Avdat

Avdat is an archaeological site and national park in the southern Israeli Negev, on the edge of the Zin Valley. It sits along the ancient Incense Route, a desert caravan corridor linking the Arabian Peninsula with the Mediterranean. The site preserves the ruins of a Nabataean fortress town that developed in the 1st century BCE to shelter caravans and guard the route.

After its Nabataean era, Avdat remained in use under Byzantine administration and in the early Islamic period before being abandoned. The ruins show a fortified layout with remnants of streets and buildings that once housed traders, guards, and residents who operated along the caravan network. The site also displays evidence of a sophisticated water system, including cisterns and channels carved to collect and store scarce desert rainfall. Remains of religious buildings, such as a church, indicate the presence of organized community life.

Avdat is part of UNESCO's World Heritage Site "Incense Route – Desert Cities in the Negev," inscribed in 2005. Today it is protected as Avdat National Park, preserving the ruins and offering marked trails that guide visitors through the canyon and among the ancient structures. The site is a popular destination for day trips in the Negev, with visitors typically exploring it from Beersheba or nearby towns, particularly in cooler seasons when hiking conditions are more favorable.