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Directions to Biblical Tamar Park

Directions on how to take the train and bus to Biblical Tamar Park from the airport in Tel Aviv

After exiting customs at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, you will be on the ground level. Take a left after you pass through the people waiting to pick up other passengers. (Take a right to exchange some money if you need to do that first. You can also rent cell phones in this area). After taking the left, follow the signs to the train station. You will take at right at airport exit #3. Go through the doors and down the hallway. Off to your left, you will see the turnstiles for the train. Walk through that opening in the hallway, before the turnstiles, off to your left is the ticket window. Go to the ticket window and ask for a ticket to Beersheva Central. (Note: If the train is not running for some unknown reason, you will have to take the bus instead. Have someone direct you to the bus stop and take the bus to the Central Bus Station, where you can get a ticket to Tamar like you would at Beersheva.)

The train ticket price should be around 27 sheqels. You have to change trains once, and they may mention this to you when you buy the ticket. Just tell them you know you have to change trains. Then, proceed to the turnstiles, just before the stairs or escalator. You need to put your train ticket through a machine to activate the turnstile. Do not forget to pick it up when it kicks back out, as you will need it again when you get off. Go down the escalator to the train platforms. Take the northbound train, the one going towards Nahariyya (likely platform 2). I usually do not bother getting a seat, as you get off at the very first stop, the Tel Aviv Hahagana station. This is where you change trains. You can see the names of the stations out the window as you pull up to them. Once you get off, you will have to walk across the train stop to the other set of tracks in front of you. You can check a board for the arrival time of the train to Beersheva. There is a board in the middle of the stop that tells when the trains are arriving and where they go. It reads right to left like Hebrew, but English is on it. Look for when the train to Beersheva arrives at the Tel Aviv Hahagana station and what platform you need. If you are uncertain, ask someone to help you read the board, and most people will help you. More than one line uses this platform. So, it is wise to ask someone, for certainty, if this is the train to Beersheva. Once you board, you can move from car to car to find a better seat, if you would like. You may need to push a button to open the doors between cars.

There are two stops in Beersheva. You will need the last one, Beersheva Center. You will ride the train to the end of the line. This is about a 1 ½ hour ride. After you get off you will need to put your train ticket back through the machine, like before you boarded, to exit and then take it when it gets kicked out to activate the turnstile here. As you exit the train station, you will see the buses off to your left. There will be an exterior bus station for travel around Beersheva. Skip that one. Walk past the convenience store and go inside the bus station – enter through the metal gateway. The ticket counter is on the immediate right. Order a ticket to En Hatzeva for 42 sheqels. Go to platform 3 and take the bus (394) towards Eilat via the Arava. You need the one that goes through the Arava. You might ask those waiting with you, to confirm you are waiting at the right place for the right bus. If that bus is full, you can take the ticket back to the counter and get one for the next bus. At the time of this writing the Egged bus line #394 leaves at 8:00 a.m., 9:30, 11:00, 12:30 p.m., 2:00, 3:30, 5:00, 6:30, 9:30 & 1:30 a.m. Sunday – Thursday. On Friday the last bus of the day is at 3:30 p.m. and on Saturday the first bus of the day is at 5: 00 p.m. Buses leave roughly every hour and a half during the day until 6:30 p.m. There is also a bus #393 and #397 that makes this run a few times. The ticket agent can give you more information on this. If you get there when the buses are not running, there are long distance taxis that will take you, that are hovering around the train and bus stations. You can also check with them about taking you to the Yellow Gas Station at En Hatzeva. (not sure of the going rate for this service.)

There is not much room for luggage where you sit on the bus. So, you will need to stow it below. It is best to do this before trying to get on the bus. A small carry on will be OK to take on the bus, but not much more than that. It is best to put your luggage underneath on the side of the bus that the doors are on, so when you are dropped off and you need to get your luggage, you will be on the shoulder side of the road and not have to go out onto the road where there might be traffic.

Once on the bus, show the driver your ticket and ask him to let you know when you get to the Yellow Gas Station at En Hatzeva. The driver should tell you when you get close, but keep your eyes out. To stop the bus, there is a button over your head you will want to push when you’re ready to get off. If traveling at night this stop is right after a long stretch of bright yellow street lights. From there, cross the highway and you will see a small white building in the distance slightly to the right – that is where you are heading! It is about a ½ mile walk across the desert. The site is just on the far side of the mango fields. If you get off the bus and still can’t figure out where to go, find a phone and call the site! The number for the park manager at Biblical Tamar Park is: 054-695-2302.

If you have questions about the bus schedule you can call the Egged Bus Line in Israel at: 03-694-8888 or check www.egged.co.il/ENG.

