For its “Top Resort Hotels in Africa and the Middle East” section, Travel+Leisure magazine placed the luxury Beresheet hotel in the Negev desert at #3.

“The Negev Desert, a massive swath of arid red rocks and wadis that covers much of southern Israel… is the setting for our No. 3 resort: the Beresheet Hotel in Mitzpe Ramon, Israel. “Wow,” said one respondent; “this hotel is located on the Ramon Crater. Magnificent views.” The infinity pool and many of the resort’s 111 private villas look out onto the crater — arguably the region’s finest example of a ‘makhtesh,’ a deep, wide valley surrounded by cliffs — while the rest look over the property’s 12.5 private acres of golden desert.”