At 420 metres below sea level — the lowest point on earth — Glamping -420 at Kalia Beach makes a simple and honest promise: you will sleep in a comfortable, air-conditioned Lotus tent with a view of the Dead Sea and the Moab Mountains of Jordan, and in the morning you will eat breakfast with that same view still in front of you. The site is run by Kibbutz Kalia, whose tourism operation also manages Kalia Beach, the Kalia Hotel, and the nearby Almog Kibbutz Hotel — which means you arrive somewhere with real infrastructure behind it, not a pop-up campsite.
The glamping area was built with intention: an ecological site using recycled materials, no single-use plastic products, and a deliberate effort to let the landscape do the talking. Twelve large Lotus tents — sized for couples and for families — face west across the water. Two freshwater splash pools (heated in winter, cooled in summer), a campfire zone with wood supplied, a communal BBQ area with Potjiekos pots and Saj flatbread makers, and a fully equipped field kitchen give you enough activity and comfort that the Dead Sea becomes your backdrop rather than your whole itinerary. A 30-minute massage is bookable in advance. Pets are not permitted in the glamping area.
Kfar Hanokdim offers three accommodation styles, each honest about what it is. The en-suite guest rooms are the most polished option: air-conditioned, hand-decorated rooms with beds, fresh linen and towels, and a coffee corner. They accommodate up to five guests and share the same natural-stone, iron-and-wood aesthetic as the rest of the property — just without a television (intentional) or an in-room fridge (a communal refrigerator is available nearby).
The sukkot are the signature experience: hand-built structures that function like private tented lodges, each sleeping up to eight guests. They have a spiral heater and a fan, and share well-maintained communal toilet and shower facilities nearby. For guests who want to sleep closest to the desert itself, the traditional goat-hair Bedouin tents are fitted with colourful rugs and mattresses and open directly onto the starlit landscape. All reservations must be made in advance via the official website, email, or phone (+972-8-9950097); online availability is sometimes limited, so calling directly is recommended for larger groups.
Kfar Hanokdim works particularly well for: couples seeking a romantic, genuinely off-grid night in the desert; families with children aged five and up who want the camel ride, the campfire, and the Masada climb all in one base; school and youth groups (the property hosts organised groups in a dedicated area); and solo travellers or small groups who want to hike the Judean Desert trails and wake up at Masada for sunrise without driving back to a city hotel. The property is wheelchair-accessible and caters to most dietary needs, including vegetarian and vegan diets, with advance notice.
Kfar Hanokdim sits in the Kana’im Valley in the heart of the Judean Desert, roughly 8 km from the city of Arad and about 11 km from the Masada West (Roman Ramp) entrance. The Dead Sea shoreline is approximately 45 minutes away by car — close enough for a day trip but far enough that the property has its own distinct desert character, quieter and drier than the sea-level resorts to the east. Nearby attractions include the western face of Masada (the Roman Ramp reaches the summit in around 20 minutes of climbing), over 40 mapped hiking trails in the Judean Desert hills, and the city of Arad with its own archaeological sites and services. Note that the road from Masada West does not connect to Route 90 by car — plan your route accordingly if combining Kfar Hanokdim with Dead Sea beach visits.
| Location | Kibbutz Kalia, northern Dead Sea — 420 m below sea level; approx. 30 min from Jerusalem via Route 1 |
| Getting there | Car recommended. Site phone: 02-9936333. Designated parking adjacent to tents. |
| Accommodation type | Glamping — 12 air-conditioned Lotus tents (couples and family sizes) |
| Units / rooms | 12 Lotus tents in two sizes: couples and family. Exact per-type unit count |
| Rates from | book via kaliadeadsea.com (best price guarantee, 5% online discount, 15% last-minute Sat-Wed). Also on Booking.com. |
| Check-in / check-out | Check-in 15:00 (Fri 15:00; Sat 16:00). Check-out 11:00 (Fri 12:00). Site access until 13:00; beach access until 18:00. |
| Best season | Year-round; summer (Jun-Aug) very hot (44C+) but AC in tents manages daytime heat. Spring and autumn most comfortable. |
| Kosher / religious | No kosher certificate. Breakfast uses Tnuva dairy products, no meat. Kitchen operates on Shabbat and holidays. |
Kalia Beach sits at the very northern tip of the Dead Sea, approximately 30 minutes from Jerusalem by car via Route 1 east. At 420 metres below sea level, the site is the lowest publicly accessible overnight accommodation on the planet. The northern Dead Sea is markedly wilder and less built-up than the southern hotel strip at Ein Bokek — the beaches here are managed by the kibbutz, the crowds are smaller, and the horizon is dominated by the rusty cliffs of the Moab Mountains across the water in Jordan. Nearby day trips include Qumran National Park (approx. 10 min), Ein Feshkha nature reserve, Nahal Og and Nahal Darga canyon hikes, and the ancient city of Jericho (approx. 20 min north).
Yes — the property is listed as Kosher. Confirm full kashrut certification and supervising authority directly with the property before booking for strict religious reasons.
A car is strongly recommended. Bus lines run to the city of Arad from major Israeli cities; from Arad you can take a taxi. Note that no public transportation operates from Friday noon until Saturday evening.
No Wi-Fi is provided — this is a deliberate choice to enhance the desert experience. Partial mobile reception exists for Partner network subscribers.
Yes. Kfar Hanokdim offers a Day in the Desert package including camel rides, Bedouin hospitality, and a Hafla dinner — no overnight stay required.
More than two weeks before arrival: approx. 50 ILS flat fee. One to two weeks prior: 50% of total cost. Less than one week or no-show: full cost charged. Confirm current policy at time of booking.