Since Six Senses was acquired by InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) for $300 million in February 2019, the wellness-minded hospitality brand has continued its expansion with a number of new properties in the pipeline. (The resort on Cambodia’s Krabey Island made a splash last year, and come 2023, Six Senses will land in London with a luxury hotel inside the former Whiteleys department store.) What we’re anticipating this year? In June, Six Senses will unveil a desert resort in Israel’s Negev Desert.
Located in the Arava Valley, Six Senses Shaharut will be constructed in an environmentally friendly way to blend into the surrounding desert landscape. The design takes its inspiration from the nomadic Nabataeans, who inhabited the area more than two millennia ago. The 60 suites and villas will also reflect this local style, with furniture created by artisans with stone, wood and copper. The doors will be a particularly eye-catching design feature; teak was reclaimed from centuries-old boats and footbridges to be turned into beautiful creations by master craftsmen.
Six Senses Shaharut aims to immerse its guests in the natural world through authentic desert experiences. Activities will include sunrise yoga sessions, visits to the local community, hikes, camel treks and stargazing workshops. A big resort enticement will be the Six Senses Spa offering locally inspired treatments and myriad wellness programs. Other facilities will include the open-air amphitheater, camel stables and Earth Lab.
Access to the resort is via car transfer from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem (three-and-a-half hours) or via domestic flight from Tel Aviv to the Ramon International Airport near Eliat. From there, it’s a 45-minute transfer. Reservations are being accepted starting June 1, 2020, and a special opening offer adds a Dusk Camel Trek experience for guests staying three consecutive nights or longer.