Wadi Qelt

Hiking through Wadi Qelt (Nahal Prat in Hebrew), where the arid Judean desert cracks open and reveals an oasis, is like burrowing through the pantry right after Mother Nature restocks the shelves. Three fresh-water springs nourish lush greener)’ and wildlife, threading 28km between imperious limestone cliffs and undulating ridges of bone-white chalk. Descending 395m below sea level, the wadi is a reasonably safe adventure that offers more drama than the resort oasis at Ein Gedi.

The most interesting and accessible section of the wadi extends from the spring of Ein Qelt, past the 6th-century Monastery of St. George, and down into Jericho, 10km east. The trek rakes about four hours, adventures in dawdledom excluded.

The best place to start is at the turn-off from the Jerusalem-Jericho highway about 9km west of Jericho, marked by the orange sign for “St. George’s Monastery.” Take Egged bus #73 (NIS10.50) to the turn-off from the bus stop across from the central bus station in Jerusalem; buses depart at 6:15am and 2:30pm. For late risers, Arab bus #28 to Jericho (leaving every hour) passes the same turn-off- The trip from Jerusalem takes about an hour. If you’re driving it’s possible to skip the liike and drive most of the way to St. George’s by following signs.