Hatzeva can be explored from several different perspectives: At Bein Hashitin Farm, the focus is on growing, harvesting, and preparing food together; the Vidor Center offers tours and lectures on topics related to the Arava. Nearby, you’ll also find typical desert habitats, a scenic route, and a dune with a view. When planning, it’s worth distinguishing between tailored farm experiences, regional topics, and outdoor activities.
Farm Visits and Cooking Workshops
At Bein Hashitin Farm, tours take visitors through the growing areas and include vegetable tastings and hands-on farm work. Visits must be arranged with the farm in advance. Cooking workshops have a different focus: Participants gather and harvest vegetables from the farm, then prepare a meal together with the farm team. The workshops are tailored to the character and purpose of each group. So whether a tour or a cooking workshop is a better fit depends on whether you’d like to explore the growing areas or prepare a meal together.
On Fridays, the farm hosts a farmers’ market and tours; a coffee cart is also open. Check with the farm to confirm whether the recurring Friday offering is currently taking place. This will help you plan your visit around the activities that are actually scheduled.
The Vidor Center and How to Get There
The Vidor Center offers tours and lectures on various topics related to the Arava. From Route 90, reach it via the Hatzeva Junction, taking the eastern access road toward Moshav Hatzeva. Check the directions before you set out. The center focuses on regional topics, while the farm’s offerings cover growing, harvesting, and food preparation.
Nature and Scenic Routes Nearby
Nahal Shizaf Nature Reserve preserves habitats typical of the Arava, with reddish desert sands, acacia trees, and rare plant species. The Derech HaShalom scenic route can be driven in a private car and follows the Israeli-Jordanian border through the eastern part of the nature reserve. This means the area around Hatzeva offers distinct nature experiences: protected habitats and a specific drive through the reserve’s eastern section.
Hiking at Hatzeva Hill
A trail recommendation published in 2019 describes nearby Hatzeva Hill as an easy family hike with a view; visitors can roll down the dune. The marked red trail starts and ends at Ein Hatzeva (Ir Ovot). Check the current trail conditions before setting out. This makes the older recommendation a useful starting point without presuming the trail’s current condition.
More Nature and History in the Southern District
In the wider Southern District destination, Ein Gedi Nature Reserve offers a different perspective on nature: It encompasses Israel’s largest oasis, with springs, waterfalls, flowing streams, ibexes, and rock hyraxes. A hiking trail follows the year-round Nahal Arugot to a hidden waterfall and pools in the upper reaches. Masada, also in the Southern District, represents the ancient Kingdom of Israel, its violent destruction, and the last stand of Jewish patriots against the Roman army in 73 CE. Its surviving remains include the remnants of Herod’s palaces and untouched Roman siege works, among the most complete of their kind in the Roman world.
Discover more destinations: Ein Tamar, Ein Gedi, Kfar Menahem, Elifaz, Mitzpe Ramon, Amatzia, Revivim, Giv'ot Bar.
Return to the main travel overview: Southern District.
