Sde Boker, known as the home of David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, is a kibbutz that is located in one of the most beautiful parts of Israel. With incredible hikes and views and rich history, it is one of the best places to visit for those who wish to learn about the kibbutz way of life and the history of Israel, among the beautiful and peaceful desert landscape.
The Story of Sde Boker
Sde Boker is actually divided into two different towns: Kibbutz Sde Boker, and the bigger Midreshset Ben Gurion.
The settlement in Sde Boker began as a small and isolated agricultural farm in the desert, which was built by an American Indian volunteer named Jesse Slade, who fought in Israel’s War of Independence, and who aspired to establish a farm in the same style as a cowboy ranch in Texas. After the war ended, a group of friends from his army unit was formed, as they aspired to establish a farm in the desert, in order to support the idea of developing the large uninhabited desert area of Israel.
In 1953, David Ben-Gurion and his wife Pola settled in Sde Boker, after his first resignation from the prime ministership. This move, which was intended to encourage more and more people to develop Southern Israel, has brought a lot of recognition and publicity to the small town of Sde Boker and has contributed a lot to its development. In the last years of his life, Ben Gurion lived in a modest hut, working the fields of Sde Boker.
In 1963, Ben-Gurion initiated the establishment of a seminary about 3 km south of the kibbutz, which became Midreshet Ben Gurion.
Today, more than 500 people reside in Sde-Boker, Sde Boker is included in a small group of kibbutzim that still maintain their traditional kibbutz lifestyles.
Best places to visit in Sde Boker
Ben Gurion’s Hut in Sde Boker
The Ben GurionHut in Sde Boker has been preserved exactly as it was on the day of the death of the first Prime Minister of Israel in 1973. Today, it serves as a small museum, displaying his vision and lifestyle. The visit to the special and authentic complex reveals quite a few aspects of Ben-Gurion’s personality, lifestyle, and unique worldview as a person and as a leader. During the visit, you can learn about his work and his vision, and step inside a hut that hosted numerous heads of state and influential people from all across the globe. Visiting Ben Gurion’s Hut is a unique opportunity to learn about the habits and personality of a fascinating leader, who led a modest life and always led by example.
Opening hours:
Sunday-Thursday: 8:30-16:00, Friday and holiday eves: 8:30-14:00, Saturday and holiday: 10:00-16:00
Ben Gurion’s Tomb and the Ben Gurion Promenade
The Ben Gurion Tomb Estate is located near Sde Boker and is part of the Ein Abdat National Park. The tomb estate is spread over a large area, where you can see plenty of Nubian Ibexes roaming free. The grave itself is located right next to a cliff, from which you’ll get a breathtaking view of the beautiful Tzin River. From here, you can also walk on the short Ben Gurion Promenade, for even more spectacular views.
Best hikes around Sde Boker
Nahal Havarim (Havarim River)
The popular Nahal Havarim is known for its impressive white limestone rocks, making it one of the most beautiful rivers in Israel. One of the attractive experiences of the route is walking along it on full moon nights, as thanks to the white limestone rocks, on nights of a full moon, the route is illuminated by the light of the moon, making it easy to walk at night and get a very special experience, with the incredibly quiet and peacefulness of the desert at night.
The length of the Nahal Havarim route is 3.5 km/2.2 miles each way. It is marked with blue trail markings. the difficulty level of the trip here is easy to medium, and it is very suitable for children, as the trail is mostly flat, and makes for a special adventure, especially at night.
The trip starts from the Havarim River car park, and from there we will go down to the river channel along the blue trail markings. At the beginning of the path, you will see a remnant of a rock-hewn cistern belonging to the Nebateans who lived here in the past. The cistern is one of the many types of cisterns around here, which were used to store rainwater, in order to support travelers of the famous Perfume and Incense Route. From there, continue along the blue-marked route, along the impressive limestone rocks on both sides. The route goes on until you exit the wide part of the path and reach the Serpentine parking lot – where you will turn around and go back in the same way.
