Samar

Samar is a kibbutz in the Arava Valley in the South of Israel.

Understand

Samar is a small kibbutz founded in 1976. Unlike many other kibbutzim that have increasingly become "capitalist", in Samar the original socialist ideals are still practiced, such as communal ownership of goods, grassroots democracy and an egalitarian approach. The main economic activity is the production of dates.

Get in

By plane

Eilat is the closest bigger city and as such Ramon airport (ETM ^IATA) is the most convenient port of entry. From Ben Gurion Airport first head to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem and then follow the directions below.

By bus

Bus lines operated by Egged between Tel Aviv (394), Be'er Sheva (397), Jerusalem (444) and Eilat can drop you off at the junctions of national road 90.

By car

Samar lies off a branch of national road 90, called "Samar Junction".

See

• 1 Sands of Samar. Sand dunes just a bit out of the main kibbutz area; parts of the dunes now sit in Jordan. They were mined in the past but are now protected due to their unique ecological value. (updated Mar 2018)
• 2 Hay Bar Yotvata, near Road 90, Arava, ☏ +972 86373057, fax: +972 86326172, Haybar-yotvata@npa.org.il. Summer 08:30-17:00 (F and before holidays until 16:00), winter 08:30-16:00 (F and before holidays until 15:00). Nature park and zoo. ₪28/14. 
• 3 Samar Desert Kite. West of Samar there are two Desert Kites stone walls of some hundred meters length that end in a triungular shape inside a valley. Those stone age edifices most likely were used to hunt gazelles; catching them in the tip of the triangle. They were already described by T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia) and military pilots during the Mandatory period, but their purpose remained a mystery for years. 
• 4 Petroglyphs (Wadi Odem west of the kibbutz). Petroglyphs in the nearby sandstone with local fauna, hunting scenes and symbols of as of yet unknown purpose and meaning 

Sleep

• 1 Samar Bike Hotel, ☏ +972 52304 0640, yaron@samarbike.com. Led by three enthusiast cyclists, they offer rental bikes and mountain bikes tours through the desert.