Six Senses hotels does not stop. He has no plans to do so. After its premiere on the beautiful island of Ibiza , the chain of luxury resorts has surprised with the opening of Six Senses Shaharut, in the negev desert , In Israel. If well-being and sustainability are emblems of the house, this new location, in the intersection of the Incense Route occupied by the Nabataeans more than 2000 years ago, is proof of this. This fact is also reconfirmed with the recent announcement of the development of Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea , one of the proposals –which will open in 2023– that make up the 28,000 m² of The Red Sea Project on the west coast of Saudi Arabia.
Arava Valley.
Take a look.
How to get: Here, the road is also part of the hotel's narrative , so enjoying it is fair and necessary. And impossible to avoid. Just let your gaze go through the windows of your transfer, departing from Tel Aviv and at a distance of three and a half hours from the hotel. If you decide to go by plane, the flight takes 50 minutes from Tel Aviv to Ramon, the new international airport near Eliat. From there, it is 45 minutes that will separate you from the resort.
What activities can we do in the surroundings of the Negev desert? Rather, what can we not do? Because if there is something that this resort offers 60 suites and pool villas , in addition to es-pec-ta-cu-la-res views of the desert from the terraces that accompany them, are outdoor leisure plans.
As a first option we have a guided camel ride –there is also the possibility of going to meet these “desert swans" at the hotel stables to take care of them and feed them– It starts right at dawn moment when the first rays of the day peek over Mount Edom, followed by a made-to-order breakfast.
For the more adventurous, the day begins with a bike tour , passing through rock formations and the Israel National Trail . We do not promise anything, but those with luck will be able to see in the distance the nubian ibex . To immerse yourself in history, the best route would be a trip to the Timna Park , the place where King Solomon had his copper mines and the current (and spectacular) geological site of Israel.
The camels are cared for like any other (luxury) guest in the hotel's stables.
More intense are 9-12 hours exploring the ruins of the ancient Incense Route , which sail through the port of Gaza, through the Negev desert and passing through Yemen. They can be done by jeep or on a camel and with a picnic overlooking the Arava Valley. At night and to slow down (a little) the rhythm, too you can take a family walk to the stars , learning to identify and locate them (the hotel provides the telescopes), with the possibility of sleeping in tents and spend the evening telling stories and cooking s'mores.
You can also abseil Makhtesh Ramon , the world's largest erosion circus; either climb the kasui sand dunes , as well as descending them by sandboarding or body surfing.
Jeep ride through the desert.
Bedrooms: The action takes center stage in this resort but nothing would be so attractive if we were not waiting for some suites and villas that blend into the terrain rocky at break time. “The villas on the property are built with sandstone and with pigments similar to those of the Nabataean farmers”, they say from Six Senses Hotels to Condé Nast Traveler.
Our favourite, obviously and without a doubt, is the Panoramic Villa , with capacity for five people and with two rooms. The reason? Easy: Views without competition, an outdoor patio with dining room and pool. More “modest” (but just as impressive) are its suites, like the one with 180 degree views . There is nothing.
Though Crown jewel And if everything else is not enough for you, it is the 72-square-meter villa, with its own spa, sauna, gym and Boffi kitchen.
Panorama villa room.
Design: Everything you see around here has been thing by Plesner Architects , project managers. Your main goal? Do what the outside merges with the inside to make exploring the hotel in its entirety an easy task. And yes, it is, not only because it can be done mounted on a Hummer buggie – designed for minimize air pollution and keep the environment serene of the desert–, but also strolling through warm and unique spaces, which seem to have evolved naturally from a collection of structures that resemble the semi-nomadic philosophy of the Nabataeans.
“A contained diversity of materials such as stone, wood, copper or different fabrics have been used to reflect the natural surroundings of weathered stone, brilliant sunsets and little vegetation. Moments of dynamic expression and exuberance, instead, have been created through the use of color, art, fabrics, eclectic jewelry, furniture and movement.”
Panorama villa pool.
Do not miss: In decorative terms, essential to the eye are the ceramic pieces by the artist Rachel Elimelech Urbach, looms and tapestries by Erez Nawi, quilts with the shapes and textures of the nearby sand dunes and bathroom amenities in brass bottles in bronze and earth tones.
Even the doors have a story to tell. “The entrance and interior doors were custom made from teak from abandoned ships, houses and pedestrian bridges. Each one of them is made in an artisanal and unique way, there are no two alike”.
The organic garden.
Eat and drink: Cherry tomatoes, lettuce, sage, mint, lavender… “Our clients and guests can enjoy fruits, vegetables and herbs that have grown in our own organic garden , this way we avoid importing what we ourselves can grow”, they explain from Six Senses Shaharut. All of them present at the table at any time of the day, starting from breakfast , the best moment of the day that shines in the Midian restaurant accompanied by breads made in a tabun oven , homemade pastries, energy juices and shakshukas.
Doesn't it motivate you to get up early? So put yourself in the hands of Chef Amir Kalfon to prepare the dishes that best suit your tastes with the A Feast to Remember experience, in which he will tell you everything he knows about the irrigation methods used in the area, as well as the harvest processes in the desert. Yes, with a tailor-made banquet and watered from best wines of the region.
yoga at sunrise
Wellness: If you don't immerse yourself in one of the hotel's yoga classes, like the Shalom & Namaste, let yourself be seen for a good time in the Alchemy Bar: the place of plants and herbs demonstrate their qualities in workshops that will teach you how to create your own scrubs, masks or poultices.
Are children welcome? A thousand times yes. They even have a club for the little ones in the house who don't want to or can't accompany their parents on their adventures.