For the body, heart, and soul: Treat yourself to a getaway in Ein Gedi

The ongoing conflict, numerous evacuees, and intense heat haven’t been kind to the Dead Sea area. It seems that this region, one of the most intriguing and beautiful in the country, is struggling to recover, with hardly any tourism initiatives left. However, those in the Dead Sea area have long been accustomed to making the best of what they have, and the unique individuals who chose to build their lives here know how to turn lemons into lemonade.

That’s the feeling you get when you arrive in the Ein Gedi area. After a winding drive, with the desert landscape on one side and the blue sea on the other, it feels like an oasis in the heart of the desert—Ein Gedi Hotel. The hotel, located at the entrance to Kibbutz Ein Gedi, is a perfect vacation destination combining magical nature, stunning views, high-quality service, and infinite peace. The hotel, nestled within the botanical garden of Kibbutz Ein Gedi, offers unique experiences between the sea and the desert.

I don’t know how many times you've slept inside what’s officially classified as a nature reserve, but this hotel is literally situated within the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, which stretches from Nahal Salvadora in the south to Nahal Rahaf in the north. At first glance, Ein Gedi looks like any classic kibbutz hotel, with lawns, low buildings, and an abundance of plants. But after just a few moments there, after encountering your first rock hyrax and having your breath taken away by the view, you realize you've arrived in another world.

Aside from the view, one of the things that makes the hotel unique is its direct connection to the kibbutz community. The kibbutz members are nothing short of pioneers who succeeded in bringing life to the wilderness—they established the world’s lowest botanical garden, which blends seamlessly with the kibbutz landscape and thriving community.

To deepen the connection with the community, as part of the hotel’s regular schedule, there are various programs and activities led by kibbutz members, including Pilates sessions at the local studio, meetings with artists, performances, guided tours in the botanical garden and reserve, and even therapeutic dog training. In addition to fascinating encounters with the people, there are also unplanned encounters with ibexes that roam naturally between the rooms and open spaces, as if they were part of the hotel staff.

The hotel offers spacious, well-designed rooms, many with breathtaking views of the botanical garden or desert. The rooms are equipped with a fridge, coffee machine, TV, and, of course, Wi-Fi. In the morning, you can wake up to the sound of birds chirping and enjoy a cup of coffee on the balcony, with the mountainous landscape welcoming you. There’s also a large pool plus a toddler pool surrounded by lawns. By the pool entrance, there’s a pleasant bar offering chicken schnitzel, fries, pizza, and draft beer.

Since the hotel covers a large area, beginning with a central lobby surrounded by guest room cottages, a restaurant on one side, and the pool on the other, you can book a tuk-tuk from the lobby.

Prices

September: Weekdays, including breakfast – For a couple: NIS 1,100 per night, for a couple + 2 children: starting at NIS 1,500.

Yom Kippur weekend: For a couple, minimum 2 nights – NIS 1,100 per night, including breakfast. For a couple + 2 children – NIS 1,450 per night, including breakfast.

Holidays – For a couple: starting at NIS 1,615 per night, including breakfast. For a couple + 2 children: 1,972 NIS per night, including breakfast.

For the Body and Soul

If you’re on an adults-only vacation or managed to organize a babysitter for the kids, don’t miss a visit to the Wellness Synergy Spa center. It’s one of the most impressive parts of the hotel, and if you’re used to spas being located in some closed-off corner of the hotel, this one is perched on the northeast side of the hill upon which the hotel is built.

From its two long pools—one heated and covered with water straight from the Dead Sea, and one outdoor freshwater pool—you can view the Dead Sea, the cliffs, and the desert. Children aren’t allowed in the spa, and there are plenty of seating and relaxation areas. The spa also offers an extensive treatment menu, so everyone can find the right treatment for them, with prices comparable to those in central Israel.

Dining

Anyone who has traveled in recent years knows that cuisine isn’t the strongest point of this area, so it’s highly recommended to eat at the hotel. Like any hotel in Israel, there’s a rich buffet-style breakfast here. The dining room also surprises in the evening with a wide variety of meat, vegan, and fish dishes, as well as plenty of sides and salads.

In addition to the classic dining room, the lobby features Baobab—a café-bar named after the baobab trees in its courtyard. The café typically offers a classic lobby menu of pizzas, pastas, and salads, but recently it added a new tasting menu called Culinary Wandering Journey. As the name suggests, the menu offers a culinary journey inspired by the history of Ein Gedi, an area with a long tradition of nomadic life. The new menu aims to honor this tradition and the land.

Here you’ll find unique and intriguing items such as “Flood Bread,” developed in the kibbutz during a period when Ein Gedi was cut off during floods, and residents had to rely on simple, filling foods as supplies couldn’t reach the area. Another local creation, this time from the café’s kitchen, is roasted nut hummus with pistachios and hazelnuts, based on sheep’s feta and goat yogurt; Aruk Balasi patties; filo cigar with fish fillets, and more. Once again, not typical hotel café dishes, but excellent nonetheless. Prices are also reasonable, ranging from NIS 40 to NIS 78.

If you love food trucks, at the entrance to the kibbutz you’ll find Artos, Meat in the Heart of the Desert—the place for a decadent burger (NIS 58) or an entrecôte sandwich (NIS 65), both served with fries and a soft drink. The food truck offers stunning views of the Dead Sea, shaded seating areas, and even coloring pages and markers for kids. Vegetarians can enjoy a salad or pizza.

What Else Can You Do Here?

After two months of summer break, there’s something purifying about doing nothing but lounging by the pool. But if you do feel like moving, the Ein Gedi area is full of natural treasures just a short drive away. The main attraction, in my opinion, is the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve—a paradise on earth combining water and desert.

The reserve is home to two perennial streams: Nahal David in the north and Nahal Arugot in the south. These streams divide the reserve in two (and there are two entrances). In addition to the flowing water, the reserve has a temple from the Chalcolithic period, and wildlife like rock hyraxes, ibexes, and even more elusive creatures like wolves and hyenas that come out after sunset.

If you enter the reserve from Nahal David, you’ll enjoy a desert landscape, small waterfalls, and water pools. The reserve also allows casual visitors to appreciate its beauty. There’s a short trail that passes through remnants of ancient water collection pools and aqueducts, leading to the highlight: a plunge into natural pools. This short and highly recommended trail for families with young children is called the "Lower Nahal David Trail." The walk follows Nahal David and ends with a sudden view of David’s Waterfall.

If you love ancient ruins, you can visit the synagogue located within the Ein Gedi National Antiquities Park. Archaeologists date the synagogue to the Byzantine period. Based on the findings, it seems that the synagogue was active for about 400 years before being completely destroyed in a fire. The synagogue’s presence confirms the belief that there was an active Jewish settlement in the area. In the synagogue, which was undoubtedly impressive, a mosaic floor was found combining ancient Hebrew and Aramaic inscriptions.

And if you’re looking for something to do on the way back to the center, about a 30-minute drive from Ein Gedi is the Einot Tzukim Nature Reserve, which at this time of year is less crowded than during the holidays. Located at the lowest point on earth, the reserve features a new visitor center and wading pools fed by surrounding springs. At the center of the reserve are the pools, shaded areas, and changing rooms. Additionally, there’s an archaeological site from the Second Temple period, where a mansion, irrigation pool, garden, and balsam perfume extraction facility were discovered.