This page includes
- Eilat
- Mitzpe Ramon
- Ein Avdat
EILAT
Getting to Eilat
There are 4 buses a day from Jerusalem. The bus takes 4h and 30 minutes and stops in several places. There are 15 min. stops in Ein Boqeq and somewhere between ein Boqeq and Eilat. It's possible to get off in Massada (the bus goes right to the park entrance), Ein Gedi, Timna Valley (does not go to park entrance, it's a 3 km walk).
From Tel Aviv there are much more buses. They take also 4 h 30 minutes, 57 NIS (10/98).
Getting around in Eilat
BusBus 015 leaves the central busstation every 20 minutes going to the Marine Observatory and Coral Beach and further to Taba (4.30 NIS).
TaxiWhile waiting for the bus, taxi's will stop and if you share with others, it'll be as cheap as the bus. A taxi to the Marine Observatory costs 16 NIS.
Taxis charge extra for a piece of luggage when going to your hotel (2 NIS per piece), and 2 NIS extra if you phone them from your hotel.
BoatThere's a boat starting from the bridge on the Marine and going to the Marine Observatory 3 times a day. Price is steep: 25 NIS pp.
CarPlenty of opportunities to rent a car, see general info 1 for details on prices.
Scooter or bikeThere's just 1 option to rent scooters and that's Doobie Scooters at the Dalia Hotel (not IN the hotel itself!). Its run by an American guy who left New York 4 years ago for Eilat. He's open from 9 am till 5 pm.
There's not much competition, so prices are high:
- 70 NIS for 4 hours including 40 km
- 115 NIS for 24 hours including 100 km for a "Free" motorbike.
- He will probably try to rent you a heavier motorbike at 140 NIS saying it goes faster etc... The "Free" goes about 45 - 50 km/h going North, and 60 km/h going South, that was enough for me.
- A bike costs 60 NIS the first day, and then 30 NIS per day the following days.
Make sure the tank is full when you leave for Timna Valley! He told us the tank was full, but in Timna we ran out of fuel already. He did help us out however by sending his wife with free petrol !
Hotels
If you want to have a splurge, the
Dan Eilat is a good place to do it. It's a fantastic hotel, with a tasteful modern design, great pool area and incredible breakfast. Rooms have AC, minibar, TV and luxurious bathroom. Best to book through a travel agent at home or on the internet, will be cheaper.
The
Regatta on the promenade near Dan Eilat is a good low key Italian restaurant. 40 NIS for a spagetthi or pizza.
Wang's Grill is an excellent Chinese restaurant, but more expensive and they will also try to make you consume more. Reservations necessary.The restaurant at the Marine Observatory is OK for a quick lunch, and not too expensive (10 NIS for a burger, 26 NIS for a regular meal).
Cybercafé
I haven't been there, but a professional cyber café is the "private link". They have a website for more info.
In Eilat BJs Books (Tel 07-634 0905) located at 5/4 the Tourist Centre, is a bookstore but the friendly owner has Net access and allows use at a moderate hourly
rate.'
What to do in Eilat
SnorkellingYou can either go to Coral beach (take bus or taxi). Entrance is 15 NIS, rental of material is possible (8 NIS fins, 7 NIS mask and 6 NIS snorkel). They have lockers, some are big enough for a backpack (5 NIS). The snorkelling is quite good. The coral could be better (not as good as Sulawesi f.i.) but the fish are really good. You'll see plenty of really big fish (70 cm), and they don't seem to be afraid. If you just want a beach to swim, don't come here because it's forbidden on most places in order not to damage the coral.
Another option are the beaches to the North. They are for free, and you can also snorkel there wherever you want (so no protection of the coral).
Marine ObservatoryJust Sourth of Coral beach. It's quite nice, but also very expensive:
- Usual entrance 63 NIS
- Including Oceanarium 76 NIS
- Including Yellow Submarine 255 NIS
You'll see an enormous number of great fish (you won't see all these while snorkelling). The coral around the underwater observatory is better then at Coral Beach.
The Oceanarium was worth it I think, you get a film, and your chair is moving so you get the impression that you're really in the submarine they show on the screen.
Timna ValleyThis is a beautiful valley, but again it's quite expensive to visit it:
- Either you join grandma and take an Egged tour at 48 US$ for the day (this includes a visit to a Kibbutz).
- Either you take a 4 hour jeep safari at 35 US$.
- Either you rent your own car or motorbike.
- Entrance to the park is another 25 NIS pp.
We went by motorbike which is a really nice way to see it, but the way to get is a long 30 km, and that takes about 40 minutes up, and 30 minutes back. So, if I would do it again, I'd probably go for the rented car.
The lake is nothing special. The presentation on copper production there is every hour from 11 am till 4 pm, but it's in Hebrew.
Mitzpe Ramon
It's best to do this on the way to Eilat, since it's about midway from Tel Aviv to Eilat.
The crater itself is quite nice, but the observatory next to it is not worth the 15 NIS they charge. They just have a small exhibition on plants an animals in the crater, some films and an observatary room (but you have the same view from outside).
Try to go there at sunset, but don't go too late, becaus sun goes under quite early, and I thought the best colours where about 45 minutes before the actualk sunset.
Ein Avdat
Contrary to Mitzpe Ramon, Ein Avdat nature park is definitely worth a visit.
By bus you should get off at "Ben Gurion College - Negev University" and walk down for about 4 km till the entrance of the park. Entrance 15 NIS, Green Card accepted.
By car you could miss the sign for Ein Avdat, since it's a bit hidden amoung all the signs for the Ben Gurion College - Negev University.
The walk is really pleasant and will take a bit more then 1 hour (return). You could also climb the steps, but then you need to come back by the road to get to your car. So it's better to do the return trip, and then drive with your car to the upper parking, so you'll have the same view.
