Camping in Israel has become ever more popular recently, and with the pure variety of landscapes available – from green Galilee locations to the lunar vistas of the Ramon Crater and southern desert plains – pitching your tent in Israel has never been easier. And yep, if you love the outdoors, you’re in for an unforgettable experience!
However, before we get too carried away, after our own camping experiences in the Holy Land we’ll have to ‘fess up that camping in Israel is still not quite on the same camping levels as Europe or North America. So if you’re a seasoned camper from either of these regions, don’t come expecting the same type of facilities. BUT…with Israel’s amazingly warm weather running for many months of the year (here’s a guide to the best time to come to Israel), the camping season in Israel runs waaay longer!
Let’s take a look at some of the best campsites in Israel, from north to south (we’ve also included maps in each section, just to help you out – these maps will include all the contact details and telephone numbers you’ll need if you want to reserve a spot or just find out more info).
>>>Camping in the North of Israel
>>>Camping at the Sea of Galilee
>>>Camping on a Mediterranean beach
>>>Camping at the Dead Sea
>>>Camping in the South of Israel (the desert!)
Camping in the North of Israel
For those of you dreaming of idyllic green pastures when camping in the north of Israel, there are a number of great little options to consider. And yep, you might even get to wake up to the sound of trickling freshwater rivers running alongside your tent…
The first one on your camping in Israel checklist should be the Dag al HaDan campsite, located by the Hatzbani river just to the east of Kiryat Shmona. There are lots of shady trees and grassy areas on this site, ideal for camping, and it also has an excellent restaurant which specialises in fresh fish.
Just down the road you also have the Camping HaShmura at Beit Hillel, which also benefits from being located near the Hatzbani river and has a bunch of great reviews. We haven’t tried this place yet, but it’s on our hitlist.
Also in the neighborhood is one of Israel’s finest national parks, Horshat Tal. Here you can find a number of great little pools and streams to dip into, but be warned, the water is ICY COLD even in the middle of summer! They have a number of decent options to camp here, including a caravan section for those of you bringing the wheels with you.
Further east, up in the Golan Heights near the winter hotspot of Mount Hermon, lies Bambook Park, a great little resort that includes a decent camping area. Two other decent camping options for the Golan Heights lie a little further south, El-Rom Camping and Indiani Jones.
A little further south you will find the extensive Yehudiya Forest Nature Reserve which offers camping at the Yehudia Forest campsite, around 5.5 km south of the town of Katzrin. This is a great little place to base yourselves, and especially if you want to explore the seven nature trail routes in the park.
A little further to the west you have a couple of great options along the Jordan River: Indie Park, which is a cute resort-like option with some good facilities, and the do-it-yourself option alongside the river known as HaYarden Hararey – here you can pick your own spot along the long and beautifully green riverbank, but bear in mind there are no facilities, this is camping in the wild!
If you’re looking for something a little further west, head to Camping Kadita, a laid back, spacious campsite a few minutes drive from Safed, or the Yehiam Fortress National Park if you fancy sleeping right next to an old medieval fortress – facilities are OK, but there doesn’t seem to be an awful lot of shade around…
Camping in the North of Israel: our recommendations>>>
Camping at the Sea of Galilee
The Sea of Galilee, also known as the Kinneret, is the largest freshwater lake in Israel and supplies much of the country’s water. It also acts as the barometer of the nation’s feelings at certain points during the winter, as the winter rains either fill or don’t fill the Kinneret’s waters…
As for camping at the Sea of Galilee, I have to say it’s a fairly mixed bag. Things have improved over the last couple of years, as the authorities clamp down on the karaoke crowd and all-day trance enthusiasts. BUT…after numerous bad experiences ourselves, it can be hit and miss. We’ve tried to include the places we know of or have heard of that try and ensure your stay at the Sea of Galilee is a fairly pleasant one…
Of course, waking up on the shores of the Sea of Galilee (without the pulsating thump thump of a nearby trance rave) is the ultimate goal when camping in Israel…and yes, it can be done!
Two of the most decent camping sites we’ve experienced at the Sea of Galilee are the Gofra Beach campground, which even has a thermal spring onsite, and Susita Beach. Both of these are in close proximity of each other on the Eastern side of the Kinneret. We were well impressed with Susita Beach, especially their strict adherence to “lights out”, meaning no more music or blinding projector lights after 10pm.
Another great alternative on the Eastern side of the Kinneret is the Genghis Khan resort in the Golan (about 20 minutes drive from the Eastern shore). OK, this is not truly a bring your own tent kind of place, but their Mongolian tents are pretty awesome!
On the Western shores of the Sea of Galilee, things are a little more limited. Yes, there are a number of beaches spread out along the western coast and you could squeeze in amongst the crowds and karoake machines during peak season, but we’re not sure you’re really going to enjoy yourselves…
Having said that, there are two decent options to try. Up in the north western corner of the Sea of Galilee you have Green Beach, a fairly chill place on the beach complete with caravans, a campsite, and cabins. In the south western corner you can head to the Yardenit baptism site and Rob Roy (a great spot for chillout beers and kayaking) – head just past the gates of Rob Roy and try and find a free spot on the banks of the Jordan River (almost impossible in peak season); you can also get to the opposite side of the river from Kibbutz Deganya Alef (when entering the kibbutz, head to the right to reach the Jordan River).
Many Israelis have a love and hate relationship when camping in Israel, and especially with camping at the Sea of Galilee – but as we’ve found out over the years, it’s all about finding the right spot!
Camping at the Sea of Galilee: our recommendations>>>
Camping on a Mediterranean beach
OK, so if your idea of camping in Israel means waking up to the lapping waves of the Mediterranean, you do have a few options for actually camping on a Mediterranean beach (or at least very damn close!).
