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The Negev Highlands are a high desert region in the heart of the Negev. The area enjoys a relatively comfortable climate, with dry summers (low humidity) and comparatively comfortable temperatures. This combination contributes greatly to particularly low heat stress compared with more humid and/or hotter regions.
The region makes up approximately 22% of the State of Israel and includes a wide variety of subregions. Each has different climatic, geological and landscape characteristics. Elevations range from 1,035 metres above sea level at Mount Ramon to much lower areas, around 250 metres above sea level.
At the right time of year, several places in the Negev Highlands offer rare and distinctive flowering sites. One of them is undoubtedly the narcissus site at Nahal Hatzatz.
Nahal Hatzatz is a short wadi whose rainy-season flow runs westwards from the Hatira Ridge towards Nahal Haroa. The wadi is about seven kilometres long, following a steep course scattered with limestone and flint rocks.
The name “Hatzatz” comes from the wadi’s geological formation, which consists of small yellow gravel stones. Over the years, these stones have formed through the weathering of chalk and flint rocks in the wadi channel.
The flowering of narcissus (the “king of the marsh”) at Nahal Hatzatz is one of the most spectacular sights in the Negev. Every year, between December and February, hundreds of thousands of narcissus flowers bloom in the wadi, creating a spectacular sight of white fields.
In the western part of Nahal Hatzatz, near Road 204, is the Hatzatz Cisterns site. This fascinating archaeological site contains ancient water cisterns dug during the Roman period.
At the site, you can see water cisterns, remains of buildings and a spectacular view over the landscape.
Nahal Hatzatz is a popular destination for walking and off-road vehicle tours. The main route through the wadi is circular and about five kilometres long. It starts at the Nahal Hatzatz overnight campsite and continues along the wadi to Hatzatz Cisterns. There is a shorter route requiring a walk of about one kilometre. For experienced walkers, there is also a full route of about 24 kilometres, which can be shortened using transport and off-road transfer services.
Adam Sela — Challenging Experience Ltd offers guided off-road tours that include a visit to the narcissus site and Hatzatz Cisterns. We also offer transport and off-road transfers for walkers who do not want a jeep tour and/or guiding but would like to shorten the outward and/or return walk.
Our recommendation? Book a combined jeep tour — a fascinating guided outing combining travel in a real off-road vehicle, a short, easy walk to the narcissus site, and of course a visit with guiding at Hatzatz Cisterns.
The tour begins in the wadi’s nature reserve. After a short off-road drive, we reach the narcissus site, stop to admire the magic of the flowers and continue driving towards Hatzatz Cisterns. At the cisterns, we walk among the ancient buildings and impressive cisterns, listen to our history-loving guide and climb to a spectacular viewpoint over the landscape.
The tour lasts about two hours and will leave you wanting to discover more and more of the Negev.
A visit to Nahal Hatzatz is recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy the Negev’s spectacular natural landscape. Whether you choose to walk independently on one of the suggested routes with off-road transfers, or take it a step further and book a fascinating combined guided jeep tour, you can look forward to an outing in a unique and enjoyable setting, visiting sites that offer a wide range of scenery and history.
We look forward to exploring with you.
The Adam Sela team.
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