Mitzpe Ramon and Makhtesh Ramon – Visitors Guide
Mitzpe Ramon is a small town in the Negev desert. And it is located on the edge of Makhtesh Ramon, a fascinating geological place.
There are many attractions, tracks, and other activities in this area. But we will start with maps to get familiar with the area.
Map
Mitzpe Ramon is located in the Negev desert, approximately 80 km south of Beer Sheva. And Mitzpe Ramon is a good point to start exploring Makhtesh Ramon.
Here is a helpful map of the Ramon Crater (created by Tamuz – Own work, CC0, Link)
You can see Mitzpe Ramon with road #40, the Israeli National trail, viewpoints, and several other attractions on the map. And here is a more detailed map from the brochure at Makhtesh Ramon Visitors Center.
Note: you can click on the map to enlarge it.
Interactive map of the area:
Directions
The most convenient way of getting around in the Negev is by renting a car (check rentalcars.com to see rates). You can get to Mitzpe Ramon by bus, and here is the link to Moovit with preset origin and destination. But, if you want to hike in the Ramon Crater or get to more distant points, then buses will not be good enough.
The drive from Israel’s center area takes 2-2.5 hours (depending on your original location and traffic). I would advise making this route during daylight since most of this road is not illuminated at night.
Info about Makhtesh Ramon and Mitzpe Ramon
Before we begin, here is a short explanation about the Makhtesh and Mitzpe Ramon. Makhtesh Ramon is a geological feature in the Negev desert (the world’s largest “erosion cirque”). And on the edge of this crater, you can find the town of Mitzpe Ramon. The crater is 40 km long, 6 km wide (on average), and 500 meters deep. Together with the surrounding area, it is Israel’s largest national park, the Ramon Nature Reserve.
Mitzpe Ramon (literally Ramon Lookout) is a town in the Negev desert of southern Israel. The name Ramon comes from the Hebrew “Romaim,” meaning Romans. It is situated on the northern ridge at an elevation of 860 meters (2,800 feet), overlooking a sizable erosion cirque known as the Ramon Crater. In 2017 it had a population of 5,240.
Mitzpe Ramon was founded in 1951 as a camp for the workers building Highway 40.
Source: Wikipedia
The only settlement in the area is the small town of Mitzpe Ramon, located on the northern edge of the depression.
Source: Wikipedia
Attractions
In the following table, you can find information about attractions in this area. And below the table, you can find details about each place.
| Attraction Name | Details | Location | Rating/Number of Reviews on Google |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makhtesh Ramon Visitors Center | This visitor center tells the story of Makhtesh Ramon and Colonel Ilan Ramon. For more info, see: see Makhtesh Ramon Visitors Center. | Ma’ale Ben Tur Street, Mitzpe Ramon | 4.6/6,419 |
| Bio Ramon / Hay Ramon | Living Desert Museum is a small wildlife center that presents various desert animals. | Near Makhtesh Ramon Visitors Center | 3.9/486 |
| The Albert Promenade | Hiking along the Rim of Ramon Crater from the visitors center. Moreover, you can extend your hike in each direction. | Near the Visitors Center | |
| Abseiling | There are usually guides by the visitors center, and you can experience abseiling for a fee. | Near the Visitors Center | |
| Alpaca Farm | At this farm, you can see alpacas, and lamas, enjoy horseback rides and stay in suites and cabins. | Several km from Mitzpe Ramon | 4.5/934 |
| Stargazing | Since light pollution is low, many people come here to watch the stars. You can even find Wise Observatory 5 km west of Mitzpe Ramon. | ||
| Hiking in Makhtesh Ramon | There are many tracks of different lengths inside the crater. You can find details below. | ||
| Other activities | In the other activities section below, I listed additional popular options like cycling or joining a Jeep Tour. |
Makhtesh Ramon Visitors Center
Makhtesh Ramon Visitors Center, also known as Makhtesh Ramon – Nature Reserve and Visitors Center, is probably one of this area’s most popular attractions. This visitor center tells the story of Makhtesh Ramon and Colonel Ilan Ramon.
You can find a detailed description below. And at this point, I will only present you with this quote from the site:
Makhtesh Ramon Visitors Center – offering an experience that combines the life story of the first Israeli astronaut, Colonel Ilan Ramon, with the story of the largest Makhtesh in the world and its unique natural phenomena. The Visitors Center is built on the rim of Makhtesh Ramon, at the edge of Mitspe Ramon, overlooking the Makhtesh scenery and serving as a center for visitors to the Makhtesh.
Note: for a detailed guide, see Makhtesh Ramon Visitors Center.
Bio Ramon / Hay Ramon
Bio Ramon – Living Desert Museum, also known as Hay Ramon, is located near the visitors center, and this small wildlife center presents various desert animals. You can find more info here.
Hay Ramon – live desert park. Here is a fascinating encounter with the small animals of the desert, the majority of which hide and are concealed from our eyes. About 40 species are represented on the site, among them: lizards, snakes, turtles, porcupines, hedgehogs, falcons, and sand rats (gerbils), and more. The animals are in enclosures that simulate their natural environment. With the animals’ help, we can learn about their unique habitat and the biological and behavioral adaptations that enable them to live in a desert environment. The purpose of the Hay Ramon is to raise awareness of the preservation of nature. There is a botanical garden of desert plants around the desert park, representing six different habitats typical of the Negev with the vegetation characteristic of each one. A shelter for species of endangered plants is presently being established within the park.
The Albert Promenade
There are many hiking options in this area. Mitzpe Ramon is located on the rim of the Makhtesh, thus allowing stunning views of the surrounding area.
Moreover, the Israel National trail goes along the border of the Makhtesh. Thus you can hike along the rim. Additionally, there are several excellent viewpoints along the route.
Abseiling
Near Makhtesh Ramon Visitors Center, and probably at other points, you can experience abseiling.
You can purchase tickets for abseiling. They were not going down all the way. Instead, they descended only about 20 meters. So this activity is suitable for even younger kids.
Alpaca Farm
A little further from Mitzpe Ramon, you can find Alpaca Farm. You can not only see alpacas and lamas but enjoy horseback rides as well.
Stargazing
Since light pollution is low, many people come here to watch the stars. You can even find Wise Observatory 5 km west of Mitzpe Ramon.
If you plan on stargazing, you should check the weather in advance. I planned to shoot star trails during one of my visits, but it was too cold. I did bring hot clothes but did not expect near-zero temperatures (in February) with freezing winds. Thus I had to cancel my plan. So, if you plan to shoot stars, and Mitzpe Ramon is one of the best places in Israel, or you are just going to stay in this area, expect cold temperatures and bring proper clothing. In some winters, it is even snowing at Mitzpe Ramon.
Hiking in Makhtesh Ramon
Hiking inside Makhtesh Ramon is an everyday activity. I mentioned above that the Israel National trail goes along the border of the Makhtesh in the Mitzpe Ramon area. But it also goes through the crater. There are plenty of different routes, including part of the National Trail or various points of interest. Here are the most popular tracks.
HaMinsara
The carpentry, the sawmill, or HaMinsara allows seeing a unique phenomenon inside Makhtesh Ramon.
HaNagariya (“Carpentry Shop”) – a concentration of prism-shaped sto