Ein Gedi Nature Reserve – Visitors Guide (Map, Trails and More)
Ein Gedi Nature Reserve by the Dead Sea offers trails through nature, history, archaeology, and wildlife.
Map
Ein Gedi Nature Reserve is near the Dead Sea and Kibbutz Ein Gedi.
Directions for drivers: Link to Waze and Link to Google Maps
Directions for public transport: Link to Moovit
Interactive map of the area:
And here is the hiking map of this nature reserve.
Note: you can click on the trail map to enlarge it.
Trails
As you can see from the trail map above, there are several parking lots and many starting/ending points. You can combine the trails in at least a dozen different ways.
The brochure that you receive at the entrance suggests nine different trails. And I will list the most popular and our favorites.
| # | Entrance | Trail | Level | Start Hike no later than | Hiking Time (hours) | Distance (km) | Total climb and descent (meters) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Synagogue Parking | The Ancient Synagogue | Easy | 15:30 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0 |
| 2 | Main Entrance | Wadi David and David Fall | Easy | 15:00 | 1 | 1.6 | 160 |
| 3 | Main Entrance | David Fall, Shulamit Spring, Dodim Cave, and Ein Gedi Spring | Medium | 13:30 | 3 – 4 | 3.6 | 416 |
| 4 | Wadi Arugot Entrance | The Hidden Fall | Medium | 14:00 | 2 – 3 | 4.4 | 258 |
| 5 | Wadi Arugot Entrance | The Hidden Falls and the Upper Pools | Hard | 12:00 | 4 – 5 | 6.85 | 350 |
| 6 | Main Entrance | David Fall, Shulamit Spring, Chalcolithic Temple, Ein Gedi Spring, Tel Goren, and the Ancient Synagogue | Medium | 13:00 | On average, it takes us 3.5 hours (at a moderate pace) | 4.4 | 420 |
| 7 | Wadi Arugot Entrance | The lower pools | Easy | 14:00 | 1 – 2 (depending on the stops at the pools) | 1.7 | 50 |
Notes:
- The latest start hike time is according to the winter clock. You can add one hour during the summer.
- Trail #2 is by far the most popular one. Schools and many tour guides usually choose it. Thus, if this is your first time, use it or incorporate it (like trail #3 or #6).
- #4 and #5 are also known as the short and long Wadi Arugot hikes.
- #6 and #7 are examples of hikes we did on our recent visits.
Also, remember that you have to start early to hike the longer trails. Here is the time limitation sign that you can find near David Fall.
Directions
If you are arriving by car, enter “Ein Gedi Nature Reserve” into Waze or Google Maps, which will take you to the main parking lot. Furthermore, there is a free parking lot near the entrance. You can also use the links above the interactive map.
And if you are using public transport, you can take bus #444 from Jerusalem to Eilat and exit at Nahal David Field School. Here is the updated link to Moovit. Enter your starting point, and you will get the updated directions.
Opening Hours
Sunday – Thursday and Saturday: 8:00 – 17:00 (16:00 in winter).
Friday: 8:00 – 16:00 (15:00 in winter).
On holiday eves, usually 8:00 – 13:00.
Note: Since the pandemic, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority has started limiting the number of people in each park. Thus, reservations are recommended through the official site (you can find the link below).
You can enter Wadi Arugot only before 14:00.
Note: for additional information about Arugot, see Wadi Arugot.
Entrance Fee
Adult – 28 NIS, child – 14 NIS, and student – 24 NIS. Free for National Parks annual subscribers.
If you visit several National Parks, consider purchasing a combo ticket. For additional information, see National Parks and Nature Reserves.
If you visit only the ancient synagogue, the entrance fee will be 14 NIS per adult, 7 NIS per child, and 12 NIS per student.
Note: Opening hours and ticket prices were updated in April 2024. In any case, recheck the official site before visiting. You can also make reservations at the official site.
What is the Meaning of Ein Gedi?
The name Ein Gedi consists of two words, and the literal translation from Hebrew means “the spring of the young goat.” That is, according to modern Hebrew. But in Biblical Hebrew, the word “GDI” referred to the baby of any animal.
Today, when you walk at En Gedi, you will see Nubian Ibexes drinking water from the spring. I guess our ancestors saw the same, hence the name.
Weather
Ein Gedi Nature Reserve is in the desert. So it is very hot there. Moreover, after the rain, there is a danger of floods. Hence, do not visit the Dead Sea area for several days after the last rain.
When to Visit Ein Gedi?
Due to the weather, the best season for a visit is anything besides Summer (and not after rain). Moreover, visit early in the day as it will get hot by noon. Also, if you plan to hike the longer tracks, you must come early.
And always take hats, sunscreen, and plenty of water.
Note: We prefer to visit in the winter or spring (depending on whether you plan to enter the water).
Streams and Springs
As you probably noticed in the previous section, most trails will go near water. After all, Ein Gedi is the largest Oasis in Israel.
At En Gedi, there are two streams. The main entrance is near David Stream, and the other entry is close to Arugot Stream.
There are two year-round streams in the nature reserve: David Stream (relatively short, draining an area of some 18 square kilometers) and the larger Arugot Stream (40 km in length, draining 200 square kilometers in Mt Hebron and the Judean Desert plateau). In addition, four small springs rise in the nature reserve: En David (in David Stream), En Arugot (in Arugot Stream), En Shlomit, and En Gedi spring on the hillside between the two streams. Their total output is around 3 million m3 per year, and the source of this water is the rainfall in the Judean Hills, which seeps into the groundwater and gushes up in the nature reserve area.
Note: unless stated otherwise, all quotes were taken from the official site.
Water, especially in the desert, is life. It also means human settlements. However, I will mention Archaeology and History towards the end of this guide.
I will now elaborate on trail #6.
David Stream
You can find a picnic area, restrooms, a small shop, and dog cages at the main entrance. Entrance with dogs is forbidden. Thus, there are cages where you can leave your dog at the entry. But since the enclosures are small, it is better not to bring your pet.
We encountered a herd of Nubian ibexes as we entered Ein Gedi Nature Reserve. However, we will not discuss wildlife at this point. We will discuss it later in the article when encountering a group of