Can you remember that feeling when we were little balancing off the top of the highest diving board towering over the pool? The sense of fear as your tummy drops to the floor, and your toes dangle – hesitating at the edge while breathing in quick startled breaths. Rappelling may appear easy to some, but once you reach the edge of the cliff, this all too familiar feeling re-emerges.
Rappelling and Canyoneering
Rappelling in Israel has never been this popular and is now in high demand. In the age where everything is at your fingertips, people are now seeking the unfamiliar and long to head to the off beaten paths.
When people think of the desert they may picture a land devoid of any life, and caravans traveling to exotic and distant lands. They may even think of the stories from Arabian Nights. However, the desert is a magical place filled with astonishing beauty, a tangible silence and many small animals, birds, and possibly even deer who come to drink from the water that fills the canyon after the rains.
Nachal Rachaf Location
Nachal Rachaf is Located in a beautiful canyon in the southern Judean Desert next to the Dead Sea, Nachal Rachaf is one of the deepest and narrowest canyons in the country. It drains from the Judean Mountains and into the Dead Sea during the winter period
In its upper part, the stream crosses Kemer Har Kenaiim, where it passes through a rather deep canyon where the waterfall is about 60 meters (197 feet) high. This section of the Nachal is called Nachal Kidod (spark).
In the desert plateau, Nachal Rachaf creates another canyon section that is about 20 meters (65 feet) deep and about a kilometer (about half a mile) long.
Huge Ravine of 200 meters (656 feet)
The most impressive part of all is the lower part of the stream, where the stream plows through the cliff and creates a huge ravine that is about 200 meters (656 feet) deep and contains a series of waterfalls with large craters at their feet. In the winter, the craters are flooded with water and crossing the gorge requires a real swim.
On the way into the canyon of the lower part of the stream where we will rappel and hike, we will see magnificent views of the Dead Sea, Jordan, and the Judean desert. Once we enter the canyon, we will go through narrow passages, climb down ladders, and encounter pools that we will need to swim across (in the winter, spring, and up to early summer). There are a couple of very high waterfalls, and the only way to pass them is to go rappelling off the towering nachal rachafrock ledges into pools of water far below. When the rains fall and flood Nachal Rachaf with fresh new water then it is clean and clear water which makes the route a canyoning experience in the heart of the desert, one of the rarest experiences in the world!
Estimated Hiking Time
This challenging and adventurous hike will burn a few calories for sure but a pleasant winding trail takes you up the mountain. The estimated hiking time is between 5 to 7 hours long. As you hike out of the canyon, pay attention to the incredible views along the way. This canyon adventure is Fun! Fun!! Fun!!!
Author: Gateway to Israel Tours
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