PRACTICING MINDFULNESS IN THE DESERT OF ISRAEL

Yifat Chiat, our contributor in Israël, takes us to Midbara, a noise-free spot lost in the desert of Israel. Say bye bye to your screens as here the Internet and phone networks are very low; and hello to nature centric vacation. Midbara is a wonderful refuge for families looking for peace and a time to reconnect.

By Yifat Chiat.

Driving South from Jerusalem, we pass by the Dead Sea, which is one of the world’s natural wonders. The kids are very happy to put on their faces the black mud full of minerals, found near the shore. After few hours of fun, we get back on the road towards the desert. We are surrounded by brown golden hills for hours. When we get to the village of "Tzukim", about 110 km (68 mi) North of Eilat, we are asked to park the car on a small hill and a mini golf car comes to pick us up. This unexpected car ride really appeals to the kids.

When we get to Midbara, we discover a group of prettily designed cabins, our basecamp for the next few days. The little mud houses are well spaced from one another, which gives you a great feeling of liberty. The interior is minimalist, the furniture is made of wood or simply carved in the mud. The natural tones are prominent and add to the peacefulness of the place. Design lovers will have a hard time not taking their phone off their pocket, but the absence of Internet network around definitely helps keep away from Instagram!

Each cabin has a little deck terrace with its hammock looking over the endless hills. Some of them feature a jacuzzi or a private pool. Kids can run all over, up and down the hills, and go on a bicycle tour. Everyday, at 5pm, a mini golf car will come and bring you wood for you to make fire! The absence of any signs of civilisations such as cars, roads, shops around makes Midbara super safe for children of all ages.

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Food wise, you have several options. We decided to ask for breakfast and it is served to you on a hill waiting for the sunrise. My kids loved it. In the center of Midbara, there is a spacious shaded hut with benches made of mud; mats, pillows and low tables. If you feel like baking, you could even try to make bread in the "taboon," a traditional outdoor oven. At night, don’t forget to look up at the sky – the stars give you a spectacular show! 

In Midbara, we really had the most peaceful vacation, we reconnected with nature and had some quality time with the kids. I loved enjoying precious moments embraced by nature.

Little Voyageurs' tips:- For a peaceful morning, order the breakfast basket.

- Bring your own fresh food; the small shop there offers only dry products. If you still wish to travel light, you can find a small supermarket in Zukim, 15 minutes drive from Midbara.

- Barbecue is the best and easiest way of cooking fresh and simple dishes. I recommend fresh fish, chicken breast and vegetables, then let the kids cook their own potato’s in the fire.

- If your kids like the night activities, don’t forget your pocket lamps, since there is not much lighting through the hills at night.

- Bring warm clothes for the evening. Temperatures drop in the desert during the night.

- To get there, fly to Eilat airport in the South of Israel (the closest to Midbara) or Ben Gurion airport a little further away. In both situation, a car is needed.

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