The Incense Route – Desert Cities in the Negev

The Incense Route – Desert Cities in the Negev

The Incense Route in Israel’s Negev Desert began at the easternmost tip of the southern Arabian Peninsula and ended at the northern end of the Sinai Peninsula, stretching over 2,000 kilometers in total, with about 100 kilometers passing through Israel’s southern Negev region. At that time, camel caravans from Israel crossed the Arabian Desert, and the port cities along the southern Arabian coast were all part of this vast trade network.

The Nabateans, masters of the desert, established the renowned “Incense Route.” Caravans carried spices, perfumes, and salt from Yemen in the east, passing through four towns—Haluza, Mamshit, Avdat, and Shivta—as well as related fortresses and agricultural landscapes in the Negev Desert. Together, they reflect the immense prosperity of the frankincense and myrrh trade from southern Arabia to the Mediterranean region between the 3rd century BCE and the 2nd century CE. Remains of intricate irrigation systems, urban architecture, fortresses, and caravanserais bear witness to the transformation of the harsh desert into a hub of trade and agricultural settlement.

Incense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev Must-see reason: The most beautiful desert landscapes