Makhtesh Ramon Tiyul

A few months ago, my program ventured into the Negev Desert on a trip to the Makhtesh Ramon. Many people confuse the Makhtesh with a crater. A Makhtesh is not a crater. It is in fact a unique geological formation found in the Negev Desert. A Makhtesh is formed by erosion and not by a meteor impact like craters are formed. The Makhtesh used to be a mountain and due to erosion from within the mountain, it collapsed creating a geological formation that resembles a crater. As is in most of the Negev, the landscape is barren and fantastic. I know some people do not like the emptiness of the desert, but like I have said before, it is one of my favorite landscapes in the world. Hiking in the desert really makes me appreciate what I have already back home in Tel Aviv, and in the States. Anyways the Makhtesh Ramon is the largest makhtesh in the world . It also forms the largest Israeli nature reserve. The hiking here is fantastic because the trails are quite easy for everyone to hike. I highly suggest hiking the Makhtesh Ramon if desert hiking is your thing. As is part of every camping and hiking trip we do we camped out at a camping site in a Bedouin tent and made poyke. Poyke for those that do not know is a traditional Israeli camping dish that is a stew. It can contain anything you want so you can make it to your taste. It is also always cooked in a special cast-iron pot. The camping combined with the hiking was really fun. I always enjoy these trips because it clears my head and makes me focus on what I need to do when I get back to reality. If you are visiting Israel and love hiking, I suggest Makhtesh Ramon for your hiking trip. It is loads of fun and you will take in unbelievable  landscapes. Enjoy!