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The Dolphin Reef Eilat

Eilat travel guide

The Beach

The dolphin reef beach is a private beach, offering a diversity of services, such as bathrooms and showers, restaurant, diving courses, swimming and diving with dolphins and a lot more.

The beach itself is not very big, but the golden sand compensate you for the little round stones covering the other Eilatian beaches.

As soon as you enter the beach, you see the defined area, in which the dolphins are swimming.

For the time being, there are ten dolphins, some of them were brought from the Caspian Sea in Russia, and some of them were born in Eilat, and are Israeli citizens….

The uniqueness of the place is the fact that there was not and there isn’t an attempt to domesticate the dolphins. That defined area in which they are living is not closed, and allows the dolphins free entrance and exit. As a matter of fact, the dolphins are staying there out of their own free will.

The dolphins frequently swim to the open sea, for the simple fact that they have to supply themselves with food. The “Dolphin-reef “ crew does not supply them with food, and does not interfere with their private life. Aside from that, those dolphin has a good taste of their own…they too – same as we – loves the Red Sea, with all of its beautiful coral reefs and spectacular undersea creatures.

Preparing to swim

After struggling with myself, I chose to swim with the dolphins, rather than diving with them.

Sarit, the instructor, gave me a short brief, focusing on the interaction between those diverse mammals and us.
There are some rules such as not chasing the dolphins, not touching sensitive areas like the eyes, the blowhole on their head and their genitalia (as if we wanted to do that…).

We also got an explanation regarding the personal equipment, which includes snorkel, diving-mask, flippers and diving suit.

If you are anxious to commemorate the occasion, you can rent an under-water camera, or pay to professional photographer to come along with you, for video shooting or stills.

No one promised us that we could get real close. After all, that depends on the dolphins themselves. We were a little disappointed, but our hopes increased while remembering that half an hour of swimming is a lot of time.

After a short demo practice, outside the defined area, we moved into it (“we” means me, five other visitors and, of course, Sarit).

In the water with the dolphins

What can I tell you…from the first moment you can sense the presence of that amazing creature, by hearing the unique sounds that it can produce. It is unbelievable! You can Swimming and Diving with dolphins in Eilatnot see them yet, but you sure can hear them. We all tried to make the first eye contact, but came out with nothing. I raised my head out of the water, and caught a glimpse of back-flippers about 50 meters from me. After a few minutes I nearly had a cocktail of salty sea water, when my mouth almost opened wide because of a huge dolphin, swimming in superb, passing along my swimming buddy, a tourist from the Netherlands, who actually was able to touch it.

I saw the dolphin moving on into the deep water, and I was so envious of my friend at that time, because I was afraid that this time I wouldn’t share his experience.

The first encounter

But, after a few minutes of swimming here and forth, came, just out of the blue, an amazing dolphin, named Bunchy, according to Sarit. Bunchy was a young dolphin, which explains the fact that he still doesn’t get bored of meeting groups of enthusiastic people such as we were. The wild dive

Bunchy stayed with us for about 15 seconds more, and during this time he surely felt like the most beloved dolphin in the world.

We touched him, caressed him and played with him. It took us a while to realize that we are swimming with a dolphin (!), but soon it seemed like the most natural thing to do. Bunchy surrounded us and examined us above and under the water… it was really hard to say who enjoyed this meeting more…Bunchy or us…

Conclusions

I can hardly explain the feeling touching his smooth skin, and the feeling I got out of a 10cm distance between my head and Bunchy’s. You just have to be there in order to understand.

Swimming with dolphins was something I dreamt about since I was a little boy. I guess it was under the influence and impression of books that had been read to me, or because the mythological and unforgettable TV show – “Flipper”.

Out of that short experience I’ve had in the Dolphin Reef, I can say that dolphins are the most amazing mammals. You can sense, in every moment, their high intelligence (no doubt, much more then a few people I happened to have met in my life).

All farewells are sad, especially if that farewell is from the first dolphin you have ever met, but you can find some comfort knowing you can always do that again, if you are in Eilat, and have about two hours and some bucks (about 200NIS) to spend.

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The Red Sea Jazz Festival

Red-Sea jazz festival, the biggest and most successful of its kind in Israel is hosting more than 20 world-known and international artist such as Rickie-Lee Jones, Garry Barton, Stephan Harris, Danilo Perez, Niki Yanofski, Beri Saharoff, Rea Mohich, Shem-Tov Levi and many others… The Red Sea Jazz Festival (RSJF) established in 1987 as a four day international jazz festival with 9 concerts per evening, 6 clinics with guest artists and nightly Jam sessions. The festival is held yearly in the last week of August. RSJF strives to introduce to the public the broadest possible musical spectrum, from New Orleans jazz to the contemporary, including Latin and World music. The festival presents guest groups from all around the globe plus Israeli top groups. RSJF is also active in the jazz education field in Israel, promoting original jazz compositions and youth jazz bands. This year same as previous years – we are following the tradition of hosting world top jazz performers and also headlining young jazz artists and Israeli groups. Every evening at 19:00 we welcome you to an open concert featuring the best Israeli young jazz groups. During 4 days, the festival will feature 3 different concerts in each of the halls, performed by international and Israeli artists – participating in the festival. The concerts will be held in three venues: The CLUB with the capacity of 1,000 seats around tables serving food and beverage, the HALL with 2,000 regular seats and the ARENA with 4,000 seats, some arranged gradually overlooking the Red Sea. Tickets Wide PASS allowing 4-day admission to the two big halls and to the club on an availability basis. Daily PASS and single tickets for each concert will be available as well. The youngsters, honor guests of the festival, remain with their young PASS allowing free admission to all concerts on availability basis. Blue/Yellow PASS allowing admission to 4 concerts per day. The Eilat Port is waiting you again, music aficionado, to celebrate the end of the summer vacation with lots of good music and pleasant ambiance complemented by encounters with friends and top musicians from Israel and abroad. The Red Sea during the day and Eilat Port at night – what could be better?

