The Incense Route was the network of trade roads that carried frankincense and myrrh from the kingdoms of southern Arabia (modern Yemen and Oman) across the Arabian desert, through the Negev, to the Mediterranean ports of Gaza. The route was one of the most profitable trade networks in the ancient world, and the Nabatean cities of the Negev, Avdat, Mamshit, Shivta, and Haluza, were the stations that made the crossing of the desert possible.
Trade
Frankincense and myrrh were among the most valuable commodities in the ancient world. Frankincense was burned in temples across the Roman Empire, and myrrh was used in embalming, medicine, and perfume. The resins came from trees that grew only in southern Arabia and the Horn of Africa, and the overland route through the Arabian and Negev deserts was the primary means of transport. The Nabateans controlled this route and grew fabulously wealthy from the tolls, taxes, and services they provided.
Nabatean Cities
The Nabateans built a series of cities across the Negev, each a day’s journey apart, to serve the caravans. The cities provided water (collected through ingenious desert engineering), food, lodging, and protection. Avdat is the most dramatically situated, on a hilltop with views stretching to the horizon. Mamshit is the best preserved, with intact street plans and buildings. Shivta is the most atmospheric, a ghost city in the deep desert. And Haluza, largely unexcavated, may be the largest.
UNESCO Recognition
In 2005, the Incense Route and the Negev cities were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing the Nabateans’ extraordinary achievement in making the desert habitable and profitable. The designation covers the four cities and the connecting routes, including sections of the original road that are still visible in the desert landscape.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
The Incense Route is the spine of any Negev itinerary. Hoshen Tours connects the Nabatean cities with the Ramon Crater, Sde Boker, and the desert landscape to tell the story of an ancient trade network that shaped the world.