Ramon crater jeep tour, guided tours Mitzpe Ramon

Ramon crater or Machtesh Ramon, in the heart of the Negev desert mountains, is the largest erosive crater in the world. Visiting the crater and its surroundings reveals an amazing stratum of geological layers with endless colors and shapes, unique formations, minerals, and natural beauty.

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Please check out our special offer: the most beautiful evening - night tour: a 4x4 desert tour in the Ramon crater, combined with a bonfire, stargazing, and an astronomy workshop.

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This a special tour for travelers and visitors that would like to experience the Negev desert, through its beautiful sites, nature reserves, and national parks. Following your areas of interest that are close to your heart, we can build together a beautiful tour plan and tour the desert area between Mitzpe Ramon and Sde Boker. Please contact us for more information.

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Our Jeep tours are planned to enable all travelers from any place and age to get to know the desert through the exciting experience of riding jeeps in the beautiful desert paths and the unforgettable view of the Ramon Crater, we try to illustrate the amazing geological phenomena found in Ramon Crater and to stimulate all our senses in different flavors, and the special atmosphere of the desert environment.

We invite you to feel and look at the desert plants, the stone, the special minerals, and the animals. Undoubtedly, this is the best way to enjoy our magical desert in one of the places that must be visited in the world.

On our short introduction tours to Ramon crater, we will introduce to you the highlights of the area and let you experience the best of the Negev desert. Ramon crater is the largest erosion crater in the world and it’s one of the most amazing geological formations on planet Earth.

Ramon Crater Jeep Tour Itinerary:

Our tours depart from Mitzpe Ramon, directly down on road 40 to the depths of the crater, a few minutes later, we leave the paved road and enter the 4x4 desert trails on the most ancient area of Ramon crater, the geological layers that we find there are 240000000 years old and they were created as sedimentary rock layers in the depths of the ocean. it's a great area for Fossils searching and hope to find some.

Later on, we will climb up on a steep and thrilling 4×4 trail to the most amazing observation point at Mt. Gvanim. From that point, we have a panoramic view, 360 degrees around the whole rim of the crater and its beautiful colors and shapes, next, we will continue driving on 4×4 trails to wadi Zochalim (the Dinosaurs valley) and cross the road to Wadi Gvanim, continue to Saharonim spring and the ancient Nabatean Khan, next driving through the thrilling ascent of Dekalim to Nekarot horseshoe canyon visit the beautiful gorge of Nekarot. This is a great point for a coffee break. Later on, continue driving through wadi Ardon and its Famous dykes (geological phenomenon).

Next, we will visit Beerot campground for a toilet break and then drive to the southern rim of the crater along the pipeline road, and enter the wide riverbed of Wadi Nekarot, along with the riverbed we have a chance to meet some of the local animals in their favorite habitat and taste some desert plants.  Later on, we will get back on the road and return to Mitzpe Ramon.

This is our full 4-hour tour itinerary, and there are other versions of 2 or 3 hours.

We start our day tour in Mitzpe Ramon at a very beautiful observation point at the Camel lookout point. Then we will drive on trails along the Northern Ramon ridge and the upper Zin valley, the new desert vineyards, and the Bedouin settlements.

This area is the border of the ancient biblical and Byzantine settlements and along the track, we will see and understand the way those settlers succeeded to develop amazing agriculture in the dry desert climate, we will see their followers: the Bedouins and the new desert vineyards.

*We can be hosted in additional payment at wadi Aricha’s Bedouin Shepherd village and get to know the Bedouin culture and history through stories and tales.

Later on, we will return to Mitzpe Ramon to lunch in one of the restaurants or snack bars. After lunch, we will drive down from Mitzpe Ramon on road 40 down to the crater and enter the lowest base layers that were formed in this area during the Jurassic era, we can feel and touch amazing stones and rocks, clay, and sand in endless colors and shapes then we continue our tour and drive to Saharonim spring and the ancient Nabatean Khan.

We walk a bit around and then continue our tour down on Dekalim ascent to a Nekarot horseshoe canyon, a dry river bed, stop for a coffee break in one of the most beautiful spots and continue on driving through wadi Ardon and its dikes (geological phenomenon), We stop under the shade of the Acacia trees and get to know the desert world of plants and wildlife. Next, we will visit Beerot campground for a toilet break.

Next, we will drive across the crater on the pipeline road to the south end at Saharonim Mountain, continue to the main road, and then 4×4 trails to wadi Zochalim (reptiles). Then we will climb up on a 4×4 trail to the most amazing observation point at Mt. Gvanim.