Eilat Travel City and Hotel Guide

The suggested tour routes that follow are suitable for the whole family. For your convenience, the maps indicate tourist sites and routes from Eilat northwards along the eastern axis, along the Arava road (route 90) and from Eilat along the western axis following route 1 2. Important - please make sure to take drinking water and a hat with you. At the 20 km marker (1) on the Arava road, turn westwards following the route marked in blue, and continue to the Amram Pillars. Some 7.5 km from the road, the track ends in a parking area (2). A five minute walk will bring you to the Amram Pillars (3), a series of pillars of rock along the western wall of the Amram crater. They were carved into the colorful sandstone of the cliff walls by the flow of water, cutting deep ridges and creating the pillars like a relief sculpture.Halfway back along the trail, as you pass the fork in the road (4), turn southwest and follow the trail marked in green. This will lead you to the mouth of the Shehoret rivulet (5). Park your car and walk along the "green" trail in a westerly direction until you arrive at the mouth of the canyon with walls a sheer 20 meters high. Here you will see dark granite rocks and boulders that are among the world's most ancient - some 600 million years old! After about an hour's walk through the canyon, the terrain begins to change. The walls drop away and a wider vista opens up as you walk between pale young chalk rocks and sandstone in a variety of shades; their presence here at the same level as the baserock is evidence of a geological rift. Together, they create a fascinating panorama. Carry on another 1 00 meters along the right side of the arrow until you find red markings (6) and follow this trail to the right (in a northerly direction). After a short, steep incline, you will arrive at a lookout point affording a view of the entire Arava basin. Now continue eastwards following the red markings until you reach another lookout point and then descend to the plain below, where you meet the trail marked in black (7). This trail I leads southwards (to the right) bac the parking area (2). Along the way, you will pass characteristic desert flora, and if you are lucky, you may also see some desert fauna. It takes about three-quarters of an hour to get to the Amram Pillars and back. The tour through the canyon takes about three hours. Timna Park Timna Park The Timna crater is surrounded on three sides by cliffs hundreds of meters high. It is also surrounded by breathtaking landscapes including ancient copper mines. The turn-off from the Arava Road leads to the park's main gate. Once inside the park, you will enjoy such sites as ancient cave drawings depicting men on chariots doing battle. The natural arches along the western cliff tops are a result of centuries of erosion. At the foot of the arched pillars is an ancient Egyptian mine with vertical tunnels and horizontal galleries. Our route leads to the "mushroom" rock located in a small depression of the Timna Park plane. This is an amazingly mushroom-shaped boulder of red sandstone carved by wind and water. The ground of the park is covered with shards of ancient clay ovens used for smelting copper during the Egyptian period. Solomon's Pillars are made of sandstone that juts out in ridges from the tall straight cliffs along the south-western face of Mt. Timna. The pillars were carved out through centuries of water erosion. At the foot of Solomon's Pillars are the remains of a temple to the mining God built by the Egyptian copper miners. Above the temple is an engraved rock which bears the praises that Ramses the Third bestowed on the Egyptian God of Mining. The park includes a lake fed by a pump which brings it water from an underground aquifer. Near the lake is a parking area, restaurant, picnic grounds, drinking water and conveniences. Eilat Heights Route #12 from Eilat winds its way through the expansive landscapes between the Edom and the Eilat Mountains. This is the ancient road to Mecca which was built at the beginning of the 8th century by. the Egyptian ruler, Mahmud lbn Tulun. The road connected Egypt with the Eilat Heights and Eilat with Aqaba and Mecca. Mt. Yoash At the peak of the Eilat Heights we encounter a junction with a road going off to the south. This road leads to the summit of Mt. Yoash overlooking the Eilat Heights' most beautiful panorama. From this vantage point you can see the borders of four countries - Egypt, Saudia Arabia, Jordan and Israel. To the south you can see canyons and cliffs, and to the east, the Gulf and city of Eilat. Ein Netafim From the top of the Eilat Heights, a dirt trail winds its way eastwards and descends to a parking area. A tour route marked in green descends along a narrow ravine to a pool at its lowest point, the "kalachat". The pool is at the base of a waterfall descending from the top of the Netafim River Canyon into a small basin carved out by the British. The pool developed and filled drop by drop, and herein lies the origin of its name (translation: Well of Drops). Follow the black markings for the path leading to the basin. If you arrive here in the early morning or late afternoon, and you keep very still, you may see some of the region's wildlife, such as rock rabbits, gazelles, or flocks of birds such as Tristam's Grackle and trumpeter finches. Ein Netafim is the only source of water in the area, making it a popular watering hole. The tour of Ein Netafim takes about a half hour. Mt. Hizqiyahu Milestone 82 marks the peak of Mt. Hizqiyahu. On old maps the peak is listed as having an altitude of 833 meters. The peak is actually 838 meters high. From this vantage point you can look out over the Eilat mountains, the Arava desert and the Edom mountains on the east, and over Moon Valley whose wild landscape looked to the first settlers of Eilat like the face of the moon, hence its name. To the west, you can see the ancient route to Mecca, "Darab AI Haj", that crosses the Sinai desert, descends to the Gulf of Eilat and continues on to Mecca and Medina. The Red Canyon See regional map #2. From Mt. Hizqiyahu continue northwards, passing through a distinctive landscape of black and red mountains, with gravel and pebbles covering the slopes. These are the Neshef Mountains, made of volcanic rock. After the road crosses the Neshef Mountains, it arrives at a wide junction with a road leading eastwards (1) (marked in red). This road leads to the Red Canyon. Follow the road for about 2 km until you arrive at a parking area (2). From here, carry on along the trail marked in green, until you arrive at the canyon (3). The canyon is about 1 50 meters long and 2-3 meters wide. The canyon walls reach a height of 30 meters. The dominant color in the canyon is deep red, with sandstone in various shades of red, purple and white. Flood waters widened the canyon and created niches where one can stop to rest. At the end of the trail (4), the canyon widens and colors change. The trail leading back follows the path of the rivulet to the south and back to the parking area (2). The tour through the canyon and back takes about two hours. Birdwatchers Tour See regional map #3. The birdwatchers tour, adjacent to the salt ponds, starts from Meeting Point (1) and follows the north shore. You will see a variety of sea birds such as gannets, cormorants, western reef heron, and gulls. Continue northwards along the water canal. On the right you will see the Oceanography & Lakes Research Institute which, among other things, is involved in the study of aquaculture. All along the canal a variety of birds can be seen, including: small waders, gulls, waterfowl and migrating songbirds such as Bee-eaters, Dead Sea Sparrows and Spanish Sparrows. When you arrive at Eilat saitflats, you can visit the ringing station for songbirds (2) (a walk of about one kilometer), or stroll through the date grove (3) where you will encounter yellow or grey wagtails, pippits, wheatears and swallows. There are other varieties of birds in the area, some of which find shelter among the branches of the date palms. Carry on northwards along the eastern shore of the canal in the direction of the Jordanian border crossing. You'll arrive at the entrace to the Bird Sanctuary where indigenous trees have been specially planted and recycled refuse provides birds with a welcome food source. http://www.inisrael.com/tour/eilat/touring.htm http://www.inisrael.com/tour/eilat/reef.html

