Outdoor Activities in Eilat: What to Do

Outdoor Activities in Eilat

Stand on the ridge above Coral Beach at sunset and you can see four countries at once: Israel underfoot, Jordan’s mountains east across the gulf, Egypt’s Sinai southwest, and Saudi Arabia’s coast to the south. That single view is a fair summary of why Eilat rewards people who’d rather hike or swim than sit by a hotel pool.

Current advisory, briefly

Israel is at US State Department Level 3, “Reconsider Travel” (reissued 26 Aug 2026), and the strip within about 2.4km of the Egyptian border carries a Level 4 rating, though Eilat city itself does not. The UK FCDO lifted its blanket warning against travel to Eilat around June 2026 while still flagging Houthi drone and missile risk; drones hit Eilat and Ramon Airport in September 2025, and the Israel-Iran ceasefire holding since April 2026 remains fragile by both governments’ own description. Eilat itself keeps functioning as a normal resort city, but check your government’s current advisory before you plan an outdoor trip here.

Snorkeling the Reef

Coral Beach Nature Reserve’s 1.2km fringing reef is the easiest outdoor activity in Eilat to just show up for: entry is about 35 NIS for an adult, no reservation needed if you’re on your own, and the reef itself is the northernmost in the world, unusually heat-resistant compared to most coral systems. Touching or standing on it is illegal and fined, so plan to view from the water, not stand in it. A Coral Beach snorkeling trip is a straightforward way to get in with gear already sorted.

Mount Zefahot

The final stretch of the 1,000km Israel National Trail climbs Mount Zefahot, directly above Coral Beach, gaining about 260 meters to a summit with the four-country view described above. It’s a genuine hike, not a stroll, but manageable in a half-day for a reasonably fit walker.

Red Canyon

A 3km circular trail 20km northwest of Eilat via Route 12, dropping into a twisting, brilliant-red sandstone slot canyon navigated with installed metal ladders and handrails. This is the single most photographed hike near Eilat, and for good reason. A Red Canyon jeep and hike tour covers transport and the trail together if you’d rather not self-drive.

North Beach Promenade

A flat, paved coastal path running the length of North Beach, good for an early run before the heat builds rather than a scenic showpiece, though the bay views don’t hurt.

Mountain Biking

Timna Valley has dedicated singletrack winding around King Solomon’s Pillars and the old copper mining sites, a genuinely different kind of desert riding than the coastal promenade offers.

Tips

  • June through August, air temperatures routinely hit 38-44°C. Red Canyon, Zefahot, and any Timna riding need to happen before 09:00 or after 18:00; midday is for the water, not the trail.
  • Bring more water than feels necessary. The dry desert air masks how much you’re sweating.
  • Reef-safe sunscreen matters here specifically because the reserve enforces coral protection rules; a sunscreen that damages coral is treated the same as touching it.
  • If you only have energy for one hike, take Red Canyon over Zefahot: it’s shorter, more dramatic to photograph, and doesn’t require the same fitness level.

For the reef’s protection rules, see the Coral Beach Nature Reserve page , and check the UK Israel travel advice before you fly.

For the version of these same trails aimed at couples rather than solo hikers, see romantic getaways in Eilat .