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| En Bokek | ||
| district | South district | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | unknown | |
no value for residents on Wikidata:  | ||
| height | −400 m | |
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
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En Bokek (also A bokek or A Boqeq, Hebrew עין בוקק) is a place on Israeli coastline of Dead sea. It is the largest seaside resort on the west coast of the salt lake with a wide range of hotels, beaches and spas, but apart from that it has hardly anything to offer. As a tourist passing through, you will most likely go to En Bokek for a stopover for a swim in the Dead Sea, but the public beach section is very inviting.
background
En Bokek is located on the southwestern shore of the Dead Sea and thus on the southern part of the inland lake, which has now been divided into two halves. This part is also used to extract minerals and salt and is therefore kept at a constant level by pumps. In contrast to the northern half, the slow drying up of the Dead Sea is hardly noticeable in En Bokek. On the other hand, you can see more salt encrustations here on the banks, because the height of the water level changes only slightly and the salt therefore always crystallizes in the same bank areas.
The place is the largest spa and tourist center on the west bank; it consists practically only of hotels, bathing establishments and tourist facilities such as shopping centers. Because of a warm mineral spring, there were health resorts here since ancient times. If you are staying at the Dead Sea for a cure, e.g. because of skin diseases, you are often accommodated in En Bokek.
Due to its location at an altitude of approx. 400 meters below sea level, it is one of the deepest freely accessible places on earth.
getting there
By plane
Normally you will be asked about the Ben Gurion Airport
(IATA: TLV) at Tel Aviv arrive and continue from there by bus (via Jerusalem) or a rental car. Another international airport is the Ramon Airport Eilat(IATA: ETM) , in the very south of the country.
By train
Like the Dead Sea as a whole, En Bokek is not connected to the rail network.
By bus
There are bus connections to the Dead Sea from Jerusalem along the west coast of the Dead Sea, from Beer Sheva (Beersheba) about Arad and from Eilat. The buses run comparatively rarely and irregularly, you should find out about the timetables in advance.
| Of | Bus routes | Connection density during the day | Duration approx. | Price NIS | Hints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arad | 384 | about four connections daily | 0:45 | 24,50 | |
| Beer Sheva | 384 | about four connections daily | 1:30 | 37,00 | |
| Eilat | 444 | Four connections a day | 3:00 | 63,00 | The travel times can vary by up to half an hour. |
| En Gedi | 384, 444, 486 | irregularly, about every hour | 0:30 | 24,50 | |
| Jerusalem | 444, 486 | irregular, every 1-2 hours | 2:00 | 48,00 | |
| Masada | 384, 444, 486 | irregularly, about every hour | 0:15 | 15,40 | |
| Notes: Individual lines may be missing in the table (e.g. if they rarely run). The bar density refers to all available connections. The links in the table are used for travel planning, so they lead to the Arrival information of the linked location. Swell: Egged and Otobusim.co.il; Status: 02/2011 - * Lines with a star are not served by Egged, but by another company. | |||||
In the street
The Israeli one runs along the entire west coast of the Dead Sea in a north-south direction (only) Street 90which also passes En Bokek. This road leads in total from Eilat in the south about that West Bank and the Lake genezareth to Metullathat is far north on the Lebanese border Kirjat Schmona lies. Approaches to road 90 are road 1 to the east from Jerusalem, which is at Jericho crosses, and the road 31 from Arad; You can drive onto the last-named road north of Beersheba.
From the street 90 There is a junction to En Bokek from the south and north.
By boat
There is no ferry traffic on the Dead Sea; the place can therefore not be reached by ship.
mobility
Some of the hotels are a few kilometers south of the main town, closer to Neve Zohar. The bus lines that can be used to get here run along the coast and can therefore also be used to move around within the village or between the districts. The bus routes do not have exactly the same route, some only stop at the most important stops.
Tourist Attractions
In the vicinity of the place there are the remains of the castle "Metzad Bokek". The stone desert around the place impresses with its bizarre panoramas and the wide range of colors that the rock can take on depending on the time of day. The townscape with its multitude of hotels is striking - whether you like it is primarily a question of personal taste.
activities
Apart from bathing and relaxing, there is little to do in En Bokek; some hotels have private beaches, but there is also a public stretch of beach. Most of the region's attractions are further away.
A new sidewalk was set up in a northerly direction, partly lined with palm trees for pedestrians and cyclists.
The public stretch of beach offers a good opportunity for individual travelers to enjoy a swim in the Dead Sea. Apart from mandatory parking fees, access to the beach itself is free of charge, there is a lifeguard, fresh water showers and toilets as well as a beach bar are available. Lying resp. Plastic chairs can be rented if you don't bring your own seating.