Queen of Sheba Eilat hotel - What do the reviews say?

Welcome to the Queen of Sheba Eilat hotel, located in the heart of Eilat's promenade where the Red Sea and the desert mountains meet. Inspired by the biblical palace of the Queen of Sheba, the hotel offers luxurious and spacious rooms and suites, designed with hand-painted ancient motifs and impressive mosaics. As part of the Astral Luxury hotel group, the Queen of Sheba Hotel is known for its central location and proximity to the promenade, beach, restaurants, and shopping centers. Indulge in a variety of catering options, including vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free dishes, offered in all hotel restaurants, including the "Makda" and "Ebony" restaurants and the "Exum Lobby Bar" restaurant, offering a magical atmosphere and a variety of light dairy dishes, coffee, refreshing cocktails, and homemade cakes. The hotel also features a pool designed as a palace courtyard, with cat statues symbolizing the protection of the queen's palace and the lotus flower that decorates the mosaic. The pool area includes pools suitable for children, a toddler pool, and a covered and shaded area. The children's club, designed as a large sea ship, is open every day and offers games, toys, and a library corner. The gym, located in front of the spa, offers a variety of Technogym fitness equipment, and the spa itself offers a variety of pampering treatments. Book your stay at the Queen of Sheba Eilat hotel and experience luxury and comfort in the heart of Eilat's promenade. What do the reviews say? The Queen of Sheba Eilat hotel has generally positive reviews. Guests praise the hotel's central location, luxurious and spacious rooms, and beautiful pool area. The food at the hotel's restaurants is also highly regarded, with a wide variety of options and an emphasis on freshness and quality. Many reviewers appreciate the attention to detail in the hotel's design, which is inspired by the Queen of Sheba and features hand-painted ancient motifs and impressive mosaics. The hotel's children's club and gym are also popular with guests. However, some reviewers have noted that the hotel is showing some signs of age and wear, and that the service could be improved in certain areas. Overall, the Queen of Sheba Eilat hotel is seen as a high-end, luxurious option for visitors to the area.

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