The best sport spots and adventures in Israel – travel tips, packing lists and first-hand experience from DOMISPORTS.
Süddistrikt · Scuba Diving, Snorkeling · Best time: Year-round
Israel's window on the Red Sea: coral reefs right off the city beach, with many sites entered straight from shore. The water stays divable all year — perfect for a first certification or easy house-reef days. Dolphin Reef for snorkeling with dolphins — unique.
Süddistrikt · Hiking, MTB, Horse Riding · Best time: Oct–Apr
Desert hiking, Israeli style: the Negev stages of the Israel National Trail run for days through canyons and scree fields, past the vast Ramon crater. Water logistics and sun demand planning — in exchange you get absolute silence. Israel National Trail Negev section — 5 days desert hiking.
Judäische Wüste · Hiking, Trekking · Best time: Oct–Apr
A study in contrasts at the lowest point on earth: in the Ein Gedi reserve you hike oasis gorges with waterfalls and ibex, then float weightless in the Dead Sea. Start early — the heat always shows up. Wadi David trail early morning — then float in the Dead Sea.
Negev · MTB, Climbing, Trekking · Best time: Oct–Apr
The huge erosion crater is Israel's outdoor arena: MTB routes across the crater floor, climbing crags in its walls and trekking paths along the rim. At night comes the encore — the desert sky above Mitzpe Ramon is among the darkest in the region. Stargazing in the crater — one of the darkest skies in the Middle East.
Tiberias · Hiking, Kayaking, Cycling · Best time: Oct–Apr
At the Sea of Galilee you mix sport with history: the multi-day Jesus Trail walks you from Nazareth down to the shore, with bike loops around the lake and calm water for paddling. Low-key and loaded with meaning. Jesus Trail (65 km) from Nazareth — 4 days of pilgrimage hiking.
Landesweit (Dan–Eilat) · Trekking, Hiking · Best time: Oct–Apr
The Shvil Israel runs a good 1,000 km from Dan in the north to Eilat on the Red Sea — Galilee, Carmel, Judean hills, Negev, all on one trail. A full thru-hike takes 40–60 days, but the 44 legs work great as day hikes or multi-day sections. National Geographic lists it among the world's most epic trails, and the trail-angel culture along the way is genuinely unique. There is no water on the Negev stages — burying caches or arranging them via trail angels is standard practice there.
Golanhöhen · Hiking, Canyoning, Swimming · Best time: Apr–Oct
The largest nature reserve in the Golan: basalt canyons with year-round water, carved by the Yehudiya, Zavitan and Meshushim streams. You don't just hike here — you wade, swim through pools and eventually stand below the hexagonal basalt columns at the Meshushim Pool. There's everything from family-friendly loops to full-day routes with scrambling sections. For the hexagon pools in the upper Zavitan, start from the Sheikh Hussein parking lot, not the main entrance — it saves the long approach on the jeep track.
Haifa / Karmel · MTB, Hiking, Trail Running · Best time: Oct–May
The Carmel is the cradle of Israeli mountain biking — locals have been riding singletrack here since the early 2000s. Rock gardens, short punchy enduro descents and some of the longest downhills in the country, plus XC loops through pine and oak forest with sea views over Haifa Bay. Prefer running? The national park's trail network is just as good for hiking and trail running. The best singletracks are in Ofer Forest and around Haifa University — much of it is unofficial but kept in great shape by the local scene.
Golanhöhen (Nordbezirk) · Skiing, Snowboarding, Hiking · Best time: Jan–Mar
Israel's only ski resort — yes, skiing in the Middle East is actually a thing. Between 1,600 and 2,040 metres you get 14 runs and 11 lifts, most of it relaxed beginner and cruising terrain with views across the Golan. In summer, the country's highest mountain turns into a hiking and lift-ride destination. The resort only gets around 40–50 ski days per season — always check the snow report before driving up, as opening depends on short-notice snowfall.
Tel Aviv · Surfing, SUP, Running · Best time: Nov–Apr
Hilton Beach in the middle of Tel Aviv is considered the country's best surf spot: sheltered between the marina and a jetty, with soft peaks for beginners on small days and proper A-frames when winter swell rolls in. Surf schools and board rentals sit right on the sand, and afterwards you can run along the beach promenade. Hard to pack more sport into a city. The decent swells arrive with the southwest winds in winter — in summer, Hilton Beach is more of a SUP spot than a surf spot.