2 Best Hotels in Mitzpe Ramon and Makhtesh Ramon, Eilat and the Negev

Here's a little piece of heaven on the outskirts of Mitzpe Ramon: a laid-back, two-story lodging with five lovely guest rooms that have covered terraces facing the surrounding desert hills. Each room has a bleached-wood floor, handmade furnishings, and sofas piled with Moroccan cushions. A breakfast of local delicacies is delivered to your room each morning.

Down an unpaved road, this out-of-the-ordinary cluster of stone-and-wood huts sits on a rocky hillside; for the rugged traveler seeking the starkness and purity of the desert, it's an appealing example of ecotourism. Each hut has a carpet on its earthen floor and a mattress piled with cozy blankets; household essentials include a tea corner, a clay water jar, and copper bowls for ablutions. The units are solar-powered, and there's an eco-friendly toilet cabin. Guests eat in the communal dining room. You can ask a staff member to pick you up from outside the Isrotel Ramon Inn. Plan to arrive before dark.