Ein Gedi Nature Reserve: Nahal David and the David Waterfall

Ein Gedi Nature Reserve is really two canyons run as separate sites: Nahal David and Nahal Arugot each have their own entrance and their own ticket line, and one doesn’t cover the other. Decide which canyon’s trail you actually want — the classic waterfall walk is Nahal David — before you queue.

The Nubian ibex and rock hyraxes that wander right up to the path are wild animals in a protected reserve, and feeding them is a punishable offense, not a suggestion — human food can genuinely harm them. Keep snacks in your bag and enjoy how close they get on their own terms.

Swimming in the pool beneath David Waterfall itself is banned, mainly because of the risk of falling rock from the cliffs above — wading is allowed in some of the calmer pools further along the trail, so save the actual dip for one of those rather than the postcard waterfall.