Top Things to do in Southern District
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What to do and see in Southern District, Southern District: The Best Geologic Formations
Discover the best top things to do in Southern District, Israel including Nahal Tzin, Ramon Crater, HaMakhtesh HaKatan, Colorful Sands Park, HaMakhtesh HaGadol, Ramon Crater, Mount Shachmon.
Restaurants in Southern District
1. Nahal Tzin
2. Ramon Crater
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,078 reviews
Reviewed By Travels-with-Claire
The Ramon Crater is truly a world wonder. Located in the Negev desert, approximately 2-2.5 hours south of Tel Aviv, it rivals the Grand Canyon in sheer scope and beauty. There are many jeep tours offered but we opted to simply drive down into the crater ourselves and hiked the well marked trails on our own. The vistas are simply beautiful and even the pictures do not do justice the the sheer beauty. As an unexpected but delightful 'add -on', we were able to see a family of magnificent Ibex, up close and personal. It was awe inspiring when the extraordinary horns first appeared on top of a cliff. More extraordinary was to see the family descent the vertical rock face with ease, cross the highway, and go wander into the crater. They are clearly accustomed to people and even from a practically touching distance, they exhibited neither aggression nor fear. Indeed, they seemed quite patient in personality. How beautiful to see them against the backdrop of the crater. Tip: Particularly in the wintertime, the Negev Desert and Ramon Crater can be prone to unexpected flash floods. At the very least, they can wash out roads that prohibit entry into the crater. At their worst, it has been documented that the floods can sweep away people and vehicles and there have been fatalities as a result. Exercise caution and check weather reports. Otherwise, do not miss this simply glorious area!
3. HaMakhtesh HaKatan
4. Colorful Sands Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By shesekmatok - Los Angeles, United States
Hello fellow travelers ???????? Type colorful sands on Waze or Google Maps and make sure u pick the one close to Yeruham. U can park here for a day trip and it's also a free campsite. No toilets. There are picnic tables. Cell reception is sketchy, but can be found. U can start a hike to the Small Fin - Large Fin - Ein Yorke'am - Nahal Hatira See my review on Hamaktesh Hagadol. Or just hike through the colorful sands. The pics tell it all. Have fun????????♀️????????♀️????????♀️????????♀️
5. HaMakhtesh HaGadol
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28 reviews
Reviewed By YitzchakMiskin - Ramat Gan, Israel
A month ago, my grown son and I went on our bi-annual, extreme hike. As is the case in all our hikes, it was an epic, life adventure. This time we travelled down to the desert in the south of the country, to the Central Negev, to explore the desert in the area of the Big Crater (Machtesh HaGadol), including climbing up two of Israel’s tallest, steepest, ascents - the Palmach ascent with ladders and handholds and narrow ledges, and the Big Fin, the main ascent to the top of the Big Crater. The hike was 18 kilometers (11 miles) and took us 9 hours to do. As usual, it was a totally awesome, worthwhile experience, and as usual, the pictures we took don’t capture the real beauty of the cliffs, canyons, mountains and the crater itself. We parked our car at the Oron Phosphorus factory and ordered a cab which took us to the dirt parking lot and trail head ("green" trail) of the Yamin Stream. We followed the Yamin Stream southward, passing natural, rock-hewn pools of water, passing huge 30-meter deep cracks in the mountainside, and passing a massive 50-meter high, dry waterfall until we came to the Hatira Stream (the stream that flows out of the Big Crater) which flows from west to east and empties into the Dead Sea. We followed the Hatira Stream westward for about 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) until we came to another 50-meter high rock wall, another impassable waterfall. At this point the trail veers to the left and we began to climb the interesting Palmach Ascent, which included climbing up metal ladders, hand-holds and railings all attached to the rock face of the steep, rocky, southern wall of the stream. We continued westward pass the beautiful Yorkean Spring, which was crowded with swimmers until we came to our spare water bottles that we had hid alongside Highway 206. We then crossed the highway and headed up the side of the Big Crater on a very steep rocky ridge called the Big Fin because from the distance it does look like the fin on the back of a fish. In reality, it is one of the “ribs” of the crater and looks more like a rib than a fin if you ask me. At the top of the crater, we had a phenomenal, breathtaking 360-degree view of the surrounding desert and the entire circle of the crater, including the lone opening (gap) in the crater that is common to all the craters in this desert (which a million years ago had allowed water that had collected in the crater to flow out and down towards the Dead Sea). We then turned south, walking along the lip of the crater with fantastic views of the inside of the crater, and finally, the trail turned eastward and down the crater back to the highway. We walked the two kilometers back to our car along the side of the highway and finally arrived at the car just as it got dark. We were exhausted, but exhilarated! This hike is a definite MUST DO for desert and nature lovers!
6. Ramon Crater
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
