Elite Traveler Fall 2022

Clockwise from left The Tree of Life; the outdoor terrace in the Panorama Pool Villa; the hotel’s indoor pool; Tel Aviv is a short plane ride away

artisanal cheeses and wines is included) are just a couple of the extracurriculars I found myself on. Hosts are also happy to take you on hikes, mountain bike rides, into the local community and on trips further a fi eld to the likes of Petra, Masada, Har Karkom and the Dead Sea. Tel Aviv is a short 50-minute plane ride away from nearby Ramon Airport. The food alone is worth a visit — as are the seriously cool hotels, led by grand dame icon The Norman. If you’re only there for a short time, be sure to hit up Ja ff a for a dose of local culture. The fl ea market is your one-stop shop for souvenirs, from old movie cameras to vintage furniture galore. Elsewhere, the steps leading down to St Peter’s Church provide plenty of photo ops, and Neve Tzedek (a sort of village within the city) is a great place to stock up on fashion and art steals from all the glitzy boutiques. To refuel, head to Abu Hassan for hummus, HaKosem for falafel and Levinsky Burekas for burekas (a salty pastry made of thin, fl aky dough fi lled with cheese). From $1,000 per night. Contact reservations-shaharut@sixsenses.com, +972 861 500 50, sixsenses.com

around the world. Cocktails are a must (be warned: They are strong, especially for lightweights like myself), as is simply chilling in the space for sunset meet and greets. The turntable with an old-school vinyl collection churning out Israeli bands mixed with world jazz and blues classics is another seriously good highlight. RELAX Let’s face it, the spa is the true headliner of the place and makes the journey out here oh-so worth it. I’ll say it now, buzz and hype aside: I had one of the best massages of my life in this spa and left feeling genuinely reinvigorated. The setup is no di ff erent from any other wellness pad on the globe: There’s a pretty moody underground pool; a relaxation space (expect more of those dramatic tundras); a yoga studio complete with a yogi who understands the concept of ‘beginner’; mani-pedi nail bar; and a fully equipped gym. But it’s the attention to detail that really sets it apart and makes all the contemporary spa facilities subservient in comparison. “Our ethos is as natural

holistic, physical and mentally stimulating experience. It’s about paying attention to the needs of our guests and not the sequence of prescribed movements. The beauty of a spa treatment here is that it’s super-personalized, bespoke and suited to you as soon as you check in.” At massage time (I am booked in for the holistic experience), pure jojoba oil is used to relax my muscles — it has the closest pH level to the skin, I am told — along with antioxidant rich camel milk to help nourish any dry spots that may need nurturing. It’s all natural, of course. There’s no music or spa paraphernalia. Instead, Dor, my therapist, focuses on touch, gauging every slightest movement my body makes. He unknots every wiry cluster in my shoulder. Ninety minutes later, I leave relaxed and ready for the next adventure: mint tea and a snooze in the relaxation room. EXPLORE While it might be out in the sticks, there’s lots to do here. Intense camel rides (and I say this only because your butt and arms will get a great workout as you hold on for dear life trotting down the resort’s perilous hills) and sunset jeep safaris (a picnic of

and sustainable as it can be,” spa director Nina Shapiro tells Elite Traveler . “We want to deliver a Photos Israel Ministry of Tourism / Dafna Tal, Assaf Pinchuk, Dana Friedlander, Amit Geron