Inside Kfar Nokdim, the desert oasis offering stays, wellness and stargazing

Kfar Nokdim, in the Kanaim Valley of the Judean Desert between Arad and Masada, is presented as a long-established escape for travelers seeking a break from routine. The resort offers a wide range of desert-style accommodations, including more than 50 air-conditioned rooms, designed wool glamping huts with wooden decks, heated camping tents, caravan sites, and converted bus suites called Camel Bus units.

The Camel Bus rooms sit on the southern, higher part of the complex facing the desert view. They include air conditioning, a private bathroom and shower, and can host up to two adults, two children and a baby. The rooms are furnished with handmade pieces by local residents, built from iron, wood, stones from the area and salt from the Dead Sea. The site also has shared kitchenettes near the lodging areas.

For activities, the article highlights a water zone with hammocks and water sprays, an artificial stream for wading, petting and feeding areas for children, camel feeding, and guided desert tours. Night tours use ultraviolet flashlights to find scorpions and other desert wildlife. Visitors can also set out early for sunrise at Masada, about 11 kilometers away, hike to Tzephira Pool, or go to the Dead Sea. A new wellness area includes a dry sauna, indoor pool, tea and coffee cart and ice bath, with entry limited to ages 13 and up.

The site also hosts the “Nokdim with Stars” festival over four weekends in August, from July 30 to August 22, 2026, Thursday through Saturday. The event combines astronomy, desert culture and nature, and is open to families, couples, friend groups and nature enthusiasts. Breakfast is served in a dining room facing the view, and a hot meat dinner is available by advance order. Prices start at 270 shekels for a tent and reach 1,490 shekels for an stone-built room, with a small festival surcharge added automatically for overnight guests.