Southern Arava Desert Offers Unique Eco-Friendly Vacation Near Eilat
The Southern Arava region, located just half an hour from Eilat, presents a distinct vacation experience far removed from the bustling resort city. Despite the intense summer heat sweeping Israel and Europe, the desert's climate remains manageable and the area offers year-round appeal. Visitors can enjoy natural desert landscapes, unique sites, and modest accommodations with pools in kibbutzim or moshavim, providing a quieter alternative to Eilat's crowded summer scene.
Kibbutz Lotan, established in 1983 and home to 82 families, exemplifies this approach. Named after a family from Esau's tribe, it sustains itself through dairy farming, 12,000 date palms, solar panels, an eco-fun complex, and a travelers' hotel that joined the kibbutz three years ago. The new business CEO, Ofir Alon, who recently left a senior energy company role, aims to boost synergy between tourism and local businesses, including renovating the kibbutz's pool used by hotel guests.
The Travelers' Hotel expanded in 2023, adding 26 new family-friendly rooms equipped with kitchens and ecological amenities, complementing the kibbutz's environmental ethos. Guests enjoy a precise breakfast and access to an eco-playground where children and adults learn sustainable living through activities like clay sculpture and geodesic dome building.
To attract more visitors, the Southern Arava Tourism Council introduced the "Summer Card," a regional attraction pass priced at 165 shekels for three days or 250 for five. It grants access to 23 sites in the Arava and Eilat, including Timna Park sunset tours, stargazing at Neot Smadar, wildlife drives at Yotvata, water park fun, and fruit sushi workshops.
The Southern Arava does not compete with Eilat's luxury hotels and large pools but offers tranquility, authentic stories, and landscapes unavailable elsewhere. The region encourages travelers to see it as a destination in its own right, revealing vibrant life amid the seemingly empty desert. The author was a guest of the Travelers' Hotel and Southern Arava tourism.
