Overview
Ein Gedi Kibbutz Hotel occupies a unique position in the Dead Sea accommodation landscape. Located within Kibbutz Ein Gedi rather than in the Ein Bokek hotel strip, the property is set inside a botanical garden with over 900 plant species from multiple continents, on a desert plateau slightly elevated above the Dead Sea.
Ein Gedi Kibbutz Hotel is set within a botanical garden containing over 900 plant species, including some of the northernmost baobab trees on Earth, on a desert plateau overlooking the Dead Sea, approximately 25 minutes from the Ein Bokek resort area and 5 minutes from the shore.
The hotel is approximately 25 minutes by car from the Ein Bokek resort area and 5 minutes from the Dead Sea shore. Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, with its waterfalls and ibex sightings, is immediately adjacent. Masada National Park is within a short drive.
Rooms and Suites
The 166 rooms are spread across low-rise, one and two-story structures enveloped in gardens and lawns. This layout eliminates the high-rise, corridor-based feel of standard resort hotels. Rooms include balconies or terraces with views of the surrounding landscape, including the Arugot Stream bed and the Dead Sea.
Amenities include air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, refrigerators, coffee machines, and Wi-Fi. Family rooms and connecting configurations are available. The botanical garden setting means guests walk through planted pathways to reach their rooms.
Spa and Wellness
Synergy Spa is the hotel’s wellness center, featuring 12 treatment rooms, couples’ massage options, private jacuzzis, a heated indoor saltwater pool, a freshwater pool, a steam room, and a sauna.
Complimentary drinks and refreshments are available in the spa lounge.
An outdoor Olympic-sized swimming pool operates from April through November. The spa is open year-round and offers treatments incorporating Dead Sea minerals, though the hotel does not have a Dead Sea water pool with the same mineral concentration as the Ein Bokek properties.
Synergy Spa at Ein Gedi Kibbutz Hotel provides 12 treatment rooms, couples’ massage suites, private jacuzzis, and a heated indoor saltwater pool within a botanical garden setting, with an Olympic-sized outdoor pool operating from April through November.
Dining
The main restaurant provides kosher buffet meals with Mediterranean and local cuisines, offering vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options. Breakfast is buffet style; dinner is available as half-board.
The restaurant uses locally sourced ingredients where possible.
The Baobar serves as the hotel’s evening venue with live performances, wine, and food in an open-air setting within the botanical garden. The combination of live music, garden ambiance, and stargazing in the desert sky creates an experience unavailable at any Ein Bokek property.
Activities and Nature
The hotel offers a range of activities reflecting its kibbutz and nature setting: organized hikes in Nahal David (adjacent to the property), bird watching with provided binoculars, yoga classes, Pilates, botanical garden tours, drum circles, and art activities led by kibbutz members with specialized knowledge.
The hotel’s founding story traces to 1961, when seven women from Rehovot came to bathe in the local springs, leading to the construction of two wooden cabins. Today the property has evolved into a full resort within the kibbutz framework.
Ein Gedi Kibbutz Hotel offers organized hikes into Nahal David waterfalls (immediately adjacent), bird watching with provided binoculars, yoga classes, drum circles, and art activities led by kibbutz members, alongside botanical garden tours through 900+ plant species at the lowest point on Earth.
Families and Children
Family rooms and a seasonal Olympic-sized outdoor pool make the hotel accessible for families. Additional children’s amenities include mini golf, playgrounds, and weekend activity programs featuring nature walks, art activities, and drum circles.
The botanical garden setting provides a unique environment for children, with the opportunity to encounter desert wildlife (including ibex and hyrax) within the kibbutz grounds.
Practical Information
Free parking is available. The AHAVA Visitors Center is approximately a 15 to 20-minute drive north via Route 90. Jerusalem is one hour away by car; Tel Aviv is two hours. The hotel does not have direct Dead Sea beach access; the shore is a 5-minute drive. The Ein Bokek resort area is 25 minutes south.
Check-in begins at 15:00; check-out is by 11:00. The hotel operates within the kibbutz structure, which may affect some service expectations compared to chain hotels.
Who This Hotel Suits Best
Ein Gedi Kibbutz Hotel suits travelers who prioritize nature, botanical interest, and a quieter Dead Sea experience over the resort-hotel infrastructure of Ein Bokek. Hikers, bird watchers, and guests seeking organized outdoor activities will find the most value here.
The property lacks the direct beach access and Dead Sea water pools found in Ein Bokek hotels, but compensates with a setting unlike any other accommodation in the region. Travelers wanting spa-centric stays with Dead Sea mineral pools should consider Ein Bokek properties instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How far is Ein Gedi Kibbutz Hotel from the Dead Sea?
Ein Gedi Kibbutz Hotel is approximately a 5-minute drive from the Dead Sea shore. The hotel is located on an elevated desert plateau within Kibbutz Ein Gedi, about 25 minutes by car from the Ein Bokek resort area. Beach access requires a short drive rather than a walk.
Q2: What is the botanical garden at Ein Gedi?
The Ein Gedi botanical garden spans the entire kibbutz and contains over 900 plant species from multiple continents, including some of the northernmost baobab trees on Earth. The garden integrates with the hotel grounds, and guests can take self-guided or organized tours.
Q3: Does Ein Gedi Kibbutz Hotel have a spa?
Yes. Synergy Spa includes 12 treatment rooms, couples’ massage options, private jacuzzis, a heated indoor saltwater pool, a freshwater pool, steam room, and sauna. The spa is open year-round.
Q4: Is Ein Gedi Hotel suitable for families?
Yes. The hotel offers family rooms, a seasonal Olympic-sized outdoor pool, mini golf, playgrounds, and weekend activity programs for children including nature walks, art activities, and drum circles. The botanical garden provides a unique environment for children.
Q5: What activities are available at Ein Gedi Kibbutz Hotel?
Activities include organized hikes in Nahal David (adjacent), bird watching with provided binoculars, yoga classes, Pilates, botanical garden tours, drum circles, art activities, and live performances at the Baobar. Many activities are led by kibbutz members.
Q6: Is Ein Gedi Nature Reserve close to the hotel?
Yes. Ein Gedi Nature Reserve is immediately adjacent to the kibbutz. Guests can access the reserve’s trails, waterfalls, and wildlife viewing areas within minutes. The reserve is home to ibex, hyrax, and diverse bird species.
