אל על | אטמוספירה

more - all this before even reaching Eilat and its recreational offerings. If you stay a night or two in one of the area’s kibbutzim or in Timna Park itself, you’ll discover that during the summer nights of July and August, the Arava comes to life. Between sunset and sunrise, when the temperature drops, you can set out on unforgettable night-time experiences, including star-gazing, sunset tours, sunrise tours, scorpion tours, and more (for details on tours: aravadesert.co.il). Kibbutz Neot Semadar | Ecological hospitality The first stop is Kibbutz Neot Semadar (on Rt. 40). The Art Center can be seen from afar, resembling a colorful, legendary tower. This tower characterizes the unique work and creative process involved in its construction. By making a reservation in advance, you can venture inside for a self-guided tour (for a fee) and be captivated by the impressive gallery of diverse objects made by kibbutz artisans. Afterwards, stroll through the rose bushes and grape vines to the kibbutz’s organic winery. At Neot Semadar, there are also ecological and air-conditioned guest accommodations for those travelers who want to enjoy the desert tranquility. Pundak Neot Semadar is a great place to stop and enjoy a delicious, refreshing, local and organic country meal served in a courtyard full of greenery. What’s on the menu? Wonderful breakfasts with omelets and goat cheese sourced from the kibbutz’s own herd, or enjoy sandwiches, salads, juices and organic nectars, homemade cakes, ice cream, and more. At the Pundak Neot Semadar local store, you can buy organic food items made at Neot Semadar, including olive oil, wine, olives, jams, yogurt and cheeses. Additionally, there are items from

Neot Semadar I Photo: Courtesy of the Kibbutz

Photo: Yoav Palma

Kibbutz Ketora I Photo: Courtesy of the Kibbutz “Beer-Tzinut brewery - Kibbutz Ketoraz

the local perfume garden available for sale, including cosmetics, soaps, tea leaves, spices and more (neot semadar.com). Kibbutz Ketura | Between tradition and progress At Kibbutz Ketura, stop in for a guided tour (but reserve your spot in advance). The friendly guides will accompany you on a surprising route that combines the past and present, tradition and progress. Begin in the shaded courtyard next to “Methuselah,” the world’s oldest date palm, which is impressive given that it sprouted from a seed discovered during the Masada excavation and dates back to the days of the ancient kingdom of Judea. Another stop on

the tour is Algatech, an innovative approach to growing algae for anti aging products. Typically, the tour concludes with a delicious meal and a dip in the kibbutz pool. In addition to these tours, Kibbutz Ketura has a guest house for couples and families. There’s also a brewery, cleverly named “Beer-Tzinut,” which has won international prizes. The brewery makes 15 kinds of beer, including “Cool Majhool,” which uses dates from the kibbutz orchards in its brewing process (ketura.org.il). Timna Park | Expansive Biblical Landscape A half-hour before reaching Eilat, stop at Timna Park, which is located in the heart of the Southern Arava. It’s

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ATMOSPHERE JULY 2023