From that point, we can look around 360 degrees and get the whole dimension of the crater, its beautiful colors, and shapes, and get to know and understand this unique geological phenomenon. Afterward, we get back to the main road and drive back to Mitzpe Ramon.

3-hour Special desert tour in the Ramon Crater at Sunrise:

The tour departs at dawn to the Ramon Crater and gives us an interesting experience through the changing colors of dawn and sunrise. We'll cross the crater and turn off the main road, then climb with our jeep up to an amazing vantage point at the top of Mount of shades. Here, at that amazing place, we will take a break and watch the day begins while the sun is rising above the mountains of the desert, later we will drive through wadi Nekarot and wadi of shades. In these early hours, we may see the native animals, the ibex, the gazelle, the wild ass, and sometimes even a wolf or a fox.

Between sunset and nightfall in the desert, combined tour with a campfire, stargazing, and Astronomy workshop in Ramon Crater.

The most beautiful time of the day in Ramon Crater is just before sunset, in our tour, we will cross the crater through 4x4 desert trails, visit the most interesting places in the crater, and later we will climb uphill to watch a spectacular sunset. Later on, during the twilight time and nightfall, we will drive to a nice spot in the desert, light up a campfire and sit by the fire, drink coffee and tea and watch the beautiful and clear desert sky and the twinkling stars. Tour Departing about 1½ hours before sunset.

*Ramon crater was declared recently as a dark sky preserve by the International Dark-Sky Association. For us, as visitors to the Ramon crater, it is an amazing way to watch the beautiful desert sky and we offer you a few ways to combine a jeep tour, stargazing, and an Astronomy workshop in Ramon Crater.

Meeting at Mitzpe Ramon at your accommodation place in the morning, driving all the way down to the lowest base layers that were formed in this area during the Jurassic era, we can feel and touch amazing stones and rocks, clay and sand in endless colors and shapes then we continue our tour and drive to Saharonim spring and the ancient Nabatean Khan parking place. Here we start our hike along the Nekarot horseshoe trail.

Following the Israeli national trial. It’s a beautiful and easy hike that takes 21/2- 3 hours. The trail is in the beautiful Wadi Ramon and the ruins of Khan Saharonim a 2000-year-old Khan on the famous Nabatean incense route. Wadi Ramon joins Wadi Nekarot and we will continue our trail surrounded by the massive boulders and the deep canyon walls.  Later we will climb back on the Nabatean trail, back to our jeep.  After a coffee break in one of the most beautiful spots and continue driving through wadi Ardon and its dykes (geological phenomenon).

We stop under the shade of the Acacia trees and get to know the desert world of plants and wildlife.  Next, we will visit Beerot campground for a toilet break, and next, we will drive across the crater on the pipeline road till the south end of Saharonim Mountain, continue to the main road, and then 4×4 trails to wadi Zochalim (reptiles).  Then we climb up on a 4×4 trail to the most amazing observation point at Mt. Gvanim.

From that point, we can look around 360 degrees and get the whole dimension of the crater, its beautiful colors, and shapes, and get to know and understand this unique geological phenomenon.

Tour prices include: one jeep accompanied by a professional tour guide, water supply, coffee, and tea.

Usually, we set up meeting at Ben Gurion’s tomb at Sde Boker, then drive down to the Zin valley along the serpentine route and then along the wadi of Zin, towards Ein Aqev, one of the only desert springs that are abundant with clear water throughout the year. A few minutes' walk from the parking lot and we are at the water spring. We can dip in the cool pool and rest for a while, then we will return back to our jeeps and drive through the Zin valley towards Ein Zik and Ein Shaviv, the largest Oasis in the Negev desert.

We walk around the oasis. This oasis is known as one of the centering of the Poplar trees, known as the Euphrates poplar, many palm trees, and unique flora and fauna around the scene. We will enjoy a coffee break in the shade and then drive back to the main road through the Zin accent.

There are various custom variations, depending on the time that suits you, we can build an itinerary of three, four hours, or a whole day at the Avdat and Sde Boker sites.

Frankincense and Myrrh are aromatic scents used in ancient times as incense in worship, essential oils, and perfumes, and were the secret of the Nabataea community's wealth.

In order to guard and be the sole trader of this precious merchandise, brought from Yemen to the Middle East, the Nabataea chose a deadly desert route, possible due to their knowledge of desert survival. On this trip, we will follow their trails in part of the world, declared as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Tour details: Usually we set up a meeting at Mitzpe Ramon and start our way along the spice route. Stop for guidance at Mt. Gevanim one of the best observation points in the crater. Then we drive along Wadi Gevanim and Ein Saharonim . Take a short walk to see Khan Saharonim, and Ein Saharonim and drive down through Dekalim accent. Our next stop is along the wide and deep wadi Nekarot and Nekarot fort.

