Hebron, a dual-narrative tour with Abraham Tours
We meet at 8:30 am in the Abraham Hostel lobby at Ha-Davitka Square. There are a lot more people here than I had expected, considering that we will be using public transport to move around. After checking off our names on
Itinerary for Israel’s South — Negev Desert & Dead Sea
Israel's southern half is dominated by the vast Negev Desert. Summers are hot and dry but winter days are temperate and mild. While it might get cold and rainy in Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv, and the North, the South is the perfect place
Negev Desert hikes: Avdat NP to Ein Akev Spring to Sde Boker Kibbutz
My last excursion in Israel's South took me into the desert: First, I explored ancient Avdat and then I went in search of an oasis to Ein Akev. The Negev Desert covers more than half of Israel's land mass -- from
Life in the Negev Desert: Your guide to Mitzpe Ramon
Mitzpe Ramon translates to "Ramon lookout." A fitting name for a small town perched on the cliffs of Ramon Crater (Ramon Mekhtesh). Founded less than 70 years ago as a camp for the workers building Route 40 between Beer Sheva
Hiking in the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, Israel
Ein Gedi (also: En Gedi) is Israel's biggest oasis. Set between the Dead Sea and the Judean Desert, it has springs and waterfalls and flowing brooks at the foot of 200m cliffs. It is also home to Nubian ibexes and rock
How to visit Israel’s Dead Sea
One of the must-do experiences in Israel is a bath in the Dead Sea. You can book a tour from Tel-Aviv or Jerusalem. But you can also organize a visit yourself. This guide tells you all you need to know
Israel guides: Masada — sunrise, history, and stunning landscapes
"Go see the Masada sunrise!" is a sentence you will hear all over the hostels in Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv. I saw the photos and was convinced. But I didn't want to book a tour from Jerusalem (and get up at
Your comprehensive guide to Eilat, Israel
I arrived in Eilat from Aqaba, Jordan, and came here for New Year's, mainly to relax, enjoy the warm sea, and do nothing. My hostel, the HI Hostel Eilat, was a great base for doing nothing: I was sleeping in a
How to Hammam in Amman
I had arrived in Amman with rain pouring and temperatures hovering below 10°C. My large hotel room unimpressed with a weak air conditioning unit as the only source of heat outside a bed covered with thick blankets. When Jess called and suggested
The Jordan Pass & why you should visit Jordan (beyond Petra)
So you are dreaming of going to Petra but don't really know what else there is to do in Jordan? Here's a quick introduction to the wide variety of sights that make Jordan worth a visit (or two) beyond the Red