Water along the INT

The Hebrew list is here

Between Mt. Hermon the northern trailhead of the INT and the town of Arad you can fill, refill or buy water in every small town, kibbutz, gas stations, and other places along the trail. Once you enter the desert south of Arad, water becomes a major issue to plan. There are several stretches of the INT in the desert, each of 2-5 days, where water is not available by the end of the day and you have to use private water caches (recommended). Few hikers choose to carry in the desert water for 2 days which ads 6-7 liters bringing the total weight of your backpack to approx. 25 kg (55 pounds). Very fit hikers who can hike 30-35 km / day can hike the desert carrying water for one day only. They need to meticulously plan the desert hike. Some service providers have private water caches available at all night camps in the desert. Please ask when calling them. An average of 7 water caches are required in the Judean and Negev deserts between Arad to Eilat. Below you will find a list of service providers for the water caching trip. Following the list of service providers is a list of places where water is cached, small villages, entry to production plants, kibbutzim and other places where water is available. Check also the trail angels list.

Water faucets on the trail between Mt. Hermon to Arad[]

Updated on: March 11, 2024

Days and maps are from the INT guide, from north to south (south to north). Distance from the day's start N to S (S to N) is indicated in most places. Some faucets might be temporarily closed for reasons beyond our control. Do not get to a water faucet without any water. In case the faucet is closed, you should have sufficient water until the next water source or the nearby village. All villages/kibbutzim/gas stations by the trail are a 100% reliable water sources. The new path from Mt. Hermon was marked in May 2023. It is not the best possible path on Mt. Hermon. The best path is described in the alternate routes file. Check the link is on page 3 of the red guide.