The route follows the deep Nekarot canyon and then climbs up to Katzra fort goes down to wadi omer and meets Moa. A walk around the archaeological site of Moa and from there we continue on the 4×4 trails and road 90. From road 90 we drive on the road back to Mitzpe Ramon.

In the Negev desert, there are many amazing places, varying landscapes, and unusual natural phenomena, all of which can be seen only by engaging in 4×4 tracks and hiking to these desert beauties. Most tracks are suitable for all ages, but there are also more challenging tracks.
There are tours that include accommodation in the desert, under the sky in a tent, or in an organized campsite, for one night or more.

We can explore the famous Israeli national Trail and many other amazing tracks throughout the country.

The Negev highlands tour, a journey to the ancient and the modern culture in the desert. 

Meeting at the Beresheet hotel lobby, after the meeting and the introduction, we will drive to the western edge of Mitzpe Ramon and stop at a very beautiful observation point at the Camel lookout point. Next, we will drive northwest from Mitzpe Ramon along the shoulders of the Negev mountain and the wadi of Zin, this area is the greenest in the desert around us, and in the last years, it came to be a part of an amazing project of desert agriculture. The vineyards around us supply grapes to some boutique wineries.

Then, we will return to highway 40 and drive north towards Avdat. The ancient city of Avdat, 2000 years old is a Nabatean-Bizantine city that was the center of life in the Negev highlands for 700 years. Around the city, there were villages and farms and shepherds use to walk around with their flocks, on the black rocks around the city there are hundreds of rock engravings that can reveal to us some about their life in the desert, we will take a walk on the rock engraving trails.

Next, we will visit an authentic Bedouin tent and we will be invited to a lunch break in the tent, during our visit we will be guided by our Bedouin host that will tell us about the Bedouin heritage and their traditional way of life.

Har Karkom, Karkom Mountain, in the southwest Negev desert in Israel, is possibly the biblical Mt. Sinai. Excavations on the mountain, made by Professor Emmanuel Anati, discovered that it was a major Paleolithic cult center, many of the findings are evidence that Har Karkom was a sacred mountain to ancient cultures. along with tens of thousands of years. Almost 40000 rock engravings, flintstones tools and weapons, shrines and altars, headstones, and traces of settlements were discovered around the mountain.

Geographically, its location is on the suggested route of the children of Israel in the exodus from Egypt. Among more than 20 other mountains, no one can tell for sure, where is Mt. Sinai, and in our day tour we will explore the mountain and learn about this amazing site. Its location is on the suggested route of the children of Israel in the exodus from Egypt.

Its location makes it accessible only by jeeps and since it’s not allowed to use the border road for security reasons, the only way now is to drive down south and then west, about three – three and a half hours drive from Mitzpe Ramon. Since our way to the mountain is through a military firing range there is a need for permission from the army to enter the area and it is possible to visit there only on Saturdays.

Generally, the meeting is in Mitzpe Ramon since it is the nearest point to the mountain. It's more than 3 hours to drive from Mitzpe Ramon on road 40 south and drive through the Ramon crater, through the desert of Paran, and then to Mt. Karkom.  When we get to the mountain we start our hike to the mountain. Climbing up to the mountain followed by many rock engraving art and archaeological sites on top of the mountain. The view from the top of the mountain towards the Sinai and Paran deserts connects us to the biblical story and the unique sites of the desert culture together with an abundance of findings with ritualistic and sacred characteristics that are part of our guidance.

The hiking to the mountain is for about 3-4 hours and then we will return to Mitzpe Ramon. Please take into account that a very long and intensive day, over 12 hours. Usually, it requires an accommodation in Mitzpe Ramon on the night before the tour to make it possible to start the tour early in the morning.

An overnight stay gives you a perfect experience from the place you have visited. Our tour begins in the late afternoon, continuing through the time of sunset, twilight time, and later into the night. After a two hours 4×4 tour of the desert and after watching the sunset, we will settle down in a campground. Next, we will prepare dinner in a desert style on Poyke pots, sit around the campfire enjoying the cozy atmosphere of the night and watch the stars. Next, we will retire to sleep in tents.

At the first light of the day, we will wake up and watch the sunrise. Next, prepare breakfast and get back on the road.
There is an option to return back to town or to continue to tour the desert by jeep or hiking.