FIVE PLACES TO EXPERIENCE IN ISRAEL’S ARAVA &
NEGEV DESERTS
December 2020
Time passes ever so slowly, the desert vibes washing over and inside of you. A deep internal cleansing, as if life’s medicine stems purely from natural sources. Luxury isn’t an aesthetic design piece or table in a coveted restaurant. It is clean air, infinite open space; the sound of silence only to be perturbed by a bird’s chirp or an arid tree whistling in the wind.
A moment in the desert can feel like an eternity. At first glance, rocks, mountains, tumbleweed and the occasional passing car can seem futile. But blazoning past the banality is a glorious beauty with soulful stones that beckon to be unturned. Denizens of the desert are kind, spiritual and hardworking. Manifesting in many forms, and literal walks of life, inhabitants of this Mars-like environment bring forth new ideas of existing in society, with nature and with oneself.
A landbridge between Asia and Northern Africa that has long been hosted, conquered and inhabited by major empires from the Byzantines, Romans, Ottomans and as far back as the Ancient Spice Route (300-200AD), the unspoiled terrain and physical traces of its history is just another quality that makes this destination unfathomably special.
I found this and more on my third trip to the Arava and Negev deserts, which comprise 60% of Israel’s topographical land size. The desert teaches you not to seek but to simply be. Intuition is key. Friends whisper wisdom and a coveted collection of “sites” to visit. Of people to meet. And energy to encounter.
Bringing visitors from abroad to explore this majestic land, replete with a distinct language of art, architecture, culture, cuisine, wellness and overall creativity, is a true honor and privilege. This “negative city” -- as monolithic as the skyscrapers of Manhattan or the Fjords of Norway -- ensares intangible life source and oozes an uncontrived aesthetic of mud, rock, rickety wood and heat-scorched flora. The desert offers connection through disconnection. A belief in its powers can only set you free.
Below are five destinations and experiences to consider when embarking on your next roadtrip to Israel’s Arava and Negev Deserts, including:
DANI KARAVAN’S MEMORIAL TO THE NEGEV BRIGADE, BEER SHE’EBA
I arrived to an architectural gem I long intended to visit, but hadn’t until now;
The Negev Brigade Memorial by pioneering Israeli sculptor Dani Karavan is not a static structure: its architectural intention is to be a point of interaction, with crevasses, sloped ceilings and an internal “light dome” that are to be entered and walked upon. The structure is a living memorial for the fallen soldiers of the Israel Negev Brigade who lost their lives in the Independence Day war. I arrived on a Tuesday at mid-afternoon and was fortunate to find this normally-packed location removed from sound or human passage. The energy of being alive in a place that mourns the fallen gave me a new appreciation for life and a revitalized physical relationship with architectural sculptures of beyond-human scale.
Contact us at hello@eagertourist.com to plan your next architecture tour in the Arava and Negev Deserts.
LANDROOM OBSERVATORY, MITZPE RAMON
Created by Gitai Architects, Landroom Observatory is an ecological architectural structure for star and desert-gazing that is made entirely from local sandstone and limestone extracted from the circumambient ground and processed as the main material for the structure. Landroom’s atmosphere changes in response to environmental conditions throughout the day, serving as a shelter from the sun during the day and a warm cocoon in the evening for star gazers. Landroom connects its visitors to the bright skies and cosmo-holistic activities that embody a time and place that is as free from light pollution that one can find in Israel.
Contact us at hello@eagertourist.com to plan your next architecture tour in the Arava and Negev Deserts.
DESERT WATER SOURCES
Trekking, driving or cruising in a land that is synonymous with barren and aridness leaves one natural element to be desired: water. What was once underwater millions of years ago, and where massive floods of biblical proportions took place, The Negev and Arava are not known as “wet destinations.” However, the deserts discretely contain lakes, streams and hidden water sources that can serve as ideal places for meditation, a refreshing dip and even a picnic (if the season/temperature allows). Two worthwhile locations are the Nahal Zin in Ein Avdat National park, the largest Wadi or dry riverbed in the Negev with an eight-foot waterfall, that is simply for observation, not swimming; and Even Ruach, known locally as the “Hidden Lake,” and a revitalizing but cool water source for splashing in the Ramon Crater.
Contact us at hello@eagertourist.com to learn more about desert water hikes and experiences.
SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS
While top-level accommodations in the desert can be futile, there are still a few suitable options that can either satisfy or elevate your stay. A few of the more interesting Tzimmers, Israel’s Middle Eastern version of agriturismo, consisting of small cabins on natural plots, or even farms, are Nof Zuqim, boasting ecological mud/clay cabins with ample privacy, outdoor space, hiking trails and a horse farm. Just south of Sdr Boker is Carmey Avdat, offering a series of cabins (I prefer the older, garden cabins than the new structures, a winery and small hiking trails, along with breakfast delivered To your cabin each morning. The talk of the town of the past several years is the forthcoming Six Senses Shaharut, the first Israeli property by the aspirational and ecological hospitality brand that will surely set a new standard for luxury hospitality in the tiny Middle Eastern country where service and value is often a point of struggle.
Contact us at hello@eagertourist.com to plan your next hotel stays in the Arava and Negev Deserts.
DESERT JEEP TOURS
Warning: Desert jeep tours are not for the queasy-prone hypes. If you can handle the off-road excursion up vertical mountains, hills and mesas, then a jeep tour in the Arava and Negev Deserts is well worth it. Desert nature guides and local experts can take you to lands difficult to reach by foot, and provide deep and insightful intel on the desert’s evolution over millions of years, including the Ramon Crater. As the techtonic plates shifted and gave way to this monolithic negative space in the Earth, the Ramon Crater, formed from massive erosion and transformed into a steephead valley that is 40 km long, 2–10 km wide and 500 meters deep, oozes a cosmic energy propelled with infinite views of limestone and sandstone mountains of burnt orange and pale yellow hues. If you are a science buff or purely and eager and curious newbie, I would not pass up the opportunity for an off-road jeep tour in the powerful Ramon Crater.
Contact us at hello@eagertourist.com to plan your offroad jeep tour in the Arava and Negev Deserts.
MORE PHOTOS OF THE ARAVA AND NEGEV DESERT (ORIGINAL FOR EAGER TOURIST)
