One of the great things about the first Israel-Italy symposium symposium, GRAcious, is that you will be coming to the heart of the desert. The Institutes for desert research sit on top of the beautiful Zin valley that inspires all that come to visit. It's a center for hiking and mountain biking. You can just walk out the back door and you are in a new landscape with awe inspiring views.
There are several options for accommodation in Sede Boqer and around.
Blaustein Institutes’ guesthouse (If you are interested in staying at the guesthouse, please contact us, and we’ll see if we can help you find a place, space permitting.).
In addition you can check below linked places but transposrtation may not be provided to all places.
Go west from the main entrance of the village (there is a side walk parallel to the road) to the main junction with the major road (Highway 40). Turn to the left (southward), search for the green mark (marks are painted strips on rocks).The trail goes with the dry river bed until it meets the bigger Wadi (River) Havarim. Here you meet the blue marked trail.Go left (eastward) until you meet a road and the trail is finished; You can go upward to the settlement by:
a. Taking the steep red marked trail or;
b. Walk on the curving road up back to the village or;
c. Hitchhike the ascent or;
d. Leave your car in the finish point in the beginning before starting the hike.
Trip duration: 1.5-2 hours
Difficulty: easy (only one pass includes a small jump)
Beginning of trail is on the main road (route 40), 3 minutes driving toward the south. On the road in the beginning of the trail there is a brown sign “Wadi Havarim”.Go downward with the blue marked trail, after 15-25 minute you turn to the left (eastward) with the major wadi (riverbed) (its still blue mark) until you meet the road.Here the trail is finished; you can go upward to the vilage by:
a. Taking the steep red marked trail or;
b. Walk on the curving road up back to the village or;
c. Hitchhike the ascent or;
d. Leave your car in the finish point in the beginning before starting the hike.
Trip duration: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: easy - moderate
Trip duration: 2 hours
Difficulty: easy – moderateThis trail has an entrance fee payment required
The trail begins in the traffic circle of the village entrance.Take left (southward) and go down to Zin Wadi (riverbed).You can either go on the steep red marked trail (you will see it off the road to your right)or walk on the road. If you have a car you can drive down to the second nature reserve counter and park there.Continue with the road until you meet the nature reserve entrance fee counter.Keep going with the trail, climbing up until you meet the upper entrance fee counter.Here the trail is finished; you can go upward to the settlement by: a. Go with the road westward (only 10 minutes) until you meet the main road (route 40). You have bus stop, line 60 that goes northward toward Be’er Sheva will drop you in the village entrance.b. Leave your car in the finish point before starting the hike.
The trail begins in the traffic circle of the village entrance.Take left (southward) and go down to Zin Wadi (River).
You can either go on the steep red marked trail or walk on the road.Once you reach the bottom of the hill in the Zin Wadi, search for the green trail that goes upward to your left.Keep walk with the green mark for 2 hours and you will reach the spring.To return you have two options:a. Turn back with the green trail go back the same way you arrived or;b. Take the blue marked trail southward.After half hour you reach a trail junction, turn to the left (westward) and take the blue trail.After more or less 2 hours of walking you reach the road to Ein Avdat.Here the trail is finished; you can go upward to the settlement by: a. Taking the steep red marked trail or;
b. Walk on the curving road up back to the village or;
c. Hitchhike the ascent or;
d. Leave your car in the finish point in the beginning before starting the hike.
Trip duration: 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
The trail is suitable for bike ride.
The trail begins to the left of the village in the north side of the eastern neighborhood of the village. There is a fence that circles the nature reserve area, and you will see a gate passage way for you to enter the nature reserve.Go out of the gate and walk eastward toward a small building surrounded by fence.After you pass the building take the red marked trail. Go for 10 minutes until you see the right turn to the green marked trail. Keep the green trail until you come to the viewpoint.Come back with the same trails.
French Associates Institute for Agriculture & Biotechnology of Drylands
Jacob Blaustein Inststitute for Desert Research
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Sede Boqer Campus,
84990, ISRAEL
If you didn't receive the update sent on October 16, please contact us at graciousymposium@gmail.com