Water & beaches

Ein Gedi Nature Reserve

שמורת טבע עין גדי

Dead Sea

A freshwater oasis of waterfalls and pools in the Judean Desert above the Dead Sea, split into three areas — Wadi David, Wadi Arugot and the En Gedi antiquities with its ancient synagogue. Floods in May 2026 damaged the reserve and access is still limited: Wadi David is open only along the accessible path to the first waterfall, and the Ein Gedi spring and Dodim Cave remain closed.

English spoken

Call Directions Website

Address: Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, Route 90, Dead Sea שמורת טבע עין גדי, כביש 90, ים המלח
Phone: 08-6584285
Hours: Summer Sun–Thu and Sat 08:00–17:00, Fri and holiday eves 08:00–16:00. Winter Sun–Thu and Sat 08:00–16:00, Fri and holiday eves 08:00–15:00. Gate closes an hour before; last entry to Wadi Arugot 14:00.
Website: en.parks.org.il
Price: ₪₪
Last checked: 2026-09

Call ahead to confirm hours.

Plan your visit

Tickets

Adult ₪31 Child ₪16

One ticket is valid the same day for all three areas. The antiquities and synagogue alone cost ₪16 adult and ₪7 child if that is all you visit. Visits to the Wadi David and Wadi Arugot trails must be reserved separately in advance; the antiquities need no reservation. Covered by a Nature and Parks Authority Matmon annual subscription, and by the Israel Pass multi-site ticket for tourists.

Discounts

Students ₪26, Israeli senior citizens ₪16. Groups of 30 or more ₪26 adult, ₪14 child. Synagogue-only: students ₪14, senior citizens ₪8, groups ₪14 adult / ₪6 child.

Parking

Free parking at the main entrance and at the synagogue gate. It fills up on Shabbat, holidays and chol hamoed — get there at opening.

Getting there

About an hour and a quarter from Jerusalem on Route 1 and Route 90, roughly 1 km north of Kibbutz Ein Gedi. Egged lines 486, 444 and 421 from Jerusalem Central Bus Station stop at the reserve; nothing runs from Friday afternoon until Saturday night.

How long to allowFull day trip AgesThe accessible path to the first Wadi David waterfall is a five-minute walk each way and suits everyone. Wadi Arugot is a different proposition — the Parks Authority calls it a challenging trail for fit hikers, with a 14:00 entry cut-off. Do not take small children up Arugot. Indoor or outdoorOutdoor On Shabbat and chagimOpen Best time to goLate winter through spring, and autumn. This is desert hiking: not a July activity. In hot months do the short accessible path early and skip Arugot entirely. AccessibilityA half-kilometre wheelchair-accessible trail in Nahal David with rest and observation areas, an audio station and a lookout over the waterfall pool. The synagogue site has gate parking, a shaded accessible path, accessible observation points, picnic areas and accessible toilets. Visitors with mobility impairments are advised to come with a companion. No dogs, including service animals — they can be left in a cage at the entrance.

Insider tips

Phone the Parks Authority information line *3639 before you travel — trail closures after the May floods change often.
Wadi Arugot closes to new entries at 14:00, whatever the closing time says.
Book Wadi David and Wadi Arugot separately online; one ticket still covers all three areas that day.
Everyone must be out of the gate by closing time, not just off the trail.
Water shoes and two litres of water per person, even for the short path.

On the map

Approximate location (street)

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