Eilat is the southernmost city in Israel. It is a wildly popular tourist destination with gorgeous beaches, scuba diving, water sports, as well as hotels, shopping, and fine dining. Surrounded by majestic desert mountains, Eilat is the perfect starting point for scenic runs.
The Eilat Desert Marathon was born in 2013. It is an annual event that takes place in late November, usually the last Friday of the Month. Distances are full, half, 10k, and 5k. The majority of the course takes place on wide dirt trails that can accomodate 4×4 vehicles as well. The elevation gain during the run is 500 meters, as the course passes mostly alongside the mountains.
If you are planning a trip to Eilat for the desert marathon, consider spending a few days before or after the race exploring the trail runs that do lead up and into the mountains. The best time of year to run in Eilat is November to February. The rest of the year, temperatures can be extremely hot.
You can start your run right from the hotel, or take a cab for a 30 minute drive and then run back to the hotel. Even better, end your run at the beach and go for a dip.
Some great trails pass by Mt Yoash, Gishron Creek, and Mt Shlomo.
About an hour north of Eilat are additional trails that include Timna valley, the sand dunes of Kasui Creek, and Solomon’s Pillars.
If you are interested in a tailor fit trail from a few hours to several days, please contact us.