Luxury holidays in Negev Desert

When to go

Outdoorsy types should visit from April to November, when sun-baked days and still-warm nights make for the finest hiking, biking and camel-riding weather. Milder temperatures and spectacular flash floods in the wadis make winter a winner, too; go between December and February to catch the cascades.

Getting there

• Planes

  Fly into Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport. From there, it’s around a four-hour drive to Eilat, two hours to Mitzpe Ramon and the surrounding archaeological sites, and three hours to Six Senses Shaharut. If you’re heading to the latter, you can also hop on a 50-minute flight from Tel Aviv to Eilat’s Ramon International airport, just a 45-minute drive from the hotel. The hotel can arrange transfers from either airport.

• Automobiles

  There are plenty of guided jeep tours to choose from and hotels can arrange airport transfers, but hire a four-wheel drive at the airport if you plan on plotting your own adventure.