In the comfort of your Avis rental car, you can drive from the green,
forest-filled hills of Jerusalem to the flat, dry desert surrounding the Dead
Sea. The transition from such a great height to the lowest spot on earth is said
to be similar to descending from an airplane.
Walking along the Og River
The most popular walking trail in this area is a 40-minute drive from Jerusalem.
With Israel Rental Cars, you can make this trip easily. The trail begins near
the entrance to Kibbutz Almog, and it is safe to leave your car there while you
walk. The trail is clearly marked throughout on both rocks and signs. Green and
white stripes let you know that you are still on the trail. The southern Og
River trail is circular, and takes about 2 hours to walk. During the winter,
rain from the Mount of Olives, Mount Scopus and Abu Dis floods the canyon of Og
and flows into the Dead Sea. Since it rarely rains in this area and the canyon
is dry, it is nice to walk a few days after the flooding. While you are hiking,
you can find yourself walking through warm pools of wayer.
After your hike, rest on the Kalya Beach, which is famous for black mud that is
said to have cleansing and healing properties. Kalya Beach also has bathrooms,
showers, a small store and a souvenir stand.
| 
