Whether hiking, rappelling or climbing - whether in a caravan of camels, mules or jeeps - the Negev - the call of the wilderness is a call to discover a myriad of wonders.

Although the Negev is known to be hot, the highlands in its center are a cool surprise. Even in summer the weather here is quite pleasant, for the highlands rise from 450 to 1,000 meters above sea level. Although in the past most Negev settlement was in the highlands, today the region is very underpopulated. It contains only one city, Dimona, the two small towns of Yeruham and Mitzpe Ramon and a few kibbutzim and moshavim. The absence of modern civilization is, however, a blessing which has preserved many of the highland's fabulous natural attraction. Among them: three craters, unique flowers like the Yeruham iris and exceptionally beautiful riverbeds, canyons and desert springs. Besides colossal natural sites, the highlands offer some of Israel's outstanding national parks. Within their confines are the reamins of four excavated ancient Nabatean cities: Avdat, Mamshit, Shivta and Nitzana.