Directions on how to take the bus and train from Biblical Tamar Park to the airport in Tel Aviv

The Egged line bus #394 from Eilat to Beersheva stops at the Yellow gas station in Ein Hatzeva. Someone from Tamar may be able to take you there, or it is a ½ mile walk down an old British/Roman Road to the Yellow. You can get on the bus here at Yellow and take it to Beersheva. It is best to reserve a ticket a couple days before your trip at 03-694-8888. This will give you a reserved seat. If you just show up at the Yellow gas station, you may not have a seat available. You will have to wait on the phone a while. Once on the phone, they count off the number of people waiting in front of you, in Hebrew. If you do not know your Hebrew numbers, just keep holding till they get to you. Ask for reservations. They will again put you on hold, and again give the number of those waiting a head of you, in Hebrew. Usually the person who answers will help you. If you get someone who does not speak English well, you may be put on hold again and the counting begins again. I have found there are usually 8-10 people waiting, so it can take a little while, be patience. They will ask you what time you would like to be picked up, and give you some options. They often talk about the time the buses leave Eilat. It gets to the gas station about 1 ½ hours later. Make sure you know what time the bus is scheduled to arrive at the Yellow at En Hatzeva. You will need to give them your passport number and a credit card number, to reserve your ticket. Make sure you take down the confirmation number they give you. It is around 42 sheqels per person.

The bus will take about a 20 minute rest stop after it arrives. The driver will often leave the bus and take a 15+ minute break. When he gets back begin to get on the bus (leaving your luggage outside by the door). He may motion to you to go ahead and store your luggage first, he may come down to meet you or, most common, he may stay seated and ask you your name and confirmation number and then have you get back off to store your luggage. Your ticket will have a seat number on it, but often someone is already sitting in it, or it is way in the back. Go ahead and sit where you can, asking if the seat is taken. If it comes down to it, you can make the person sitting in your seat to move, by showing them your ticket and number. This may be needed if the bus is very full.

The ride to Beersheva is a little over an hour. As you pull into the bus station, you can see the train station on your right. Once you get off the bus and get your luggage walk along the shops till you find an opening that goes though. The first opening through faces the train station and after you exit you will see the trains. Cross the street (where local buses may be waiting) and head to the corner on your left. The bus stop is in an L shape. The second opening is in the corner of the L and 90 deg. from the first opening. If you do not see the train station in front of you when you exit, look off to your right and it will be there, just down the street. The third opening is facing the same direction as the second opening. Go through and go right, walking down the side walk. If any questions, just ask for the train station. It is less than a block away. The train to Tel Aviv leaves on the half hour, so if it is close to this time when your bus arrives you may want to pick up the pace or you will have to wait an hour for the next train.

You will need your passport and go through security to get into the train stain, like you do at the airport. The ticket window is to the left, after you get past security. Ask for a ticket to Ben Gurion International Airport. The train ticket price should be around 27 sheqels. You have to change trains once and they may mention this to you when you buy the ticket. Just tell them you know you have to change trains. Then proceed to the turnstiles. You need to put your train ticket through a machine, to activate the turnstile. Do not forget to pick it up, when it kicks back out, as you will need it again when you get off. There will be a sign for the train to Tel Aviv. If you are early, you may have to wait inside the station. If the train is sitting there, you can go out on the platform and get on. Walk past the first few cars as they are the fullest. I usually go down to the 5^th or 6^th car. Once you board, you can move from car to car to find a better seat, if you would like. You may need to push a button to open the doors between cars.

You take this train to the Tel Aviv Hahagana station. This is where you change trains. You can see the names of the stations out the window as you pull up to them. LOD is the stop right before Hahagana. Once you get off, you will have to walk across the train stop to the other set of tracks in front of you. You can check a board for the arrival time of the train to Ben Gurion. There is a board in the middle of the stop that tells when the trains are arriving and where they go. It reads right to left like Hebrew, but English is on it. Look for when the train to Ben Gurion arrives at the Tel Aviv Hahagana station and what platform you need. If you are uncertain, ask someone to help you read the board and most will. More than one line uses this platform. You need the one towards Modi’in. So, it is wise to ask someone if this is the train to the airport, just to be sure. I do not bother sitting down as the airport is the next stop after Hahagana. After you get off, you will need to put your train ticket back through the machine, like before you boarded to exit, and then take it when it gets kicked out, to activate the turnstile here.

Directions on how to take the bus to Biblical Tamar Park from the Jerusalem Central Bus Station

If in Jerusalem you can take a bus or taxi to the Central Bus Station. Once there, order a ticket to En Hatzeva for 57sheqels. You need (#444) towards Eilat via the Arava. You might ask those waiting with you to confirm you are waiting at the right place for the right bus. If that bus is full, you can take the ticket back to the counter and get one for the next bus. At the time of this writing, the Egged bus line #444 leaves at from Jerusalem Central at 7 a.m., 10, & 2 p.m. and 5 on Sunday - Thursday. Then 7 a.m., 10 & 2 p.m. on Friday (no 5 p.m.) and no bus on Saturday. It is listed as a just over 2 1/2 hour trip. The ticket agent can give you more information on this.

