Creature comforts in the great outdoors
VICKI CABOT
Contributing Editor
For outdoors enthusiasts, traversing Israel's deserts provides myriad choices for adventure. There are thousands of hiking trails to explore by foot, or for the less intrepid, by Jeep or perhaps by camel.
The Dead Sea offers boat rides along its still waters that provide wonderful views of the desert terrain. Campgrounds and inexpensive hostels abound, but for those who are looking for more comfortable, even luxurious, accommodations, the area offers those as well.
The Dead Sea is fast becoming a popular resort, with at least a half-dozen new hotels currently under construction. Most offer therapeutic treatments with Dead Sea mud (believed beneficial for many skin ailments, including eczema and psoriasis) and a host of other amenities and services at their health and beauty spas. The newly opened Hyatt Regency Dead Sea Resort and Spa is one of the most spectacular, with beautifully appointed rooms, full service spa, health club, three restaurants and two outdoor pools. The hotel also has convention facilities and offers children's day camp programming and a full schedule of guest events, including live music and lectures on health and nutrition.
The Dead Sea location offers easy access to exploring many of the desert's outdoor attractions including a hike up Masada, the ancient Jewish fortress, or a visit to Arad, home of an artists' colony. The Dead Sea is only a 90-minute ride south from Jerusalem and two hours north from Eilat.
In Eilat, the choices of hotels can accommodate anyone's tastes or pocketbook. Several luxury hotels are under construction; the Royal Beach and the adjacent Dan rival any American resort in design, amenities and services.
For more information, contact the Israel Tourism InfoCenter at 1-800-7-ISRAEL or its Web site, http://www.infotour.co.il/.
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