Majdal Shams
Neve Ativ
Nebi Hazuri - a small shop that is closed in winter when it snows
Nimrod fort national park (fee)
Banias national park (fee)
Kfar Sauld
Sede Nahemia
Kiryat Shemona.
The following places are located along the more beautiful path from Mt. Hermon to Kfar Gileadi, described in the alternate routes file
- Neve Ativ
- Nebi Hazuri
- Nimrod national park
- Banias national park
- She'ar Yeshuv
- Kiryat Shemona
- Kibbutz Dan - start of day 1
- Gan Hatzafon shopping and restuarants
- Maayan Baruch
- Kfar Yovel
- Kfar Gileadi start of day 2
Day 2 (45s), map 2 - Mishkenot Haro'im at km ~15 of the day (N2S), water tank + faucet outside the site.
Yesha fort - end of day 2 in th eguide 2.
Ela night camp - No water. 1km west of Yesha fort. Please refill water at Yesha fort.
Ramot Naftali - off the INT - grocery store
Agricultural storage facility - at km 6 of day 3
Moshav Dishon - grocery store, water
Day 4 (42s), map 4 - At Ein Halav there is a faucet with water and picknick tables. Camping out is allowed.
Kibbutz Tziv'on - day 4
Day 4 (42s), map 4 - At Hirbat Humeima.
Pisga day camp - day 5 @ km. 5
Pitul night camp - day 5 @ km. 13
Day 6 (41s), map 5 - Just north of route 85 at km 6.9 (9.8)
Migdal - grocery store on the trail
Hamam - day 7 @ km 2
Mt. Arbel national park - day 7 ~800 m. off the INT - fee!
Day 7 (40s), map 6 - By Kfar Hittim cemetery - slightly north off the INT at km 7.9 (16.0).
Mitzpe - faucet @ km 9
Store 24/7 on route 77 - day 7 @ km 10
Scweitz forest night camp - day 7 @ km 13
Kineret - supermarket. End of day 7
Roi rob - day 8 @ km. 2
Sunny - trail angel - refill water. day 8 @ km 8
Kfar Kisch - all you need
Gas station by route 65. Day 9 @ km 3.5
Mt. Tabor summit.
Shibli village @ the foot of Mt. Tabor. Day 9 @ km. 10
Nof Hagalil (formely - Nazareth Illit) cemetary. - Water faucet. day 9 @ km. 22
Nof Hagalil - city. There is a shopping center when you pass there.
Meshhad - village. All yoou need. Day 10
Day 10 (37s), map 10 - By the Rabbi Yehuda tomb. at km 6.3 (15.7).
Alom Hagalil - village day 10
Tabash village - day 10
Nofit village - off the INT - day 11
Kfar Hassidim - on the INT day 11 @ km 13
Kibbutz Yagur - day 11 @ km. 15
Isfiya village - all you need. End of day 11
Rakit day camp, day 12 @ km. 6.5
Ein Hod village - day 12 @ km 13.5
Khan Yotam - day 13 @ km 16
Nahal Me'arot - end of day 13.
Forester's house (not always open) - day 14 @ km 8
Zikhron Yaacov - Ein Tzur - all you need. End of day 13.
Beit Hananiya - village, day 14.
Jisr a-Zarka village. Day 14 @ km 5
Caesarea national park (entry fee) - Day 14 @ km 10
Kibbutz Sedot Yam - by the INT. Day 14 @ km 13
Gas station by the power plant - day 14 @ km 15
Hadera train station. End of day 14.
Beit Yanai beach - Day 15 @ km 12.
At official beaches along the sea shore there is running water. In winter some of them are closed. Check maps 15-19.
Netanya - city. All you need.
Yakum shopping center - day 16 @ km. 3.5
Day 17 (30s), map 19 - Along the Yarkon park.
Day 17 (30s), map 20 - By the Baptists' village at km 21.5 (3.6).
Yarkon source national park. Immediately after the Baptosts village
Day 17 (30s), map 20 - At km 22.4 (~2.8) just south of the railroad underpass.
Day 17 (30s), map 20 - At km 23.5 - Outside Tel Afek fence: Official night camp with running water.
Day 18 (29s), map 20 - North of Kfar Sirkin at km 2.8 (25.5).
Shoham industrial area - day 18 @km 15.
Ben Shemen woods - water faucet - day 18 @ km 24
Gimzo - end of day 18
Sha'alvim - day 19 @ km. 9
Latrun - day 10 @ km. 13
Messilat Zion gas station. End of day 19
Beit Meir - day 20 by km 4.6
Kibbutz Tzova - day 20 @km 19
Ein Kerem village - all you need. Day 21 @km 8
Kiryat Menahem - all you need. Day 21 @ km 11
Ora junction - gas station 1 km off the INT. Gas station & supermarket. Day 21 @km12
Ein Kobi - water faucet. End of day 21
Mevo Beitar - off the INT day on day 22.
Tzur Hadassa - day 22.
Bar Giora off the INT day 22 @ km5.2
Mata - By the INT day 22 @km7.2
Before route 3855 water faucet - day 22 @km 15
Netiv Ha-Lamed-he - End of day 22
Sarigim - Lion - off the INT day 23 @km 11.5
Massua observatoin point. Water faucet might be closed. Day 23 @km 13.5
Beit Guvrin - end of day 23. Gas Station.
Tel Lakish & Moshav Lakish - day 24 @km 9. Slightly off the INT
Ahuzam - End of day 24. 2 km north of the INT
Philppe farm - end of day 24, 2 km south of the INT.
Pura nature reserve - Mobile(!!!) kiosk. "The Shmura 215". Day 25 @ km12.2
. Gas station - off the INT across route 6. Use the underpass only. Day 25 @km 15
Small shopping center by Kibbutz Beit Kama. ~1 km off the INT. new path. Day 25 @km 18
Kibbutz Beit Kama
Alonit gas station - Day 25 @km 21.6, ~800 meters off the INT
Kibuutz Dvir - End of day 25
Kibbutz Lahav - Day 26 @ km 7.
Sansana - Day 26 @ km 12.
North of Meitar at km. 17 day 26
North of Meitar at km 0.75 of day 27
Noam lookout, north of Meitar, day 27
The foresters house - Day 27 @km 15
Amasa - end of day 26.
Tel Arad - day 28 @km 12
Arad - city, all ypou need. End of day 28

Water caching service in the desert[]

Share a ride too (fee) There is free of charge water tanks and water faucets between Eilat to Barak night camp. The water tanks are refilled every three days by a ranger of the National Parks Authority. The first private cache you need, going south to north is at Gev Holit NC. Please contact Yanir Yagel.

