Rosh Hashanah vacation in Ein Gedi

Photos: Meni Gal, Ein Gedi, from the PicWiki website; Ein Gedi Field School Guides; Shay Eidler; Ein Gedi Field School Guides; Eilat Haynbach; Gil Caspi; Noga Barkai Efrati; Itai Kasif; Eti Kasif

About the Activity

You are invited to begin the new year in the heart of the Judean Desert, amid the landscapes of the Dead Sea, springs, desert trails, and star-filled skies. During the holiday, we will enjoy a varied program for the whole family, combining nature hikes, experiential activities, encounters with wildlife, and a special holiday atmosphere—all at a pleasant pace that also allows time for rest and family togetherness.

Three days of a desert experience, shared moments, and a slightly different start to the new year!

Friday | 11 September – Entering the Holiday Atmosphere

15:00 | Room check-in and settling in

16:30–18:00 | Starting the Year with Sweetness – Reception by the Saj

A festive reception in the courtyard of the field school. Together, we will prepare fresh pita on the saj and serve it with honey in honor of the new year. A pleasant opportunity to get acquainted, spend time together as a family, and enter the holiday atmosphere.

18:30 | Holiday Reception at Ruti Lookout – Rosh Hashanah in the Desert

We will go to Ruti Lookout for a breathtaking view of the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea. Together, we will mark the beginning of the new year with the traditional holiday foods and Rosh Hashanah blessings, in a special atmosphere of nature, desert, and holiday.

19:00–20:00 | Festive Dinner

A festive dinner in honor of Rosh Hashanah.

20:30–22:00 | Scorpion Tour – The Desert Awakens at Night

An experiential nighttime tour following one of the desert’s most fascinating animals. Using special lighting, we will search for scorpions and learn about their way of life, their unique adaptations to desert conditions, and life in the desert after dark.

Saturday | 12 September – Water, Desert, and Night Skies

8:00–9:00 | Breakfast and collection of a packed lunch

9:00–13:00 | Hike in Arugot Stream – Water in the Heart of the Desert

We will hike along Arugot Stream, one of the most beautiful trails in the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve. We will walk along the streambed, among desert vegetation, waterfalls, and natural pools. Along the route there will be places to stop, cool off, and wade in the water.

The trail offers an up-close look at Ein Gedi’s oasis phenomenon and reveals how water makes life possible in the heart of the desert.

Bring walking shoes suitable for water, a hat, water, and a change of clothes.

13:00 | Return to Ein Gedi Field School

13:00–16:30 | Afternoon Rest and Family Time

16:30–17:30 | An Afternoon with Desert Animals

A fascinating encounter with desert wildlife. Through a presentation and guided instruction, we will learn which animals manage to live in the desert’s extreme conditions, how they cope with heat and water shortages, and which special adaptations enable them to survive.

18:30 | Sinkhole Lookout and the Story of the Dead Sea

We will set out from the field school to a lookout point and learn about one of the area’s most fascinating and unique phenomena: sinkholes. We will hear about the Dead Sea, the falling water level, and the dramatic changes the region has undergone in recent years.

19:00–20:00 | Second Holiday Dinner

A festive dinner in the holiday atmosphere.

20:30–22:00 | Astronomy Evening – The Skies Above the Desert

We will end the day beneath the desert skies. We will travel among the stars and learn to identify celestial bodies, constellations, and astronomical phenomena. The desert conditions and distance from sources of light make Ein Gedi an excellent place for observing the night sky.

Sunday | 13 September – A Relaxed Morning and Farewell

8:00–10:00 | Breakfast

11:00 | Check-out and vacating the rooms

Please note: the minimum charge per room is for 2 adults.

The Holiday Includes Full Board at Ein Gedi Field School

• Air-conditioned ground-level guest rooms, each with a shower and toilet
• A protected space on the premises
• Kosher kitchen and dining room
• Lobby with a coffee/tea corner and television
• Synagogue
• Free admission to the Ein Gedi Kibbutz swimming pool
• Festive dinners; on the second day, breakfast and a packed lunch; on the final day, breakfast only
• Accompanying hiking guides

For questions and inquiries about the holiday: [email protected], 08-6584288

Important Information

Activity area:
Ein Gedi

Target audience:
Families; suitable for child carriers

Difficulty level:
Easy

Walking duration:
Easy walking, suitable for the whole family. The trails are not suitable for strollers.

Trail length:
4–5 km

Required equipment:

• Comfortable, closed walking shoes suitable for walking in water, plus replacement shoes
• Hat
• 2 liters of water per hiker per day
• Sunscreen
• Personal equipment
• Backpack for carrying water

Please note:
The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel reserves the right to cancel or modify the activity in accordance with weather, security, and safety conditions, and at its sole discretion.

The activity is conditional on a minimum number of registrants. Notice will be provided up to one week before the activity.

Children up to age 2: free of charge. Without 2015/2016