The culinary magic of the Negev returns

The Bedouin tourism brand "Desert Magic" and "Tafadlu," Rahat’s tourism company, invite you to kebab and sweets tours in Rahat, the largest Bedouin city in Israel. The tours will take place on two Saturdays in September and will allow you to taste Bedouin tradition in every sense. In two different tours, guests will move between kebab houses, butcher shops, cafés, and market stalls, with the goal of learning, tasting, and mostly enjoying. The transfers from the meeting point and between the stops themselves will be in an air-conditioned bus, guided by local professional guides.

This sweet tour will present to you the most delicious cookies of Rahat, you will also get to know the local date syrup (dibs). You will tour the market and learn which dessert was born back in the days of the tents, discover the trendiest dessert in the city, and of course, taste the best knafeh in Rahat. All this and more you will experience while walking through the streets of the city, meeting the people who make everything by hand, tasting sweets with aromas of cinnamon and cardamom, combinations of pistachio and chocolate. The guides will be Fatma and Amer Alzamili, who raise their 8 children together in Rahat. They will openly share with you about life in the city, the importance of tradition and heritage alongside progress and modernity that now intertwine with the conservative culture. During the tour, Fatma and Amer will also host the visitors in their home, to demonstrate the traditions of hospitality – as is customary in Bedouin tradition, naturally with coffee and sweets.

Among the streets of Rahat hides an unparalleled culinary celebration – dozens of local kebab houses, professional butcher shops, and family restaurants serving the freshest meat, seasoned with secret spices passed down through generations. The tour will be led by Rafat Al Hamula, a local tourism guide in Rahat and a well-known meat enthusiast. Rafat is also a professional soccer referee and an active social leader in the city. He combines his authentic social knowledge with sensitivity and deep familiarity with the local community. For the hungry guests entering the four carefully selected kebab houses in Rahat chosen by Rafat, local dishes will await, emphasizing freshness and hospitality as is customary in Bedouin tradition. On the visit, you will meet professional butchers, restaurants, and locals sharing recipes with spices collected and added to menus over decades of nomadic life. This is a celebration of quality ingredients, local culture, and good food – from grill to plate. It’s not just a meal, but a journey between stories, flavors, and aromas.

Additional partners in the tours are the Rahat Economic Development Company, the Rahat Community Center, and the Bedouin Heritage Center in Rahat. Duration of the tours: 180 minutes. Meeting point: Rahat Culture Hall (Heichal Hapis). Each tour costs NIS 80.

For more details and reservations: Naama Sapir – 052-7751565