There is not much room for luggage where you sit on the bus. So, you will need to stow it below. It is best to do this before trying to get on the bus. A small carry on will be OK to take on the bus, but not much more than that. It is best to put your luggage underneath on the side of the bus that the doors are on, so when you are dropped off, and you need to get your luggage, you will be on the shoulder side of the road and not have to go out onto the road where there might be traffic.

If you have questions about the bus schedule you can call the Egged Bus Line in Israel at: 03-694-8888 or check www.egged.co.il/ENG.

Directions on how to take the bus from Biblical Tamar Park to the Jerusalem Central Bus Station

The Egged line bus #444 from Eilat to Jerusalem stops at the Yellow gas station in En Hatzeva. Someone from Tamar may be able to take you there or it is a ½ mile walk down an old British/Roman Road to the Yellow. You can get on the bus here at Yellow and take it to Jerusalem. It is best to reserve a ticket a couple days before your trip at 03-694-8888. This will give you a reserved seat. If you just show up at the Yellow gas station, you may not have a seat available. You will have to wait on the phone a while. They count off the number of people waiting in front of you, in Hebrew. If you do not know your Hebrew numbers, just keep holding till they get to you. Ask for reservations. They will again put you on hold and again give the number of those waiting a head of you, in Hebrew. Usually the person who answers will help you. If you get someone who does not speak English well, you may be put on hold again and the counting begins again. I have found there are usually 8-10 people waiting, so it can take a little while, be patience. They will ask you what time you would like to be picked up, and give you some options. They often talk about the time the buses leave Eilat. It gets to the gas station about 1 ½ hours later. Make sure you know what time the bus is scheduled to arrive at the Yellow at En Hatzeva. You will need to give them your passport number and a credit card number to reserve your ticket. Make sure you take down the confirmation number they give you. It is around 57 sheqels.

The bus will take about a 20 minute rest stop after it arrives. The driver will often leave the bus and take a 15+ minute break. When he gets back begin to get on the bus (leaving your luggage outside by the door). He may motion to you to go ahead and store your luggage first, he may come down to meet you, or most common, he may stay seated and ask you your name and confirmation number and then have you get back off to store your luggage. Your ticket will have a seat number on it, but often someone is already sitting in it, or it is way in the back. Go ahead and sit where you can, asking if the seat is taken. If it comes down to it, you can make the person sitting in your seat to move, by showing them your ticket and number. This may be needed if the bus is very full. The ride to Jerusalem is a little over 2 ½ hours.

NOTE: Clarification of site name:

The majority of the people in Israel do not know the name Biblical Tamar Park. If you ask, even the local people, for directions here, they will not likely know where you are talking about. They know this site by the old moshav (cooperative) name – Ir Ovot. Too, Ir Ovot is labeled on most maps. It has been in recent years that the ancient city of Tamar has been uncovered, and the site renamed. When needed, let people know you are looking for Ir Ovot. Therefore, Ir Ovot is what most local people know as Biblical Tamar Park. There are a few people left over from the old moshav that live next door and still call their little compound Ir Ovot. So it can get a bit confusing. Some may try to send you there. You can easily see the bigger park from their little compound.

If you are not in the Arava, the people may not know of Ir Ovot, as it was a very small community. They know the area you are headed for, called Hatzeva, which is the main nearby moshav. So if they do not know Ir Ovot, tell them you are headed for Hatzeva, which is in the Arava (below sea level). If you tell someone like a taxi driver this, they will likely know, Hatzeva.

Again, it can be a bit confusing, as there are two moshavs that use this name. The larger one is just called “Hatzeva” and a smaller one nearby is called “En Hatzeva.” En or Ein is the Hebrew word for spring. It is the smaller, closer moshav, En Hatzeva, that is located just behind the Yellow gas station. It is this station that you want to have people get you to, as you can see Biblical Tamar Park from here. The road that leads to the larger moshav, Hatzeva, is another mile or so south of the Yellow gas station on Hwy 90 and then another couple of miles east (toward the Jordan mountains) before you reach it. The En Hatzeva bus stop is at the Yellow gas Station. The Hatzeva stop is at the Hwy 90 stop a mile or so south of En Hatzeva, before you turn to go east to Hatzeva.

Another point that may be helpful for clarification is that ancient biblical city of Tamar was not known as such as it was being uncovered. That was discovered in the ruins. It was called Mesad Hatzeva in Hebrew, meaning the fortress at Hatzeva or Hatzeva Fortess. Tamar was more of a fortress than a city in ancient times. Most archaeological people will know Biblical Tamar Park by this name and still use this term, Mesad Hatzeva, amongst themselves.

It was known that ancient Tamar was located in this area, so a few other places use the name Tamar. There is a moshav up by the Dead Sea called “En Tamar” and another archaeological site called “Mesad Tamar” between the Dead Sea and Dimona. If you ask about Tamar, some may think you are talking about these places. Too, the governmental offices for the Tamar Regional Council are located in moshav Neve Zohar, just south of the Dead Sea. A regional council is something like a county in the United States. Biblical Tamar Park is not located in this Tamar Regional Council area but in the regional council just south of it, called the Central Arava Regional Council.