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The Israel National Trail (Shvil Yisrael) runs ~1100 km from Kibbutz Dan in the north (Lebanese border) to Eilat in the south (Red Sea). It is marked end-to-end with orange-blue-white blazes painted on rocks, trees and posts. Open to thru-hikers ("Shobalim") who attempt the full traverse in 30-60 days, and to section hikers who tackle weekend pieces. Trail Angels (Mal'achim), a network of volunteers, provide free water caches, food, and sometimes lodging. Key sections cross the Galilee, Mount Carmel, Mount Tabor, the Sea of Galilee, the Negev desert, the Dead Sea cliffs, and the Eilat Mountains.
Cultural note, Shvil Yisrael is a rite of passage for many Israelis post-IDF service, called "haflagat shvil" (setting out on the trail). The Hebrew vocabulary mixes biblical place names (Dan, Eilat, En Gedi) with everyday hiking gear terms. Trail Angels (Mal'achim), volunteers who host hikers in their homes, are famously generous and form the backbone of the thru-hiker experience. Best season: October-May (avoid summer heat in the Negev). The trail crosses kibbutzim, Bedouin villages, and nature reserves. To prepare: order maps from the Society for Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI), Hebrew name "Hevra l\'Hagana al ha-Teva."
The Trail Itself
Major Sections
Logistics
Hiking Gear
Trail Vocabulary
First Day on the Shvil
An oleh starts a 3-day section in the Galilee with an Israeli hiking partner.