Tourists discover Israel's Negev desert

Click To View Video

History and scenery come together for visitors to Israel's Negev Desert.

Israel's Negev Desert accounts for more than 55 percent of Israel's land, but only about 8% of its population. Here, among spectacular desert vistas, you can find an increasing number of unique tourist accommodations.

Along the ancient Spice Route, for example, a unique desert B&B offers visitors individual cabins with small private pools and wine made on site. Its name, Carmey Avdat (Vineyards of Avdat) Farm (http://www.carmey-avdat.co.il/?lat=en), draws on Avdat, an important ancient Nabatean city. Several grape-pressing areas, a farm and churches were uncovered by archeologists at this site.

Isrotel Beresheet (Genesis) (http://www.luxury-hotels-israel.com/israel-hotels/beresheet-hotel), a new luxury hotel opening this spring, is located on a cliff above Machtesh (Crater) Ramon, a landform unique to the Negev and Sinai deserts. The largest natural crater in the world at 40 kilometers (24.8 miles) long and 10 kilometers (a bit more than six miles) wide, the Ramon formed when soft rocks buried under hard surface rocks eroded, causing the hard upper layers to collapse in the shape of a heart.