Discover Israel through its striking contrasts: coral reefs in the Gulf of Eilat, the natural fortress of Masada in the Judean Desert, the site of a former port city on the Mediterranean coast, and routes that cross the country. Nature experiences, historic sites and different ways to explore an area on foot or by bike give the trip a range of different highlights.
When choosing what you’d like to experience on your trip, it’s worth keeping these contrasts in mind. Would you like to snorkel at the reef, discover landscapes and historic sites, or make a longer route the focus of your trip? The places and trails featured here each offer a distinct way to experience Israel; you can choose according to what you’d like to see and do.
Coral Reefs and Desert Landscapes
At the Eilat Coral Beach Nature Reserve, visitors can snorkel at the reef. Snorkel masks can be rented at the beach. The reefs in the Gulf of Eilat are home to corals, fish and a wide variety of unique living creatures. The underwater world is therefore a highlight in its own right: it’s not just snorkeling, but also the diversity of reef life that defines this natural environment.
Masada offers a striking contrast in landscape. The natural fortress lies in the Judean Desert and affords views of the Dead Sea. Here, the desert setting, distinctive terrain and panoramic views come together. Masada offers a different kind of discovery from snorkeling in the Gulf of Eilat: instead of a reef ecosystem, the focus is a natural fortress in an arid landscape.
Port City History and Holy Sites
Caesarea National Park lies on Israel’s Mediterranean coast and includes the site of a former port city. The Roman theater is also part of the site; today, it is used as a concert venue. In Caesarea, a historic port city site meets a present-day use for the theater. Visitors interested in history will find both here, without the theater’s current use for concerts replacing the site’s earlier significance.
The Bahá’í Holy Places connect sites in Acre and Haifa: the property includes the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh in Acre and the Shrine of the Báb in Haifa, along with the gardens surrounding them. The Bahá’í shrines in Haifa and Western Galilee are visited as part of the Bahá’í pilgrimage. These sites lend the trip a religious and cultural dimension; their significance is reflected in the shrines and associated gardens.
The biblical Tells also show the breadth of Israel’s historic landscapes. The property extends across Israel, from Tel Hazor in the north to Tel Beer Sheba near the Negev Desert in the south. The Incense Route in the Negev Desert is another distinct highlight. This property includes the Nabataean cities of Haluza, Mamshit, Avdat and Shivta, along with associated fortresses and cultural landscapes. Together, these places represent not a single attraction, but a series of cities and landscape features connected with the historic route.
Hiking and Cycling
Visitors who want to explore Israel on foot can choose from routes of different scales: the Hermon Stream (Banias) Nature Reserve has the Hanging Trail. The Israel National Trail, also known as Shvil Israel, is a marked and safe hiking trail through Israel, stretching more than 900 kilometers. One name refers to a trail within the nature reserve, while the other refers to a long route through the country. This distinction can help you decide whether to focus on a single hiking experience or a route that spans the country.
Mountain bikers have another way to see the country on the Israel Bike Trail. The route runs from north to south, connecting Mount Hermon with Eilat. Unlike the Israel National Trail, it is designated as a mountain biking route; its named endpoints mark its course between north and south. Hiking and cycling are therefore different ways to travel, and the routes should not be treated as interchangeable.
Whether you’re interested in reef life, desert landscapes, historic sites or a route, each of the themes described offers a different focus.
Discover more destinations: Bat Yam, Ramat Gan, Nazareth, Herzliya, Nahariya, Kfar Saba, Maagan, Shaar Hagolan, Lavi, Ma'alot Tarshiha, Mikhmoret, Acre, Kibbutz Kinneret, Sharona, Daliyya, Bethlehem, Nir David, Bet Oren, Moran, Northern District, Kfar Kish, Mizra‘, Nachsholim, Nes Ammim, Ammiad, Shlomi, Bet She'an, Southern District, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Jerusalem, Safed, Netanya, Haifa, Liman, Ein Al-Asad, Kfar Shamai, Tze'elim, Yehud-Monosson, Elifelet, Sitria, Sde Eliezer, Ma'ayan Baruch, Dalton, Ilaniya, Nes Harim, Isfiya, Elkosh, Kfar Vradim, Udim, Rishon LeZion, Tur'an, Safed, Kfar Yehezkel, Ne'ot Golan, Yanuh-Jat, Amnun, Giv'at Yo'av, Ramat Hasharon, Evron, Kadarim, Chorazin, Naham, Mevo Modi'im, Daliyat al-Karmel, Sde Tzvi, Nir Akiva, Shomera, Yahel, Hazon, Tuval, Hurfeish, Betzet, Avdon, Givat Yeshayahu, Ein Yahav, Shtula, Sde Yitzhak, Ma'ale Gamla, Jisr az-Zarqa, Bruchim Qela' Alon, Ya'ara, Ein Ya'akov, Afikim, Kahal, Amuka, Kfar Rut, Keramim, Lohamei Hagetaot, Menara, Kfar Ruppin, Kfar Blum, Amir, Sde Yoav, Ramat Tzvi, Manot, Geva Carmel, Beit Hashita, Haon, Even Menachem, Caesarea, Kfar Hess, Beit Alfa, Sallama, Kfar Bin Nun, Nahalal, Beit Hanania, Lehavot Habashan, Nimrod, Havatzelet Hasharon, Mevaseret Zion, Hosen, Gan Ner, Gonen, Amirim, Almagor, Yuval, Yesod Hamaala, Kibbutz Ginnosar, Rosh Pinna, Metulla, Ramot Naftali, Vered Hagalil, Malkiyya, Shefayim, Shoresh, Ein Gev, Gesher Haziv, Beit Hillel, Ra'anana, Mazkeret Batya, Ein Harod, Sde Nehemia, Petah Tikva, Hagoshrim, Gidona, Kerem Maharal, Parod, Ein Hod, Ezuz, Kfar Tavor, Kerem Ben Zimra, Migdal, Yokne'am, Hoshaya, Yavne'el, Ein Tzurim, Hararit, Tzofar, Alonei Abba, Livnim, Mi'ilya, Arbel, Neve Zohar, Kfar Szold, Ani'am, Yarka, Kfar Baruch, Bustan Hagalil, Kafr Qasim, Shomria, Kiryat Anavim, Kabri, Paran, Menahemia, Gornot Hagalil, Abirim, Adi, Kiryat Ono, Eshtaol, Almog, Vered Yeriho, Holon, Mikhmanim, Shivta, Ka'abiyye-Tabbash-Hajajre, Nov, Shefer, Hila, Kokhav Ya'ir, Hadera, Central District, Judea and Samaria, Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut, Jericho, Kefar Aharon, Khavat Yair, Hashmona'im, Kibbutz Snir, HaZore‘im, Yonatan, Sha'al, Yeroẖam, Matta‘, Kidmat Tsvi, Giv'at Ze'ev, Odem, Hukok, Kalia Beach, Kfar Adumim, Moshav Ramot, Had Nes, Gevulot, Geva Binyamin, Gadot, Elon, Eli Ad, Ein Zivan, Ein Kinya, Avnei Eitan, Alonei Habashan.
