Six Senses Shaharut – Israel

If you’re fond of sand dunes, you’ll fall wildly in love with the soon-to-open Six Senses Shaharut, a luxurious spa retreat set amid the bluffs and dunes of Israel’s breathtaking Negev Desert.

Detoxing and de-stressing comes in the form of hammams and massages or visiting practitioners who’ll read your aura and offer spiritual healing, accentuated by richly flavoured Israeli cuisine, house-infused liqueurs and riotously hued sunsets that sink into star-speckled nights.

The little ones are welcome too, and will thrill at camel rides or the chance to see local wildlife slink by the pool.

The 60 suites and pool villas are perfectly positioned to highlight the panoramic desert vistas from spacious and secluded private outdoor terraces.

Six Senses Suites and Panorama Suites face out to the incomparable Negev Desert and Arava Valley, as well as the ever-changing hues of the Edom Mountains, while Panorama Pool Villas of one or two bedrooms come with the added benefit of an al fresco dining area and private pool.

The Private Reserve is a three-bedroom retreat spread across almost 7,000 square feet, includes an outdoor living area, generous pool, spa treatment room and semi-outdoor kitchen.

Six Senses’ signature spa has six treatment rooms (two for couples) for massages, facials, wraps and more holistic healing: alongside programmes for detoxing and health overhauls, visiting practitioners include Chinese-medicine practitioners, osteopaths, spiritual healers and aura readers.

There are male and female saunas and hammams, a gym, mani-pedi station, yoga studio (daily classes are free, on-demand for an extra charge). Plus, there’s a peaceful 25-metre pool.

Treatments use local products (olive oil, herbs and camel milk), but you can mix your own scrubs and masks from botanicals, fruits, salts and more ingredients from the hotel garden at the spa’s Alchemy Bar, too.