Eilat and the Red Sea

Eilat sits at the very tip of southern Israel, where the Negev desert meets the Red Sea. It is Israel’s resort city, a place of sun, sea, and coral reefs that feels like a different country from the rest of Israel. The water is warm year-round, the underwater world is extraordinary, and the surrounding desert mountains create a landscape that is equal parts beach vacation and geological wonder.

Biblical Port of Ezion-Geber

The area around modern Eilat has biblical significance as the site of Solomon’s port of Ezion-Geber. The Book of Kings records: “King Solomon also built ships at Ezion-Geber, which is near Elath on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom” (1 Kings 9:26). From this port, Solomon’s fleet sailed to the land of Ophir, returning with gold, almug wood, and precious stones. The exact location of Ezion-Geber has been debated by archaeologists, with excavations at Tell el-Kheleifeh (near the modern border with Jordan) revealing an ancient site that may correspond to the biblical port. The region also features in the Exodus narrative: tradition holds that the Israelites passed through this area on their journey from Egypt, camping at various points along the Gulf of Aqaba before turning northward into the wilderness (Numbers 33:35-36).

Coral Reef and Underwater Observatory

Eilat’s coral reef is one of the northernmost coral reefs in the world, and it supports an astonishing diversity of marine life. Over 270 species of coral and 650 species of fish have been identified in the waters off Eilat. Snorkeling and diving directly from the shore give access to an underwater world of tropical fish, sea turtles, rays, and coral formations that rival anything in the Red Sea. The Coral Beach Nature Reserve protects the most pristine section of the reef. The Underwater Observatory Marine Park offers views of the reef for those who prefer to stay dry, featuring a tower that descends below the surface with windows looking directly into the coral gardens. The observatory allows visitors to observe the reef ecosystem without entering the water, making it accessible to all ages and abilities.

Dolphin Reef

The Dolphin Reef is a unique facility where a pod of bottlenose dolphins lives in a natural bay. Visitors can swim and snorkel with the dolphins in their own environment, an experience that is less commercial and more respectful than most dolphin encounters elsewhere in the world. The dolphins are not performing. They interact with visitors voluntarily, and the encounters feel genuine rather than staged.

Desert Mountains

The mountains behind Eilat, part of the Eilat Mountains Nature Reserve, offer some of the most dramatic desert hiking in Israel. The Red Canyon, a narrow slot canyon of red sandstone, is a short drive from the city and accessible to hikers of moderate fitness. Timna Park, with its copper mines, Solomon’s Pillars, and sandstone formations, is 25 kilometers north of the city.

Four Countries at the Gulf

Eilat sits at the meeting point of four countries: Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. The Jordanian city of Aqaba is visible across the bay, and the Egyptian resort of Taba is just across the border to the south. The proximity of multiple countries, visible from the beach, gives Eilat a cosmopolitan edge that its party reputation sometimes obscures.

Visit with Hoshen Tours

Eilat is the destination for sun, sea, and desert. Hoshen Tours includes it in southern itineraries alongside Timna Park, the Ramon Crater, and the Negev desert.