desert, the Dead Sea region, the Negev, and Eilat. Visit Mt Sodom's famous Pillar of Salt, the Dead Sea Works, Timna Valley with King Solomon's Pillars and ancient copper mines, and the Coral World Underwater Observatory. Along the way, discover dramatic desert landscapes, geological wonders such as Makhtesh Ramon, and historic sites including Avdat and Sde Boker. The tour also includes time to relax in Eilat or choose an optional excursion to Petra.

Start by driving from the hotel to the Coral World Underwater Observatory, where you will see multi-coloured fish and corals and observe the fauna and flora of the Red Sea museum.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Beersheva, Eilat, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Petra, Dead Sea (Israel), Mitzpe Ramon

Languages English, French, Russian

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

From Tel-Aviv through the Judean Desert to Eilat

Start from Tel-Aviv via Jerusalem, crossing the Judean Desert.

The journey continues all the way to the Dead Sea until we reach the area of Mt Sodom.

Make a short stop to see the famous Pillar of Salt, which according to the Holy Bible was Lot's wife, transfigured after she looked back at Sodom.
Travel past the Dead Sea Works and observe the production of raw materials for cosmetic products.
Continue south through the Negev Desert and visit Timna Valley. En route, see King Solomon's Pillars, ancient copper mines, and multi-coloured rock erosion formations.
Arrive in Eilat at around 3:00 pm and enjoy sightseeing in the city. We will also visit the malachite stone factory plant.

Overnight in Eilat.

Day 02

Leisure Day in Eilat with Optional Petra Tour

Enjoy a day of relaxation, or stroll around Eilat at your own pace. You may go shopping or go swimming in the Red Sea.
You can also choose to relax by the hotel's swimming pool.
Alternatively, you may join a Red Sea cruise or take a tour to Petra from Eilat (cost: $195; schedule: 07:30 am - 7:30 pm).

Overnight stay.

Day 03

Underwater Observatory, Negev Landmarks, and Return to Tel-Aviv

Start by driving from the hotel to the Coral World Underwater Observatory, where you will see multi-coloured fish and corals and observe the fauna and flora of the Red Sea museum.

Enjoy swimming with dolphins at the dolphinarium.
Around 11:00 am, return to the hotel for check-out.
Depart from Eilat via Mitzpe Ramon in the Negev Desert.
En route, visit Makhtesh Ramon, a geological feature of Israel's Negev Desert. This landform is not actually an impact crater from a meteor, but an erosion formation and the world's largest makhtesh.
Visit the ruined Nabataean city of Avdat. It was the most important city on the Incense Route after Petra. It was founded in the 3rd century BC and was inhabited by Nabataeans, Romans, and Byzantines.
Proceed to Sde Boker, a kibbutz best known as the retirement home of Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion. See Ben Gurion's hut and grave overlooking the magnificent Zin Desert.
From Sde Boker, travel via Beer Sheba and journey back to Tel-Aviv.

End of the tour.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Tel Aviv-Yafo 7 cities · 3 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

English-speaking guide/driver.
Luxurious air-conditioned private tourist car.

What's Not Included

Lodging: 2 overnights at the hotel in Eilat, as well as the fees for the driver/guide's overnight stay at the hotel in Eilat (single room).
Half-board basis in the Eilat hotel.

Know before you go

For interested tourists, it is possible to organize a one-day optional regular itinerary from Eilat to Aqaba and Petra, with a local Jordanian tour guide. The cost is $195 USD for the trip, plus the remaining expenses.
Border tax: Israeli side $31 USD, Jordanian side $15 USD, and transportation and assistant service at the border $14 USD. These fees must be paid in cash at the border to the assistant, for a total of $60 USD. The total cost for the tour is $255 USD per person.
Also available in Arabic and Hebrew.

Logistics