Near Eilat

The beauty of the red granite mountains that tower over Eilat matches that of the coral reefs. Many tours are organized for hiking and exploring but few are available for English-speaking tourists. The SPNI field school (see Accommodations) has Hebrew maps of paths (NIS30), and will help translate. Many of the sites around Eilat are accessible by taking northbound buses, such as #393, 394 or 397. Especially in the high season or on Sundays and Fridays, your trip will require advance planning, as these buses fill up with travelers and Israelis on longer trips. Without reservations, you may be stuck at the bus station. Even worse, you may not be able to get back to Eilat when you want to if the southbound bus is full.

Mt. Tz’fahot is a convenient hike with great views, and starts from the field school itself. The trail begins at the left end (toward Egypt) of the fence which separates the highway from the field school complex. Walk around the outside of the fence until you begin to see the green-and-white marks that indicate the official trail. A 45-minute climb takes you to the summit. From here you can follow the blue trail north which drops you back down to the Club Inn Hotel near Aqua Sport beach. A ten minute stroll down the blue trail leads to a saddle. From here you also have the option of following the wadi down to the sea. The round trip takes about two hours and makes a great evening outing in summer. Don’t wander too far on paths leading south-you may find yourself making a spontaneous visit to Egypt.