Page 100 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Israel & Petra

98 ❯❯ Israel and Petra Area by Area

Hiking through the pale-walled ravines of Ein Avdat National Park
Ein Avdat National Park
5 possible. In ancient times, the
Nabataean Spice Route between
MAP B2 • Route 40, 32 miles
(51 km) S of Be’er Sheva • (08) 655 Petra and Gaza crossed the crater.
5684 • Egged bus 392, Metropoline
Qumran National Park
bus 60 • Open summer: 8am–5pm; 7
winter: 8am–4pm • Adm • www. MAP F5 • Route 90, 12 miles
parks.org.il (20 km) S of Jericho • (02) 994 2235
One of Israel’s most stunning walks • Open summer: 8am–5pm Sat–Thu;
is along Ein Avdat’s Nahal Zin gorge. winter: 8am–4pm Sat–Thu; closes 1 hr
The white-walled ravine has springs earlier Fri • Adm
feeding ice-cold glassy pools. From In 1947, a Bedouin shepherd found a
the lower entrance, the walk passes cave full of jars containing the Dead
a waterfall, a poplar grove, and rock- Sea Scrolls. They had been hidden
hewn steps before a final clamber up from the Romans 2,000 years ago by
metal ladders to the upper car park. a desert community of ascetic Jews
Ibex are often seen on the escarp- who awaited the Messiah. Many of
ment. The grave of David Ben-Gurion the scrolls are on display in the
is located in Midreshet Sde Boker, Israel Museum (see pp18–21), but
next to the lower entrance. here you can visit an archeological
site and museum. Unless it’s too hot,
Makhtesh Ramon
6 it is worth scrambling up to the
caves themselves, but allow at least
MAP B2 • Route 40, 50 miles
(80 km) S of Be’er Sheva • Visitor 2 hours and take lots of water.
Center: (08) 658 8691; open summer:
8am–5pm Sat–Thu; winter: 8am–4pm
Sat–Thu; closes 1 hr earlier Fri • Adm THE DEAD SEA
Israel’s version of the Grand Canyon, No place on earth is lower than
this is the largest erosion crater in the Dead Sea, which is over 1,400 ft
the world, some 25 miles (40 km) (427 m) below sea level. So while water
long and 1,310 ft (400 m) deep. It flows into the Dead Sea, it cannot flow
is scattered with mountainous rock out. Over the eons, salts and minerals
formations and laced with hiking and have accumulated, bringing the Dead
Sea’s salinity up to 34 percent, around
biking trails (take a map). Jeep tours, ten times that of the ocean.
stargazing, and camping are also

Eyewitness Travel – Top 10 series LAYERS PRINTED:
Two-column, 8.5pt grid “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v.1.9)
096-099_Top_10_Israel.indd 98 19/06/2017 12:58
Date 24th June 2015
Size 100mm x 191mm