Best Anchorages in Israel
The eastern end of the Mediterranean — Herod's impossible Roman harbour at Caesarea, the Crusader fortress city of Akko, Bahá'í gardens on Mount Carmel, and Herzliya Marina as the region's main hub. Mandatory Israeli Navy contact, comprehensive security screening, and active Gaza exclusion zones require careful preparation.
30 cm
Tidal range (Mediterranean)
25 nm
Navy contact distance
Apr–Nov
Sailing season
3,800 yr
Ancient ports (Caesarea / Jaffa / Akko)
Critical Safety Rules — Read Before Sailing to Israel
1. Israeli Navy contact (mandatory): Call VHF 16 (or SSB 2182 kHz) at 25nm offshore BEFORE entering Israeli territorial waters. Provide vessel name, flag, origin, destination, crew names and passports. Failure to call risks armed naval interception. 2. Security screening: Comprehensive arms and explosives search on arrival at every marina. Plan 2–4 hours. Arrive Sunday–Thursday 09:00–16:00 only — significant overtime charges apply on Shabbat (Friday/Saturday) and outside hours. 3. Gaza exclusion zone: Active naval blockade enforcement zone south of Ashkelon — boundaries change with security situation; consult current NAVTEX and Israeli Navy VHF before transiting the southern coast. DO NOT approach Gaza waters. 4. Lebanese border (Rosh Hanikra): Do not approach within 1nm of the border at Rosh Hanikra. Israeli Navy patrols actively. No transit to Lebanese waters from Israel.
Sailing Regions
Israel Coast
7 anchoragesIsrael's Mediterranean coast from Ashkelon in the south to Haifa in the north — 7 anchorages covering the country's main sailing infrastructure. Herzliya Marina is the primary port of entry for foreign yachts (680 berths). Tel Aviv Marina and Jaffa Old Port provide urban sailing in Israel's cultural capital. Ashdod and Ashkelon Marina form the southern cluster — critically close to the Gaza exclusion zones. Haifa Carmel is the hub for northern Israel's extraordinary archaeology. Caesarea Roman Harbour (Sebastos) is the anchorage with the most remarkable history: Herod the Great's 40-acre harbour complex of 22–10 BC, one of antiquity's greatest engineering achievements, now an underwater archaeological site.
Contact Israeli Navy VHF 16 at 25nm offshore — mandatory; security screening 2–4 hours on arrival; Gaza exclusion zone south of Ashkelon — DO NOT approach; arrive Sun–Thu 09:00–16:00
Explore Israel Coast anchorages →Israel North
5 anchoragesNorthern Israel from Haifa Bay to the Lebanese border — 5 anchorages covering the culturally richest sailing ground on the Israeli coast. Haifa Bay's Kishon Marina is the most sheltered facility in Israel (fully enclosed within the commercial port). Akko (Acre) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with one of the world's most complete medieval Crusader fortress-harbour complexes. Nahariya is the northernmost Israeli marina, just 6nm from the Lebanese border. Dor Beach is an ancient Canaanite harbour archaeological reserve — 4,000-year-old underwater port structures visible in 2–5m. Rosh Hanikra marks the Lebanese border: dramatic white chalk grottoes accessible only from the cliff top, with 1nm offshore exclusion zone from the border enforced by Israeli Navy.
Lebanese border at Rosh Hanikra: 1nm minimum offshore exclusion — Israeli Navy active patrol; Akko UNESCO heritage zone: no anchoring on ancient structures; security screening at all marinas; Haifa commercial port: AIS monitoring mandatory
Explore Israel North anchorages →Israeli Sailing Rules — Summary
- !Mandatory Navy contact: Call Israeli Navy on VHF 16 (or 2182 kHz SSB) at 25–50nm offshore. Provide: vessel name, origin, destination, crew count, passports. Do NOT enter territorial waters without prior contact. Ports of entry: Herzliya (primary), Haifa, Ashkelon, Eilat (Red Sea).
- !Security screening: Comprehensive on arrival — arms and explosives search, vessel inspection, crew questioning. Plan 2–4 hours for clearance. Arrive weekdays only (Sun–Thu) between 09:00–16:00 to avoid substantial overtime charges. A cruising permit is issued after clearance.
- !Gaza exclusion zones: Active naval blockade enforcement zones south of Ashkelon. Boundaries change with security status — consult current NAVTEX broadcasts and Israeli Navy instructions before transiting the southern coast. Natural gas platforms (offshore): 500m exclusion zones enforced.
- !Lebanese border (Rosh Hanikra): Do not approach within 1nm of the Israeli-Lebanese maritime border at Rosh Hanikra. Israeli Navy patrols this zone actively. No transit to Lebanese waters possible from Israel. Nahariya (6nm south) is the northernmost marina.
- !Geopolitical context: Check current UK FCO / US State Dept. travel advisories before departure. Cyprus (Larnaca/Limassol, 173–185nm west of Herzliya) is the main regional staging port. Best months: April–June and September–November.