It is worthwhile to hike through the Wadi En Bokek, which begins directly behind the hotel complex. In a 1/2 hour hike (sturdy shoes are recommended) you get to the rear waterfall. You will find wonderful small bodies of water (knee-deep) that invite you to swim in the spring.At the end of the wadi you reach a small via ferrata and the subsequent gravel field on a trail that leads to the plateau of the adjacent mountains.
From the German-speaking communities Jerusalem will be both catholic as well as Protestant Services offered in En Bokek at the Hotel Lot. The Catholic services are mostly on Saturday, the Protestant on Sunday evening; More detailed information can be found on the linked websites.
shop
In the place there is with the Petra Shopping Center and the A Hatchelet (Blue Sky) shopping center two smaller shopping centers with different shops.
kitchen
There are various restaurants and cafes in the business centers. A special feature is the McDonalds restaurant in the Petra Shopping Center, because it is the deepest McDonalds restaurant in the world. That too is a bit out of the ordinary Taj Mahal; this oriental restaurant is housed in a Bedouin tent.
nightlife
The hotels in En Bokek usually have a variety of bars and pubs.
accommodation
There are a number of hotels in En Bokek, but they are all comparatively expensive. Those who rely on cheap overnight stays should go to the youth hostels in Masada or En Gedi dodge. Somewhat cheaper than in En Bokek you can also get one in the neighboring one Neve Zohar stay.
The overnight prices fluctuate markedly seasonally; It is generally cheapest in (uncomfortably hot) midsummer, sometimes also in winter. The maximum prices - in spring, especially around the Jewish Passover holiday - can, depending on the hotel, be $ 100 (and more) above the cheapest prices (per night, of course). Surcharges for rooms with a view of the sea or for overnight stays on weekends and during Jewish holidays may have to be expected; a minimum length of stay may also be specified.
For Germans, a stay at the Hotel Lot, which has its own beach, is ideal; the German Medical Center (DMZ) is also housed here.
- Crowne Plaza Dead Sea, En Bokek, Dead Sea. Tel.: 972-8-6591919, Fax: 972-8-6591911, Email: [email protected].- Hotel on the shore with 300 rooms of various categories, restaurant and bistro and bar, spa area including heated seawater pool and private beach.
- - Hotel with 300 rooms; DR with BB from around $ 300, HB from around $ 350; significantly more expensive over Passover; own spa area, different pools. The hotel has a Scottish style pub and bowling alley. It is not directly on the sea, but above the main road.
- - The Dead Sea Gardens Hotel advertises with its beautiful gardens and its warm atmosphere. It has 200 rooms, two restaurants and a disco, and it also has a spa area, which has two under-roof pools with water from the Dead Sea as a special feature. The hotel is not located directly on the lake shore. The night in a double room is around $ 150 with breakfast and just under $ 200 with half board.
- Hod Hamidbar, En Bokek, Dead Sea 86930. Tel.: 972-8-6688222, Fax: 972-8-6584606, Email: [email protected].- Hotel on the beach with 200 rooms, restaurant, bar, disco as well as a freshwater outdoor pool and spa area (Ma'ayan Spa); the spa area has, among other things, a heated pool with water from the Dead Sea. The hotel also has a wing with meeting rooms. Overnight stay in a double room from approx. $ 175 (with overnight stay; half board $ 70 more; high season about $ 50 more).
- Isrotel Dead Sea Spa and Resort Hotel, En Bokek, Dead Sea 86980. Tel.: 972-8-6689666 (central Isrotel reservation number: 972-8-6387799), Fax: 972-8-6520301, Email: [email protected].- The Isrotel Dead Sea has around 300 rooms, a swimming pool and a large spa area; In addition to the normal hotel restaurant, there is the “Ranch House Restaurant”, which according to the hotel specializes in high-quality meat dishes. The cheapest night is around $ 250 (sharing a double room, bed and breakfast); in the high season, in some room types and more on the weekends.
- Le Meridien Dead Sea (Fattal Hotels), Dead Sea 89680. Tel.: 972-8-6591234, 972-3-5110050 (central hotline for reservations), Fax: 972-8-6591143.- The hotel describes itself as the largest and most extravagant on the Dead Sea; the almost 600 rooms of the hotel located above the street either overlook the Dead Sea or the large pool area. In addition to a restaurant and two bars, the hotel has its own conference area; Le Meridien also has a large spa area and various salt and fresh water pools. Overnight stays are offered in the cheapest room category from around $ 330 per night (for a double room with half board; full board from around $ 410).
