Ein Gedi Nature Reserve in the heart of the desert sands is a relaxing reprieve from the rest of Israel

Written by
Time Out Israel Writers
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Visiting Ein Gedi, unfolding before your eyes, one can witness a timeless space - at the borders of the desert, with a backdrop of glowing mountains framing one of the most stunning treasures on Earth - the Dead Sea.
 

During the 1950s, courageous pioneers decided to create and establish a kibbutz in the area. The fruits of their labor is now today a sprawling community with recreational areas, a hotel, a luxury spa and two pools, a stunning botanical garden that is the only one of its kind in the world, and a host of special events.

Varied colors and scents lead visitors to discover the whole site, encompassing and celebrating the surrounding nature, bringing together a flora composed of more than 1,000 species of plants and trees from around the world.

Fig trees, pomegranate trees, and the famous, mythical African Baobab tree all find shelter in the lush vegetation at the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve. The surrounding's day time heat, combined with the minerals in the air and the Earth, offer the impression of a true jungle.

Nestled in these heavenly spaces are cottages, creating an oasis of calm and serenity. The rooms, within a range of different budgets, are clean and comfortable bungalows - some accompanied with terraces boasting panoramic views of the picturesque desert mountains. The adjacent kibbutz has a large swimming pool surrounded by a spacious and shaded green area to accommodate families and large parties.

In yet another element to the area, Synergie Spa is a recent addition with entirely modern facilities – including an extensive list of unique treatments, a hammam, a sauna, an indoor pool with healing salt waters from the Dead Sea, and lounge seating for pure relaxation.

As for food, the Ein Gedi Hotel offers a dining hall and room and board can include meals – in the same vein of respecting the communal atmosphere and spirit of the Kibbutz. The breakfast buffet offers a wide variety of salads, dairy products, fish, fruits and eggs, cereals and jams. The evening meal, also buffet-style, is a pleasure for the taste buds, with a variety of colorful salads, select cuts of meat, chicken, or fish and delicious desserts.

And even more of an added bonus? There is a shuttle bus available to guests that goes back and forth between the hotel and a drop off point in front of the Dead Sea. There is a voucher for hotel guests that includes this shuttle service free of charge plus entrance to the Ein Gedi hot springs, which also includes facilities of a hammam, various sulpher pools and an outdoor pool. This exceptional place is a guaranteed recipe for an unforgettable stay.

How to get there: Head on Route 1 from Jerusalem towards the Dead Sea. Turn onto Route 90 at the Arava Junction for 40 minutes until you come to signs for Ein Gedi on your right. http://en.ein-gedi.co.il
 
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