What are my go-to National Parks in the Negev? Well, the Negev is vast and constitutes 60% percent of the entire State of Israel. And I promise you there are lots of National Parks and reservations you can see there. So which ones are my personal go-to National Parks in the Negev?
Ein Avdat National Park
My first go-to National Park in the Negev is Ein Ovdat which is a breathtaking canyon. You will find it just Next to the Kibbutz where David Ben Gurion built his desert home! Archaeologists proved that Ein Avdat was inhabited by the famous Nabateans and then later by Catholic monks. There are numerous springs at the southern opening of the canyon empty into deep pools in a series of waterfalls. Moreover, the water emerges from the rock layers with salt-tolerant plants like Poplar trees and Atriplexes growing nearby. The hike through the park will take you about an hour up to three hours. It’s fun. But I would recommend starting early in the summer.
My Go-To Parks at the Judaean Desert!
My Go-To National Parks in the Negev – Avdat National Park
So my second go-to National Park in the Negev is Avdat National Park. This fantastic park is the famous site of a ruined Nabataean city. You will find it the very heart of the Negev Desert. Furthermore, it was the most important city on the Incense Route after Petra; between the 1st century BCE and the 7th century CE. In fact, it was founded in the 3rd century BCE and populated by different civilizations: Indeed, first were the Nabataeans! But then the Romans came. And right after the Byzantines. When the city was not in ruins, Avdat was a camping ground for Nabataean caravans passing along the ancient Petra–Gaza road in the 3rd – late 2nd century BCE.
Furthermore, Avdat is not the original name of the city. In fact, the name was altered to Avdat in honor of King Obodas I. He’s a famous Nabataean king who was worshiped as a god and was even buried there according to tradition!
So when you consider going to tour the National parks in the Negev, please do get in touch! I will plan the ultimate tour for you, with all the best places to eat and have the best wine cultivated locally.
