A Visit To Eilat

Written by Zvika Gasner Koheleth 7-January-2020, Edited 24-March-20121, Photography by Angela Hechtfisch

How To Get To Eilat

The traveling to the city of Eilat may be called a “journey”. It’s a full 5-hour drive from Tel Aviv. The journey is as fascinating for its desert view but as difficult and challenging. There are 3 main ways to reach Eilat: From Tel Aviv taking road #1 to Jerusalem and then road #90 alongside the North part of the Dead Sea through the “Bikaa”. Either, taking #6 road (a toll road), then continuing with road #31 to the city of Arad, and then turn to #90 at the “Bikaa”. Also, and most likely the most eye-catching BUT more challenging drive is from #6, switching the injunction at the city of Beer-Sheva and driving to the town of “Mizpe Ramon”, stopping at the Mizpe-ramon observatory looking at the Ramon crater, and then driving to it though road #40 through this enormous crater, all the way to Eilat. Altogether, these 3 driving roads to Eilat have simply unbelievable desert scenery, where the 1st is with wild Dead Sea view, the 2nd with “Habikaa” view and the 3rd tops with crater watch. However, if you are looking for a much more comfortable trip you may choose an inland flight from “Ben Gurion” airport to the new “Ramon” airfield, a 25 minutes flight with an extra 10 minutes taxi drive to Eilat city.

Well, it took some time, more precisely NOT less than 5 hours, and here we are, in the city that the sun shines in 355 days out of 365 a year. The city is the escape route for American’s and European’s of the cold November till December winter. The Israelis will do Eilat mostly in April through October, so the winter is off-season prices. When it comes to a type of vacation, whereas the Dead Sea strip is mostly for a health-relaxing-quite tour which will involve more mature and elderly personals, Eilat is more family (with kids) oriented where any type of water activity or sport that exists on earth is available.

Eilat’s Underwater Observatory

We started our tour at the Underwater sea observatory which is located 2.5 km. from the main hotel strip in the city. There are several attractions to explore in, but the main is the shark’s tank where you can explore the life of the sharks while watching a diver feeds them twice a day, at 11 am and 3 pm 7 days a week. The 2nd biggest attraction that you can NOT miss is the open sea observatory which is located 50 meters inside the Red-Sea bay and reach up to 6 meters in water depth. Walking around in it is extremely interesting seeing the coral environment. In every round hour, there is activity focus with an explanation on other facilities, such as feeding the giants sea turtles, watching in-depth dark fish life, watching a live opening of shells making beautiful pearls jewelry, and more. A child ticket is 25$ and an adult 30$. opening hours between 09:00-16:00.

Eilat sea observatory a look at the shark tank

Eilat’s “Camel Ranch”

Only 1 km. from the underwater observatory, an inland desert driving will get you to the “Camel ranch”, a local Bedouin ranch that offers (mostly BUT NOT only) camel riding into the desert. The ride is NOT natural at first BUT after a few minutes, it will grow on you and becomes pretty comfortable and has an extremely relaxing effect due to the wild desert landscape.

We took the 2 hours program that contains 1-hour ride in a group of mature female camels, and then enjoyed the local Bedouin hospitality of having a fresh Arab tea, an on-fire bread with cheese and vegetable, all in the shelter of a Bedouin tent, under the early hour of a starry night appear in the desert’s sky. 1 million starts plus 1 is a breathtaking view. I can NOT express how much joy and calm this experience was, and a special healthful thanks obliged to our instructor, the young Miss Eden. The price for 2 hours program is about 70$ a person. The program begins at 16:00, and it is recommended to arrive 15 minutes earlier. Also, there is a 4 hours program for learning how to control a camel.

Eilat’s Dolphins Reef

The morning after watching the Sylvester fireworks in Eilat and the neighbor Jordan’s city of “Akaba” (on the east side of the border) was defiantly the top of the tour, where we had a short ride to the “Dolphin reef”. The reef is a private beach that hosts 5 wild nature dolphins (4 of them are 2nd generation being born after the original generation has already passed away) that swim in the morning from the deep sea waters expecting to get an easy meal and enjoy interaction with humans. The main 2 Dolphin reef programs are 30 minutes of diving or snorkeling alongside these beautiful mammals. NO special swimming skills are required and NO diving license is needed if diving is your chosen activity. It takes about 30 minutes to wear the special swimming suites, adjusting the snorkels, and receiving instructions on how to behave while interacting with the dolphins. The activity starts at 9 am and ends at 4 pm. Cost is 85$ and 100$ per person for snorkeling or diving, respectively. Diving is done in pairs by holding hands with the instructor whereas snorkeling is done in a group of 3. It is an amazing experience if your focus is on dolphins. If your main objective is to enjoy the world of the sea coral we suggest you reach the “Coral beach” national park which is only 1 km. away. This is the only wild coral environment in Israel. Because of the 22-24 steady degrees of water in Eilat bay all year round, the sensitive coral life can survive. Snorkeling gear may be hired on the spot and entry fees are 10$ per person. Tranquility is guaranteed.

Feeding the dolphins at Eilat Dolphins reef

Eilat – Where to eat & stay

Eilat’s most common activity was and remains as sunbathing and swimming in the sea bay. In summer the temperature may rise to 50-45 Celsius in the shade, BUT humidity is virtually 0, so there’s NO much sweating. There is plenty of water sport activity, Yachts sailing with glass flour for fish viewing, and plenty of good pubs & restaurants in the city like the Italian’s “Pastory” on Tarshish street or the “Monkey’s bar” on the sea promenade nearby.

A list of Eilat’s best hotels is available here. We stayed at the Club Hotel Eilat which is a perfect spot for a family with kids, including a rich buffet kitchen, and pools with water activity for all ages any time of the day.

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How To Get To Eilat

Eilat’s Underwater Observatory

Eilat’s “Camel Ranch”

Eilat’s Dolphins Reef

Eilat – Where to eat & stay

Let’s work together

Wanna join our crazy team?

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A Visit To Eilat

How To Get To Eilat

Eilat’s Underwater Observatory

Eilat’s “Camel Ranch”

Eilat’s Dolphins Reef

Eilat – Where to eat & stay