Negev Desert

Tell me more about the hike

The Negev desert is vast, beautiful and rarely visited. The Negev Expedition team will be attempting a 4-day hike across the heart of desert, cutting right through the Katan Crater. The terrain is rocky, harsh and unforgiving. But being in such vast nature is something quite special!

We will be self-contained, carrying our own camping gear and food supplies. Cooking in the open and camping in the wild under a blanket of stars.

Each night the team will be camping in designated camping areas in the National Park. There are no facilities, but these designated areas are designed to restrict human impact on the surrounding nature and wildlife.

Water drops will be made in advance by our support driver in pre determined areas near our camping spots. Although you will have an experienced and qualified guide with you, this hike will be a team effort. This is a chance for you to be involved in all areas of the expedition – helping to navigate, learning how to make safe decisions in the desert and experiencing what it means to be self contained.

How fit do I need to be?

You will need to have a good baseline fitness to attempt this hike. Be prepared to hike distances of up to 15km a day in hot tempretures. The route invovles some climbs. There are areas where we use permanantly attached ladders so you will want a little bit of a head for heights although the hike never gets any more technical than a basic scramble and this is only in a few sections. If you have any questions about this, please just ask – bex@loveherwild.com

The toughest challenge will likely be carrying the weight of your bag. It is important that in the months building up to the challenge you practice hiking with a heavy bag so you are in the best shape possible.

This hike is not a race! We will be taking a slow pace and lots of breaks throughout the day. This is not about covering record breaking distances but giving ourselves time to experience the desert and learn as we go.

Tell me more about Israel!

Where to start?! Israel is a diverse and interesting country….with really tasty food! Our Expedition will start in Tel Aviv, a modern and liberal city that sits right on the Mediterranean coastline. There is lots for you to see while we are there but a visit to Old Jaffa and the beach is a must!

The Expedition will finish in Jerusalem. A city that couldn’t be more different to Tel Aviv! Steeped with history there is so much to see and do. Walking through winding cobbled streets in the old city (cars are not allowed) taking in the food and crafts is a real highlight. Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Dome on the Rock and the Wailing Wall are some of the most sacred sites in the world and are all within walking distance. There will also be an opportunity to visit the famous Yad Vashem museum if you like. On the way to Jerusalem we will stop at the Dead Sea so you can experience the famous floating lake. Nothing could be more refreshing after 4 days in the desert!

Expedition Leader

This expedition is being led by Love Her Wild founder Bex Band…

“I’m a qualified mountain leader with a lot of experience visiting and hiking in Israel. Not only did I marry an Israeli (!!!) but in 2016 I hiked the full length of Israel, crossing the entire Negev desert. Unable to keep myself away from the desert (it’s quite addictive), I also hiked the length of Jordan’s desert self-supported. I’m really excited about this expedition and meeting the team ready to take on this beatuiful stretch of the Negev desert…it was my favourite section of my 2month hike across Israel!”

During our hike we will have ground support, organising our water drops and providing vehicle assistance should we need it at any stage. Including 4×4 rescue support by Yanir Yagel, one of Israel’s most experienced Negev hikers.

Itinerary

Note that this is a rough itenerary and may be subject to change. Meals included are highlighted in brackets (B – breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner).

Day 1 – Tel Aviv
The team will be arriving at different times of the day. We will meet at the award winning Abraham Hostel where we will be staying (shared rooms). It is easy to get to by public transport or taxi from the airport and is walking distance to the beach. Once all together, the team will grab our first drink together on the rooftop bar to begin getting to know each other.

Day 2 – Tel Aviv (BD)
After breakfast we will spend some time going through kit and our route so we are all fully prepared for our hike. Once done, we are free to explore the city. Old Jaffa and the Carmel market are worth a visit. Or you can take a lazy afternoon relaxing on the beach watching the surfers. We will all eat dinner together.

Day 3 – Negev (B)
We have an early start to grab breakfast (and our last shower for a while!) before our drive to reach the start of the hike in the desert. The spectacular views are instant as we get ourfirst glmips of the crater. The first day will be the shortest day in terms of distance but we still have a decent climb to get ourselves to our campspot. That night we will have our first experience of camping in the desert.

Day 4 – Negev (BL)
Day 5 – Negev (BL)
Our hike will take us up and over the mountains, past unusual rock formations and over flat terrain. The desert is hot, dry and vast but if we are lucky we may spot some wildlife – ibex, hyrax, lizards, vultures. Dinners will be Expedition food packs and bed times are usually early as the desert can be surprisingly cold at night!

Day 6 – Dead Sea (BL)
This will be our last day hiking as we get ourselves out of the Katan crater. It will feel like a huge achievement. Now get ready for a night of luxury (twin room)!! We will celebrate with a night in a hotel by the beautiful dead sea where we can float all our aches and pains away….the Dead Sea is believed to have healing powers!

Day 7 – Jerusalem (BD)
After breakfast we will head to Jerusalem. We will reach Jerusalem and our accommodation for the night (twin rooms). To make the most of your time in the city, we will drop our luggage off in storage and head straight to the old city. There are many historical sites within walking distance of the old city as well as lots of markets for shopping. We will have our final team meal together in the evening.

Day 8 – Departure (B)
For those that are flying home today, you can arrange a taxi or shuttle bus to Tel Aviv airport (just 45 minutes away). If you want to explore further, 2 day trips can easily be arranged from Jerusalem to visit Petra. Or I would really recomend doing an extra day in Jeruslaem to see the sights….you could visit the Israel Museum, Mount of Olives or Yad Vashem (be warned this is a hard hitting visit!). I will be happy to help you organise accomodation and to help with transport, etc.

What’s included

– Accommodation
– Transport
– Water drops in the desert
– Car backup support on hike
– Qualified and experienced expedition leader
– Some meals (noted in brackets in the itinerary above)
– Hike maps and group safety equipment

What’s not included

– Travel to and from the start and end of the expedition
– Personal travel insurance
– Gear (see kit list below)
– Additional activities
– Meals that are not included (including 3 expedition food packs)
– Drinks

Kit list

– comfortable clothes (for hiking and sightseeing)
– rucksack suitable for hiking
– hiking boots
– tent (ideally we will be sharing 2 to a tent to save weight…so don’t worry if you don’t have one!)
– roll mat (and repair kit if inflatable)
– sleeping bag (2 season)
– good sun hat and sunglasses
– spork/spoon
– toiletries, personal first aid kit and sunscreen
– 6L of water containers (I use 3L hydration pack and then 3 x plastic bottles)
– hiking poles (optional but highly recommended)

You can bring extra luxurious to leave with our support car during the hiking section.