Makhtesh Ramon

The Mizpe Ramon crater is the closest most of us will ever get to feel like we are exploring another planet. It's a surreal geologic experience. Taking a four wheel drive in late afternoon is a must do. If you are in Israel you need to do this crater. It's easy to get to by taking a train to Bersheeva and then a bus to the small town of Mizpe Ramon. We spent 2 nights in a hotel on the rim so had plenty of opportunity to photograph sunrise, sunset, and moonrise. The hotel had a grand all you can eat breakfast.

8.28.17 - We only drove through the crater and that alone was pretty cool. However, the views from the road heading down into the crater from the Israeli side is inspiring. The nature center is very informative and the rangers are relatively nice, but it might take a little bit of effort to warm them up. There are nature trails you can take, but make sure you arrive early enough otherwise it can be a dangerous path where you can fall off the edge or run into a family of goats/rams (something we saw).

Looking like a surreal place from a Science Fiction movie, the Makhtesh Ramon is an extraordinary nature sight in an otherwise quite boring surrounding. You can eather take a stroll along the crater's edge or take a hike through the Makhtesh. Make sure to visit the Infocenter before in order to get hints regarding hiking routes. Also be sure to start early in the morning as it tends to get very hot already before noon.

Beautifu dessert view of Makhtesh Ramon in the Negev, Israel. Very nice colors of nature.A great place for hikers.You can climb the mountains and enjoy the clear air and a fabulous landscape.

Ramon Crater - is a real wonder and one of the most amazing places in Israel. If you like stunning landscapes, silence of the desert, enjoy hiking or biking, starry nights or ... luxury hotels :) - this is it!

As Israel Private Tour Guide this is my favorite 👀 for the Dessert lover's. This is what I shall name as window to Geology. There are many opportunities for hikes long or short ones. Nabatian ruenes. Springs. You also might enjoy over 🌙 camp. Love it.

I've camped out in this Makhtesh twice, and it only gets better with every trip. There plenty of options around the desert area to do before you pitch a tent at night. For example, you could bike ride, camel ride, or go on spectacular breath-taking (literally) hikes! If you want to go straight into the night, there is a night activity I highly recommend which is called SOLO. This is where you walk in a secluded part of the desert at night and sit under the stars for at least 20 minutes. No electricity what so ever (except your flashlight to see where you're going but when you're sitting...lights off!). It's absolutely something to try. Seeing the many stars at night illuminate the sky and the moon shining on them all, is an enlightening experience.

Makhtesh Ramon Crater is situated in 30 minutes drive from Avdat National Park. *Even though Makhtesh Ramon means "Ramon crater" in Hebrew, it is not the crater from meteorite, nor from volcanic eruption. It is the world's largest natural "erosion crater" . *Hundreds of millions of years ago, the Negev desert was covered by an ocean. Due to tectotic movements the ocean started to move to the north, leaving behind a steep cliff. *There is only one settlement in the Ramon crater area, the small town of Mitzpe Ramon. Its name means "the viewpoint over Ramon crater" & it suits it very well since you may see this amazing sunrises over the crater right from the edge of the town! *There are no “working hours” of Ramon Crater, but there is a Visitors center, as well as several restaurants & hotels around so you can stay here for a night to enjoy the desert, the sunset & the sunrise in this magic place!