Israel accommodates visitors with elegance

Few if any visitors go to Israel in pursuit of a luxury beach or spa resort. The historical, archeological and religious sites of the land of “milk and honey” offers are reason enough for the journey. But after a day of climbing the haunting rock fortress of Masada, hiking the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, or working your way up and down the craggy cliff faces of the Negev there is nothing better than a posh destination where aching feet and weary bones are caressed and revived.

For decades the hospitality industry in Israel could be reduced to a pleasant, clean room where you could get a good night sleep and a hearty breakfast buffet. However, in recent years there has been a call for world-class lifestyle accommodations, exclusive dining and sybaritic spas. These calls have been answered. Visitors can now enjoy the Holy Land in a style that would make King Herod blush.

A tiny country, about the size of New Jersey, 60 percent of Israel is desert. David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister, had a dream of making the desolate, yellow-brown Negev bloom. His dream has reached fruition. On the edge of the Ramon Crater, set in an amazing natural landscape of incomparable beauty, the Beresheet Hotel in Mitzpe Ramon awaits a jaw-dropping reaction. A far cry from the tents of the nomads and traders who transported aromatic spices along this route, this property offers the ultimate luxury in an ancient, primeval atmosphere.

Among the desert plants and trees are 111 chalets with breathtaking views that blend into the landscape. There is also a large and luxurious lounge, a gourmet restaurant, an indoor swimming pool, a world-class spa, tennis courts, and a desert sculpture park that was hundreds of millions of years in the making. The Beresheet has combined the natural wonder of the Ramon Crater with human ingenuity.