Eilat is Israel's southernmost city — a Red Sea resort at the tip of the Negev Desert, surrounded by the mountains of Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. It sits at the very northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, the eastern arm of the Red Sea, where the water is exceptionally clear and warm (23–27°C year-round) with some of the finest coral reefs in the world just metres from the shore. Eilat has no rain for most of the year and over 360 days of sunshine. Day 3 explores the Petra excursion into Jordan.
The Coral Beach Nature Reserve (2 km south of the city centre) protects the northernmost section of the world's most northerly coral reef — just metres from the shore, in water 1–5 metres deep, are brain corals, fan corals, sea anemones with clownfish, parrotfish, surgeonfish and occasional sea turtles. One of the most accessible coral reefs in the world for snorkelers. The water is clear enough to see 30m.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe Israeli fishing tradition in Eilat brings Red Sea fish to the table — the grilled St. Peter's fish (tilapia, a brackish species from the Sea of Galilee — not the Red Sea, confusingly), fresh tuna, and the Red Sea snapper at the harbour restaurants. At Eddie's Hideaway (North Beach) or the Eilat port fish restaurants.
The Coral World Underwater Observatory (3 km south) is a glass-walled observation tower built underwater on the reef — visitors descend to watch the reef fish, sharks and rays from a completely dry underwater room. Also has a large aquarium and an observation deck.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe North Beach promenade is the social heart of Eilat — the promenade runs along the beach from the port to the hotel district, with cafés, juice bars, souvenir shops and the Jordanian mountains of Aqaba visible across the 15km-wide gulf. The sunset light on the Saudi and Jordanian mountains is extraordinary.
Israeli BBQ (al ha-esh — on the fire) with lamb kebab (kofta), chicken schnitzel and the Israeli salad (cucumber, tomato, parsley, lemon, olive oil — the finest salad in the world in its simplest form), with hummus, tahini and pita. At the Eilat port restaurants or at Ginger Asian Kitchen (different direction entirely but excellent).
Eilat is an Israeli resort city with a strong nightlife — the bar strip on the North Beach promenade, the King's City theme complex, or the casino hotels (Eilat has Israel's only legal casinos) for a late night.
Timna Valley (25 km north of Eilat) is the location of the world's earliest copper mines — Egyptian-era (15th century BC, Temple of Hathor) and later Midianite mines in the dramatic red sandstone desert. The Solomon's Pillars (giant natural sandstone columns, 50m high), the Mushroom Rock and the artificial lake make Timna one of the most dramatic parks in Israel.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuidePicnic lunch in Timna: hummus, pita, canned tuna, tomatoes and cucumbers from Eilat supermarket prepared in advance. The shade of Solomon's Pillars makes the finest desert picnic spot in the Negev.
The Red Canyon (7 km from Eilat, off the road to Taba) is a 500m-long slot canyon of red Nubian sandstone — the narrow section requires rope handholds and some scrambling, but the colored stone walls (red, orange, purple) are some of the most vivid in the Negev. A 2-hour round trip.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe meeting of the Negev desert mountains (reaching 1,000m) and the Red Sea coral reef at sunset is one of the most unusual landscape combinations on earth. The Coral Beach area at sunset shows both simultaneously.
A fresh Red Sea catch dinner — the barracuda, grouper and snapper landed that morning at the Eilat fishing port, grilled simply or in the Israeli spice paste (chermoula or dukkah).
Eilat has its own Israel-Jordan border crossing (the Yitzhak Rabin/Wadi Araba terminal, 15 min from the centre). A Petra day trip from Eilat is one of the most rewarding day trips in the world — Petra is 100 km from the border (2 hrs by car with a guide). Arrange a Petra day trip through an Eilat tour operator the day before.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe Siq is the narrow canyon approach to Petra — 1.2 km of sandstone walls narrowing to 2m wide, the colors shifting from cream to pink to purple as you walk. At the end, the canyon opens to reveal the Treasury (Al-Khazneh) in a sudden blaze of rose-red stone. One of the most dramatic architectural reveals in the world.
The Nabataean Treasury (Al-Khazneh, 1st century BC — 40m high, carved from a single rose-red sandstone cliff) is the most photographed building in the Middle East. Beyond it: the Street of Facades (100+ rock-cut tombs), the Roman Colonnaded Street (Cardo, 2nd century AD), and the Great Temple.
The Basin Restaurant at the far end of the main Petra valley (near the Byzantine Church) serves buffet lunches — Jordanian mezze, mansaf (lamb with rice in yoghurt sauce) and the freshest local bread. The location surrounded by Nabataean ruins is extraordinary.
Return to the border crossing and re-enter Israel. The return drive through the Wadi Araba (the southern Jordan Valley — the continuation of the Rift Valley) with the Edom Mountains on the Jordanian side is dramatic.
A final Israeli mezze spread: the finest hummus in Israel (Abu Chrismos, North Beach), with ful medames (fava bean dip), baba ghanoush, tabouleh, stuffed vine leaves and grilled lamb kebab. Celebrate Petra with the finest Israeli food available in Eilat.
A final late-night swim at the Coral Beach (the water is warm at night — 25°C in summer) — bioluminescent plankton may be visible in summer, lighting up the water blue-green with each movement. The most magical finale to three days in Eilat.