Overview
Dead Sea Workshops: Art, Soap and Desert Crafts The Dead Sea’s resort strip in Ein Bokek offers floating and mineral bathing. The southern settlements offer something different: the chance to work with the desert’s raw materials under the guidance of artisans who have spent decades learning what this terrain produces.
Ceramics: Esti Barak Studio, Neot HaKikar In a large studio hangar in Neot HaKikar, ceramics artist Esti Barak has maintained a working gallery and teaching space for over 30 years. Her practice draws directly from the landscape. The clay comes from local desert sources, and Barak produces her own glazes from the region’s distinctive mineral rich soil.
The studio holds both a gallery of finished work (inspired by local agriculture and the Kikar Sodom terrain) and a collection of pieces from international workshops hosted at the site over two decades. Visitors can participate in guided ceramics sessions covering wheel throwing and hand building techniques. Sessions are suitable for all experience levels.
The studio operates a small camping complex, Neot Camping, allowing visitors to combine a workshop session with an overnight stay in the desert.
Esti Barak’s ceramics studio in Neot HaKikar has operated for over 30 years, producing functional art from locally sourced desert clay and mineral glazes drawn from the terrain surrounding the Dead Sea’s southern shore.
Soap and Perfume: Desert Scent Workshop
Set among the Medjool date groves of Neot HaKikar, Desert Scent specializes in handmade soaps and perfumes produced from botanical materials gathered in the region. Workshop sessions cover the history of incense production, the raw materials involved, and the practical process of creating scented products.
Sessions accommodate groups of various sizes and are suitable for all ages, including children. Team building workshops for corporate groups are also available.
Additional Creative Experiences
Glass art: For travelers continuing north toward Jerusalem, Ma’anit studio in the Binyamin region (over 100 km from the southern Dead Sea settlements) offers professional glass workshops for groups of up to 15 participants, creating decorative items and Judaica pieces.
Agricultural workshops: Date palm cultivation tours and seasonal harvest participation at the Kikar Sodom moshavim.
Wellness movement: Local practitioners offer qigong sessions in the desert setting, combining gentle physical practice with the Dead Sea region’s therapeutic microclimate.
Practical Information
Location: Most workshops are based in Neot HaKikar or Ein Tamar, approximately 30 km south of Ein Bokek.
Booking: Advance reservation is recommended for all workshops. Contact operators directly for scheduling and pricing.
Group size: Typically 2 to 15 participants per session. Larger groups may require special arrangement.
Language: Instruction is primarily in Hebrew. English language sessions may be available by arrangement.
Season: October through April offers the most comfortable conditions.
Some operators close during summer months.
FAQs
Where are Dead Sea workshops located?
Most artisan workshops are concentrated in Neot HaKikar and Ein Tamar, small agricultural villages approximately 30 km south of the Ein Bokek hotel district. A car is recommended to reach them.
Can children participate in Dead Sea workshops?
Ceramics and soap making workshops generally welcome participants of all ages. Desert Scent in Neot HaKikar specifically accommodates children. Check with individual operators for age minimums on specific sessions.
Do I need to book workshops in advance?
Advance booking is strongly recommended, as operators run sessions by appointment rather than on a fixed daily schedule. Contact studios directly for availability and pricing.
Can I combine a workshop with accommodation?
Esti Barak’s studio complex includes the Neot Camping accommodation option. Several other Neot HaKikar guesthouses are within walking distance of the workshop locations.