Ein Avdat National Park

Ein Avdat National Park

Ein Avdat National Park is a protected area situated just off the highway 40. It consists of several canyons in a pleasant cool oasis in the middle of the Negev desert.

 

Location: Map

Tel: 08 655 5684 (info) 

 

Hours:

Apr-Sep 8 am - 5

Oct-Mar 8 am - 4 pm

 

Entrance Fee

Adult: NIS 28

Children: NIS 14

Students: NIS 24

Group (over 30):

Adult: NIS 23

Children: NIS 13

 

Open:

Summer:

Sun- Thu, Sat: 8am- 5pm

Fridays and the eve of holidays: 8am- 4pm

 

Winter:

Sun- Thu, Sat: 8am- 4pm

Fridays and the eve of holidays: 8am- 4pm

 

Description of Ein Avdat National Park

 

First evidence of human presence in Ein Avdat National Park date back 90,000 years ago when prehistoric people of the Mousterian culture first settled here. During Classical Antiquity this splendid oasis became a major stopping point at the Nabatean Incense Route that united Middle East, North- East Africa and India. Several settlements and military forts were established around the time. As Roman Empire went into a decline the area was largely abandoned. First Christian monks began to flock here to find solitude and peace in the middle of the Negev desert. They used natural caves and gave them the shape they required. To this day you can find numerous living cells, cave churches and cisterns spread through out a region.

 

There are two entrances to Ein Avdat National Park and most tourists enter from the North (lower) entrance located near Ben Gurion family grave and Midreshet Sde Boker. South (upper) is located 5 km to the south. One of the most popular trail in this natural park is a Wilderness of Zin nature trail that is relatively easy and is 5 km (3.1 mi) long.