Starting on the northern stretch of coastline, between the border with Lebanon and the city of Acre lies Betzet Beach. Here you can choose from a number of camping options, including private caravans (we actually stopped here on our Caravan Summer Adventure a couple of years ago), as well as an area where you can pitch your own tent. The beach here is great, and there is a fairly decent bar/restaurant.
Just down the road from Betzet Beach you have the Achziv National Park where you will find a campsite right by the sea with a lovely bay for swimming in and lots of wildlife and plants to check out. There are decent facilities here, including drinking water and hot showers. Great for all the family.
One top secret camping in Israel location that we’ll share with you is the beach of Atlit (but located in the southern area of Atlit, south of Neve Yam beach, see the map below). Expect a gorgeous sandy Mediterranean beach with absolutely no facilities, but you’ll undoubtedly have one of the best camping in Israel experiences – and those sunrise skies on the beach, wow! It’s FREE to access, but a little tricky to get to, since you can’t take your car onto the beach itself. Bring the kitchen sink!
If you’re looking for somewhere to camp in Tel Aviv, you’re not going to be able to pitch a tent on Tel Aviv beach unfortunately. However, not too far from the northern stretch of the beach is Yarkon Park, an official Israeli park where you can camp out for the night. There are fridges available, plus plenty of hot water/showers, so this park is a very decent option if you’re looking to experience Tel Aviv a little differently…
The furthest southern point for “official” camping on the Med coastline is at the Ashkelon National Park, which has a decent location with sea views, and comes with decent facilities.
Camping on a Mediterranean Beach: our recommendations>>>
Camping at the Dead Sea
Camping at the Dead Sea might seem like an easy option when looking for an exotic camping in Israel location, but trust us, it ain’t. The Dead Sea coastline is looong, and waking up to a morning float in the salty waters so very enticing, but actually finding somewhere to pitch your tent isn’t easy (once upon a time you could just about find somewhere to pitch your tent alongside the gently lapping waters of the Dead Sea – we did it many moons ago – but those days are long gone).
There are three major factors stopping you from pitching your tent willy-nilly in this region – the presence of scary sink holes that appear out of nowhere, the existence of mines from previous wars, and the sheer lack of basic facilities.
Having said that, there are a number of great, safe options to consider if you’re still adamant about camping at the Dead Sea: our personal recommendations are Khan Ein Gedi (budget camping, with a great little chillout zone, views of the Dead Sea, and half-decent pizza if you’ve got the munchies) and Shkedi’s Camplodge (perfectly located for desert hikes, you can also take one of the wooden cabins or bungalows), both at the southern end of the Dead Sea.
Another couple of options to consider: the campsite at the foot of Masada (only accessible from the Western side, at the foot of the Roman rampart), and the Nahal Mishmar campsite, located a few minutes south of Khan Ein Gedi (but facilities are extremely basic – bring everything with you!).
Camping at the Dead Sea: our recommendations>>>
Camping in the South of Israel (the desert!)
If your camping in Israel bucket list includes checking out the extreme landscape of the desert, there are a few great options to check out. Just so you know, many campsites in the south include khans, which are large open Bedouin styled tents, but these are great fun, especially if you’re a group/family; these campsites often also include areas for those of you more into pitching your own tent.
Starting from the northern end of the desert region, check out the Ein Avdat campground, surprisingly located at the Ein Avdat park! This campsite has limited facilities (no running water or toilets), but does include tables and some decent shade; best of all, it’s FREE. If you’re looking for something a bit more upscale, try the nearby Khan Hashayarot, which also has some bungalows and a large khan to sleep in, and has decent facilities.
Feeling a little adventurous? How about a desert camp located in the middle of nowhere (and rather close to the Egyptian border)? Head to Khan Beerotayim at Ezuz for some awesome desert fun (they have khans, bungalows, and areas for camping). They have some decent facilities there, including some great food, and also hold regular all-nighter parties there for the more funky of you out there.
If you want to locate yourself in the very heart of the stunning Ramon Crater (Machtesh Ramon), head to the Be’erot Campground in the Ramon Crater near Mitzpe Ramon, which is perfect for those with an adventurous streak! Apart from the novelty of sleeping in a crater, the area also offers jeep safaris, hiking trails and rappelling.
Heading south, you could also try the Barak River campsite (a great pitstop for some great desert hikes – but there are no facilities here, not even shade!), and other various locations in the desert that just seem to cater to the khan style of accommodation (we haven’t listed them here as they don’t seem to offer areas to pitch your own tent).
You could also head further south to Timna, where they have a campsite in glorious desert surroundings, with the added bonus that you’re not too far from Eilat. Just before you get to Eilat, there’s also the Shoret Gorge parking campsite, an open and fairly remote site (with no facilities), with access to some great nearby hiking.
Camping in Israel wouldn’t be complete without a night out under the stars in the Red Sea resort of Eilat. But to be honest, genuine camping options in Eilat are fairly limited thanks to a fairly strict policy of non-camping on the beaches of Eilat. However, we’ve come up with the following options for you: the Eilat Field School (opposite the Coral Beach Reserve – reserve in advance if you want to camp here), the Solomon River campsite (close to the Dolphin Reef beach, this is a great little secluded spot in the middle of some great desert scenery (with no facilities)), and a strip of beach on North Beach next to the Jordanian border (just be aware that facilities are very limited there and seems to have been taken over in the last year or so by private caravan sites, so check before you pitch your tent – and if you have a generator and shower options, bring them!).
Camping in the South of Israel (the desert): our recommendations>>>