Ein Avdat National Park
Ein Avdat National Park is located south of Midreshet Ben Gurion, a few minutes’ drive from Sde Boker and Mitzpe Ramon. The big, impressive Tzin River flows through the park, creating magnificent views of an oasis. In Ein Avdat, you can walk on several routes of different lengths and levels of difficulty, so the trip here is very suitable for almost everyone and is great for those who are looking for water activities in the desert. The two major trails here start from the main parking lot of the park and get to beautiful natural pools, where you can bathe and enjoy the peacefulness of the desert.
What makes Ein Avdat so special is how accessible that beauty is. You don’t need to be a serious hiker to experience it – the trails range from an easy stroll to a properly adventurous scramble, which means almost anyone can find their version of this place.
Choosing your trail: short stroll or full canyon crossing
Both of the park’s main routes begin at the lower parking lot, on the northern side near Midreshet Ben Gurion, and from there you have a real choice to make.
The Short Route is a flat, easy out-and-back of about 1.5 to 2 kilometers, taking most people around an hour. It follows the canyon floor past a grove of Euphrates poplars, brings you right up to the main pool, and turns back from there. It’s an ideal option for families, casual walkers, or anyone who just wants to see the oasis without committing to a full hike.
The Long Route is where things get interesting. It continues past the pool and climbs out of the canyon via a series of stone-cut steps and metal ladders bolted into the cliff face – and here’s the catch: that final stretch is one-way only. You can climb up, but you’re not allowed to climb back down, both for your own safety and to protect the fragile habitat below. That means the long route is a point-to-point hike, ending at the park’s southern entrance rather than looping back to your car, so it’s worth planning ahead for a pickup or a short walk/hitch back if you’re driving yourself.
The waterfall, the pool, and a small disappointment worth knowing about
The centerpiece of the hike is the Ein Avdat waterfall itself – a 15-meter cascade dropping into a deep, glassy pool framed by sheer white chalk walls. It’s one of those views that genuinely stops people in their tracks, especially with golden desert cliffs glowing in the background.
Here’s the detail worth knowing before you go: despite how inviting that pool looks, swimming and wading are off-limits here. The springs that feed it are the only year-round water source for the canyon’s wildlife, and keeping the pool undisturbed protects that fragile balance. So treat it as a place to sit, breathe, and take photos rather than a swimming hole – the peace of the place is reward enough on its own.
A kingdom of ibex and eagles
Ein Avdat has earned a nickname among regular hikers: the kingdom of eagles and ibex. Nubian ibex are genuinely common here, often spotted picking their way down the very same stone staircases you’ll be climbing, completely unbothered by the hikers sharing their trail. Above you, keep an eye on the cliffs – this canyon is an important nesting site for griffon vultures and Egyptian vultures, and Bonelli’s eagles are regularly seen patrolling the canyon for prey. It’s a rare thing in Israel to feel surrounded by this much wildlife in such a short walk.
A garden that shouldn’t exist
The plant life here is almost as surprising as the wildlife. Along the springs, you’ll find Euphrates poplar trees – a species that needs far more water than the surrounding desert can usually provide, and which now survives in only a handful of spots in the entire Negev. Saltbush, tamarisks, and reeds crowd the banks, while delicate maidenhair ferns and lichen cling to the damp canyon walls, fed by water seeping straight out of the rock. It’s a genuinely strange feeling, standing in green shade with sheer desert cliffs rising on either side of you.
Monks, Nabateans, and a desert king’s resting place
Look closely at the canyon walls as you walk and you’ll notice small caves carved into the chalk – shelters once used by Byzantine monks seeking total solitude in the desert, sometime around the 4th to 7th centuries. The name “Avdat” itself comes from the ancient Nabataean city of the same name, just a short drive south, said to be the burial place of the Nabataean King Obodas I. If you have the time, pairing Ein Avdat with the nearby ruins of Avdat National Park – part of the UNESCO-listed Incense Route cities of the Negev – turns this into a half-day trip spanning thousands of years of desert history in one short drive.
