Israel National Trail

A demanding, highly varied north to south journey with long remote stretches in the south.

Time to Hike: Most hikers take 45-60 days for the full route, often with a few rest days in towns. Strong walkers sometimes split it into two trips, doing the desert section as a separate hike.

Best Time to Go: Spring and autumn are the main seasons, when the north is pleasant and the southern desert is not dangerously hot. Mid-summer heat in the south can be severe, and winter storms can make desert flood channels hazardous.

Getting there: Most people start at Kibbutz Dan in the far north and walk south to Eilat. International access is easiest via Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, then public transport north to the start.

Costs: Costs depend heavily on how often you sleep indoors versus camping and how many town meals you buy. Budget for frequent resupplies and occasional accommodation in bigger cities and desert towns.

Difficulty: Hard. The north includes sustained walking but the south adds long, exposed desert days with limited water and little shade, making logistics and heat management as important as fitness.

The Israel National Trail runs the length of Israel from Kibbutz Dan to Eilat, linking green northern hills, the shores near the Sea of Galilee, the Mediterranean edge around Mount Carmel and Tel Aviv, and then the wide-open expanses of the Negev Desert. The mix of environments is unusually compressed - you can move from woodland paths to urban promenades to canyon-like desert wadis within a few weeks.

For many hikers the route’s character changes around the country’s centre: the north feels like classic long-distance trail walking with frequent communities, while the southern half becomes a planning exercise in water, weather windows and finding legal places to sleep. Highlights commonly include coastal viewpoints near Mount Carmel, the switch into desert landscapes after Arad, and the dramatic terrain around Mitzpe Ramon before the final push to the Red Sea at Eilat.

• Northern border to Upper Galilee (km 0-140) - From Kibbutz Dan the trail heads through greener northern landscapes with regular access to small towns and water. Expect a mix of forest tracks, fields and low mountains.
• Upper Galilee to Sea of Galilee (km 140-260) - Rolling hills and rural paths lead toward the lake, with more day-to-day variation in terrain. Resupply is generally straightforward compared with the desert.
• Sea of Galilee to Mount Carmel (km 260-430) - The route trends west and south through varied countryside toward the Mediterranean side of the country. Prepare for alternating quiet trail days and busier edges near towns.
• Mount Carmel to Tel Aviv area (km 430-560) - Coastal and near-coastal walking with more people and infrastructure, plus sections where urban navigation matters. Good opportunities for rest days and gear replacement.
• Central Israel to Arad (km 560-760) - The trail gradually leaves the most built-up areas and transitions toward drier country. Use this section to settle into a desert-ready routine for water carrying and early starts.
• Arad to the Mitzpe Ramon area (km 760-920) - A major shift into the Negev Desert: more exposure, fewer reliable services, and a stronger need to plan water and overnight spots. Terrain becomes more rugged and remote.
• Mitzpe Ramon to Eilat (km 920-1100) - Classic southern desert walking with long, committing days and big views. Finish at the Red Sea in Eilat, where heat and sun exposure can still be intense in shoulder seasons.

Aim for spring or autumn, when daytime temperatures are more manageable, especially in the southern Negev Desert. In these seasons you can still get hot days, but the risk of dangerous heat is lower than in mid-summer.

Winter can bring rain and cold in the north, while in the south the main concern is flash flooding in desert channels after storms. Whatever the month, start early in the day in exposed areas and treat heat, sun and water planning as core safety issues.

Most northbound to southbound itineraries begin at Kibbutz Dan. International arrivals typically fly into Ben Gurion Airport (near Tel Aviv) and then use bus and train connections to reach the north; allow extra time for transfers and schedules, especially on weekends and holidays.

From Eilat there are frequent onward connections by bus to other parts of Israel, and Eilat also has an airport for some domestic and limited international routes. The majority of hikers walk north to south to reach the desert in cooler months and finish at sea level.

No single, trail-wide permit is typically required to hike the Israel National Trail. However, rules can vary in specific nature reserves, parks and camping areas, so check current regulations for any segments you plan to sleep in or pass through.

If you plan to use organised campgrounds or stay in accommodations, booking needs depend on location and season - cities and smaller desert towns can fill up at popular times.

Accommodation is a mix of camping and indoor stays. In and near larger cities such as Tel Aviv you will find plentiful lodging options, while in smaller towns and desert gateways such as Arad and the Mitzpe Ramon area you may want to check availability ahead of time.

Many thru-hikers camp for long stretches, particularly in the south, but you should confirm where camping is permitted and what services exist. In the desert, overnight choices are closely tied to water logistics, so plan stages around reliable resupply points and legal camping spots rather than purely by distance.