Nabatean Incense Route

דרך קטורת נבטים

A UNESCO World Heritage trade route connecting four ancient Nabatean cities across the Negev, featuring numerous archaeological sites and hiking trails through desert history. This cultural landscape offers both educational insights and stunning desert scenery linking ancient commerce routes.

Things to do

• Explore Avdat ruins — Walk through the remains of this major Nabatean city perched on a hilltop with terraced vineyards, cisterns, and Byzantine churches offering panoramic desert views.
• Trek the Incense Route hiking trail — Follow the ancient trade route on foot between the four UNESCO cities of Avdat, Mamshit, Shivta, and Halutza through marked desert pathways.
• Tour Mamshit archaeological site — Discover this well-preserved Nabatean city with intact streets, residences, temples, and a caravanserai showcasing daily life and commerce infrastructure.
• Visit Shivta Byzantine churches — Examine three standing Byzantine churches built atop Nabatean foundations, featuring original stone architecture and intricate channel systems for water management.
• Camp in the Negev desert — Stay overnight at designated sites near the route to experience the desert landscape as ancient merchants did and observe star-filled night skies.
• Visit the Incense Route Museum in Mitzpe Ramon — Learn the history of Nabatean trade, see artifacts including incense vessels and coins, and understand the route's economic importance.
• Hike to Halutza ruins — Trek across sand dunes to this remote Nabatean city partially buried in sand, featuring only visible architectural foundations and ancient cisterns.

Food to try

• Bedouin-style zarb (buried meat) — Tender lamb or chicken slow-cooked underground with vegetables in the traditional method still used by local Bedouin communities in the Negev.
• Hummus with Za'atar and local olive oil — Creamy chickpea dip topped with the regional herb blend za'atar and premium Negev olive oil, served with fresh pita bread.
• Date-filled ma'amoul cookies — Traditional Nabatean and Arab sweet cookies stuffed with dates and spices, reflecting the region's historical importance in date trade.
• Goat cheese from local kibbutzim — Fresh or aged goat cheese produced by settlements in the Negev, often served with local herbs and accompanying the region's ancient dairy traditions.
• Bedouin coffee and cardamom — Strong, bitter coffee infused with cardamom seeds served in small cups as a gesture of hospitality, continuing customs observed along the ancient trade routes.
• Negev wine tasting — Sample wines from local Negev vineyards planted in ancient Nabatean terraced fields, connecting modern viticulture to 2,000-year-old agricultural practices.

Local customs & good to know

• Respect Bedouin customs if visiting inhabited areas — Greet Bedouin communities with appropriate Arabic phrases and accept offered tea or coffee as a sign of respect for their continued presence on ancestral lands.
• Visit in cooler months (October-April) — The desert heat is extreme in summer months; local guides and inhabitants recommend planning visits during autumn through spring for safety and comfort.
• Hire local Bedouin guides — Experienced guides from nearby Bedouin communities offer invaluable insights into both archaeological sites and traditional desert navigation techniques.
• Wear modest clothing and sunprotection — Long, light-colored clothing is culturally appropriate when visiting communities and essential for sun protection in the intense desert environment.