Be amongst the first to check into this brand spanking new off-the-beaten-track desert retreat in the Negev Desert in Israel.

Of biblical proportions, the Negev Desert is the epitome of desert landscapes and provides a host of activities for all ages from discovering archaeological and natural landmarks right through to extreme sports, family-inclusive pursuits such as camel or jeep safaris and trips to the Red Sea. If you prefer to stay in the hotel you can laze by the pool, head to the gym or book some pampering in the spa.

Set in the Israeli Negev Desert, Six Senses Shaharut is set to open in August 2021. Built into a dramatic cliff face with far-reaching views of the desert landscape, this luxury hotel will boast 60 suites and villas including a three-bedroom private retreat. The suites and villas nestled halfway into the ground have been created and designed to take advantage of the surrounding natural beauty while minimising the impact on the surroundings. 

The villas are built from local rocks and the landscape will use regional cacti and indigenous desert blooms while most of the hotel’s furniture and interior fabrics have been sourced from local community artisans. There’ll be one central restaurant, a poolside bar and grill, a juice bar, as well as an authentic tented Bedouin dining experience with a fire pit for late-night feasts.

The Spa will be home to a Six Senses signature Alchemy Bar - Six Senses’ innovative, interactive wellness workshop where you can work and play with a variety of local herbs, spices and fruits to artfully blend sustainable, artisanal and entirely organic ingredients to create their own lotions and potions. Fresh ingredients will be harvested seasonally from the hotel’s own kitchen gardens or from local farmers at the nearby kibbutzim. Other Spa facilities will include an indoor pool, outdoor lap pool, fully-equipped gym, yoga studio with desert views and a nail bar. 

​Six Senses Spa Shaharut includes six treatment rooms and one presidential spa suite. Saunas, steam rooms and hammams can be found in male and female changing areas and are a great way to start any treatment.

Six Senses Shaharut will also be home to a desert activity centre that will incorporate Six Senses’ brand-wide Earth Lab’ scheme and showcase its sustainability efforts to reduce consumption, produce locally and support communities and ecosystems. There will be camel stables with an arena and grooming area, as well as an open-air amphitheatre created from the natural earth contours and transformed into a Six Senses signature ‘Cinema Paradiso’ beneath the huge starry sky. 

Dining

Six Senses Shaharut will have a creative approach to food combining the best of Israeli and Mediterranean influences while embracing the Eat With Six Senses philosophy of local, fresh and seasonal produce. Where possible, ingredients are harvested from the hotel’s organic gardens and carefully selected local farmers. Respectful of local culture and traditions and, while they are not kosher certified, they avoid serving ingredients such as pork and shellfish.

Activities

Additional activities will include a kid’s club with off-road driving, mountain climbing, mountain biking, camel safaris, craft and art workshops, bird watching and wine tours (not for the kids obviously!). If you’re after a truly immersive desert experience, you’ll be able to head off into the Negev desert on camels and spend the night camping under a blanket of stars.

Rates at Six Senses Shaharut will start from around £776 per night based on two people sharing including breakfast. www.sixsenses.com