Yanir Yagel - 0542461066, yaniryagel@gmail.com
Beer ora, Tamar ba’midbar 0584470004 zohar1023@gmail.com Hosting in a Bedouin tent, logistics, transportation, water supply in the area of Eilat

Water in the Desert[]

Updated on: March 11, 2025

Forester's house - Yatir forest: Refill water by the gate.
Tel Arad - Refill water
Arad - Everything: Water, supermarket etc.
Kfar Hanokdim - refill water.
Masada - refill water
Ein Bokek (dead sea) - Refill water.
Amiaz NC - Water cache, Yanir yagel, private water cache
Nahal Tamar - by route 25, Yanir Yagel, private water cache.
Night camp at the bottom of small crater (devil's mouth) use it just in case - water cache Yanir Yagel
Top of small crater night camp - Water tank in the ground + faucet (free of charge). For drinking only.
Yerooham - 10 km off trail, water, supermarket
Dimona - 20 km off trail, water, supermarket
Oron phosphates plant - water 24/7
Mador night camp - Yanir Yagel, ptivate water cache.
Hod Akev night camp, free of charge water.
Midreshet Ben Gurion - 6 km off trail, water, supermarket, B&B, camping, gas
Hava night camp - Yanir Yagel - private water cache
Mitzpe Ramon - water, supermarkets, youth hostel, hotel, B&B, restaurant, camping gas
Nahal Nekarot - Map 47 (new), ~1 km off the INT by route 40. Water tap.
3 Km west of Gevanim night camp - by route 40 - water faucet
Be'erot Khan - 3 km off trail, water, shower, camping
Gevanim miight camp Yanir Yagel private water cache
Gev Holit night camp - Yanir Yagel private water cache
Tzvira night camp - 4x4 only.
Ein Yahav - 10 km off trail, supremarket, water
Sapir - B&B minimarket, water
Zofar - water by the INT, minimarket
Tzukim - 4 km off the INT. Check map F in the guide.
Paran Khan - 5 km off trail B&B, reduced rates for INT hikers, water, grocery store
Barak NC - Water faucet, free of charge.
Paran NC no water - 4x4 only.
Tzihor NC - Water faucet, free
Shittim Khan (Desert Ashram) - water, food, budget lodging
Shizafon junction - water, food
Neot Smadar - water, food, lodging, 2.5 km off trail
2.5 km south of Kasui sand dunes a water faucet extends outside a fence.
2.5 km north of Shaharut - Free wild camping. Free water
Be'er Milhan 15 km south of Shaharut a free of charge water faucet.
Yotvata - 15 km off trail north of Timna - Restaurant, water, grocery store
Elifaz - 2 km off trail - water, food, large tent B&B
Timna park - water by the lake. Restaurant and basic supplies.
Raham Etek NC - Water faucet. Free of charge.
Be'er Ora - water. / Raham NC
Shehoret canyon NC - Water fucet. Free of charge .
Yehoram night camp - by route 12 water faucet, free of charge.

Eilat - start or end of the INT. All you need

Springs and pits along the INT[]

Water in natural springs is mostly available in winter and spring. In the desert, springs might be dry or water drips very slowly. Pits in the desert are full only after flash floods. Few days after a flash flood, water in pits might not be adequate for purification. The following list includes springs and pits on or close to the INT from north to south. It does not mean that water will be available there or it is good for purification. Days and map numbers are from the red guide.

Ein - Spring. Nahal - Creek, stream. Gev - Pit

Updated on: July 23, 2020

Day 5 map 5 - km 15: Ein Yakim, Sechvi ponds.

Day 6 map 6 - km 16: Ein Nun.

Day 9 map 8 - km 1: Nahal Tavor.

Day 10 map 11 - km 19 : Ein Yivka.

Day 21 km 1, map 24 - : Sataf

Day 21 map - Ein Lavan

Day 21 map 25 - km 15: Ein Mata.

Day 35 maps 39/40 - km 2.7: Ein Tzafit. It is a pit ~300 meters north of the INT up in Nahal Tzafit.

Day 36 map 42 - km 13: Ein Yorkeam. It is a pit 200 meters off the INT.

Day 39 map 44 - km 4.6: Ein Akev. Salty water not suitable for purification.

Day 39 map 44 - km 12.4: Ein Shaviv. If there is water it flows very slowly.

Day 40 map 45 - km 2: Ein Hava. It is ~700 meters east of the INT on the blue trail. The water drips very slowly.

Day 40 map 45 - km 2: Geve Hava. Pits ~800 meters west of the INT on a transparent trail.

Day 49 map 60 - km 21.5: Ein Netafim. Water drips very slowly most of the year.

Trail Angels[]

INT Angels