- Leonardo Club Hotel Dead Sea (Fattal Hotels), M.P. Dead Sea 84960. Tel.: 972-8-6689444, 972-3-5110050 (central hotline for reservations), Fax: 972-8-6689400.- The Leonardo Club Hotel (formerly Golden Tulip Club / Nirvana) with a private beach, pools and spa area has almost 400 rooms, some of which are suitable for people with disabilities. All-inclusive holidays are offered, the cheapest overnight stay in a double room costs around $ 300. The hotel is about 5 km south of the actual town near Neve Zohar. There is another (English speaking) hotel page at Fattal Hotels.
- Leonardo Hotel Dead Sea (Fattal Hotels), En Bokek, Dead Sea 86910. Tel.: 972-2-5320000, 972-3-5110050 (central hotline for reservations), Fax: 972-8-9553344.- The Leonardo Dead Sea (formerly Moriah Classic Dead Sea) has 280 rooms and three pools; it advertises that it has one of the best and most modern spa offers in the world. The hotel is (like the Leonardo Club Hotel) a few kilometers south of the village. Half board accommodation starts at around $ 300 per night. There is another (English speaking) hotel page at Fattal Hotels.
- Leonardo Inn Dead Sea (Fattal Hotels), En Bokek, Dead Sea 86930. Tel.: 972-8-6684666, 972-3-5110050 (central hotline for reservations), Fax: 972-8-6684668.- The Leonardo Inn Dead Sea (formerly Tulip Inn) is one of the smaller hotels in En Bokek with just under a hundred rooms - all with a balcony. It has a private beach, but is not directly on the sea. There is a pool on the hotel grounds. Half board is offered; the night costs in a double room from around $ 200. There is another (English-speaking) hotel page at Fattal Hotels.
- Lot Spa Hotel Dead Sea, En Bokek, Dead Sea 86930. Tel.: 972-8-6689200, Fax: 972-8-6584623, Email: [email protected].- Hotel with around 200 rooms, including 20 triple rooms; about a third of the rooms have a view of the sea. The hotel is right on the Dead Sea; it has a spa area, pool and private beach. The overnight stay in a double room with half board should be around $ 300 (no current prices on the website), a surcharge ($ 10) is charged for the rooms with lake view, and surcharges are also due on weekends. The hotel has a small one day clinic for climatic therapy.
- Great Oasis Dead Sea, En Bokek, Dead Sea 86930. Tel.: 972-8-6688000, Fax: 972-8-6584503, Email: [email protected].- Hotel with 140 rooms, all with a view of the sea; The hotel has a spa area with special features including a hammam and two pools with water from the Dead Sea. Further information is available in English, the hotel is only briefly presented in German on the linked page. Bed and breakfast prices start at around $ 160, and half-board prices start at around $ 220.
- Great Spa Club Dead Sea, En Bokek, Dead Sea 86930. Tel.: 972-8-6688000, Fax: 972-3-7604434, Email: [email protected].- The Prima Spa Club with its almost 100 rooms belongs to the Prima Oasis Dead Sea and apparently also uses the spa facilities there; however, the Spa Club offers better service and extended benefits. Further information is available in English, the hotel is only briefly presented in German on the linked page. Bed and breakfast costs in a double room from around $ 200; Half board costs about $ 60 more per day.
- Tsell Harim Hotel Dead Sea, M.P. Dead Sea, En Bokek 86930. Tel.: 972-8-6688111, Fax: 972-8-6688100, Email: [email protected].- The Tsell Harim (or Tsel Harim) consists of two-story bungalows with a total of 160 rooms; it is located in the center of En Bokek directly on the Dead Sea and has a private beach. There are heated fresh and salt water pools and a spa area. Overnight stays are offered with half board (in a double room from around $ 180) and full board ($ 50 more per day).
health
Practical advice
Swimming in the Dead SeaBe careful for individual travelers: in the whole area of En Bokek this is Parking for a fee. Even if the parking lot looks like a construction site due to the construction activity, parked vehicles are checked for tickets from the machine. If you get caught with a parking bus, you can pay for it in any post office.
trips
- The famous fortress is located about 20 km north of En Bokek Masada on its impressive rock plateau.
- A good 30 km north is with the nature park of En Gedi one of the most impressive places on the west bank of the Dead Sea. In the middle of the desert there are two valleys in which small streams flow all year round, so that a lush abundance of plants thrives.
- North of En Gedi is the border with the Palestinian West Bank. In the central jewish desert is located with Qumran an important archaeological site where scriptures from before the turn of the ages were found (70 km).
- The city lies to the southwest Arad with the national park Tel Arad.
literature
Web links
- Einokek.com - A commercially oriented and not particularly well maintained site, but with some interesting overview information.
