Things to see and do Eilat

The Underwater Observatory houses a panoramic glass room 4 metres below sea level, from which you can admire countless multicoloured fish. If you still haven't had your fill of the Red Sea, the park's extensive aquariums will add to the list of wildlife on display. Children will undoubtedly enjoy seeing the turtles, rays and sharks, and touching some of the fish in the tanks.

The Eilat coral reef stretches for over 1 km along the western coast of the Gulf. It is a natural underwater reserve for around a hundred species of coral, as well as numerous multicolored fish. The water is crystal-clear, and coral and fish are perfectly visible at shallow depths. You don't need a tank - just a mask, snorkel and flippers ("snorkeling"). If you haven't brought your own, you can rent them on site. Caution: avoid contact with the coral, and don't dive barefoot: the coral cuts.

Those arriving by car can easily access the entrance to the Shchoret Canyon (or Black Canyon), which is on the Israel National Trail. Halfway along the track leading to the pillars of Amram, take on the left another track marked in green. At the end of the road, a marked green trail is made between the 20 m high walls. There's only sandstone, but also the older black granite and, further, the outflow of the gorge, white chalk, younger. Then leave green tags for red tags on the right, which reach a large point of view on the Vallée valley. Continue on the trail marked in red to a second point of view. From this one, follow on the right, south, the black tags that go back to the parking lot. Count 2 hours of round trip.

From the road 90 from Eilat, take on the left a track marked in blue. After 6 km the track ends with a parking lot. 5 min walk leads to the geological formation of the pillars of Amram. It is a high "fée" carved in sandstone by hydraulic erosion on the western cliff of a circus that is the foothills of Eilat mountains. In the plain, you may see gazelles dorcas. It is better to have a car to visit this site: The bus from Eilat will only leave you at the entrance of the track.

The Red Canyon is the framework of one of the most beautiful trails of the National Mountain Park of Eilat. By bus, on the line linking Eilat and Return Ramon, ask the driver to drop you at the intersection of the track leading to the entrance of the site (indicated by a sign on the edge of road No. 12). From there, walk around 1,5 km to reach the parking lot. You will then have 1 km of extra walking to reach the interesting part of the canyon. If you are by car, directly reach the parking by the track (or pre-park if the floor is too sandy). The trail is marked in green, blue and black. The green course does not require more than 1 hour round-trip. It goes to the bottom of narrow gorges where you can find a large part of the day.

Road No. 12 reaches at the top of Mount Hizkiyyahu at 838 m above sea level. From here, views of Eilat Mountains and, beyond, the valley of Arava to the East. To the west, Egypt: the old road of Mecca, the Montagnes mountains and the grey sand plain called the Moon Valley. Unfortunately, this part is inaccessible and visible from the road.

After crossing the Filter Border Crossing area and starting along the Egyptian border, a small lane on the right leads to the region's sole source: Ein Filter, i. e. the "source of the drops" because the pond is fed by almost a drip. A 4 x 4 is required. To access the pond, park on the parking lot and follow the signposted trail. Less than one kilometre later, you will arrive at the source, sheltered at the bottom of the Nefatim Oued and preserved from the intense evaporation by the shadow of the cliffs surrounding it. The pond fills more extensively in the rainy season when a waterfall falls along the wall. Upstream, another small mare was set up by British soldiers. There is a marked trail in black. The best time to visit ponds is dawn or late afternoon: You can then marvel at gazelles, rock damans or gangas to the water. Take a 30 minute walk for this walk.

You will find impressive views of the road No 12, which runs along the Egyptian border to the north and climbs over the Gulf by crawling between the mountains of Eilat to the west and the Montagnes mountains to the east, in Egypt. It is the former pilgrim route (El al-Hajj) from Cairo to Mecca by the Sinai Desert and Aqaba, traced by the Sultan of Egypt, Mahmoud Ibn Beautiful, in the early th century. From the road itself, the view extends over the blue Gulf and, basically, the Jordanian mountains, all red at sunset. From Eilat and after a great turn, a small road on the right leads to Mount Yeroham Lookout. The view is magnificent on the Gulf, the city of Aqaba and the town of Eilat.