Eilat, Israel

It is quite hard to imagine a resort city in the middle of the desert. Most say there could never be such a thing, imagining the desert a cheerless place. However, the city of Eilat has proven many people wrong with its countless hotels and breathtaking beaches packed with thousands of tourists from all over the world all year round.

The secret to this little city’s charm lies in its exquisite location in the northern end of the Bay of Eilat. However, the well-known bay area was not always known for its beautiful beaches. In fact, the southernmost tip of Israel was more important as a strategic economic location during many historical periods in which it served as a port since the days of King Solomon. The city’s establishment and port then became the basis of the new city’s economy in the early 1950s. By the 1960s, tourism started to pick up, which was when Eilat slowly became known as a paradise for tourists, travelers and vacationers.

Today, the bay area remains one of Eilat's major attractions with beautiful beach fronts, exciting water spots and some of the best diving spots in the world. The Coral Reserve, located south of the city, remains Eilat's pride and joy with colorful exotic fish in a bed full of coral reefs. Sea-loving spectators would definitely be fascinated with the Underwater Observatory that displays collections of some of the most fascinating creatures of the sea. If that wouldn’t be enough to heighten your love for the ocean, seeing a school of dolphins at the Dolphin Reef will definitely get your smile beaming with the curious world under the sea.

While the city’s many and varied establishments and restaurants are open to suit all tastes, it’s the city’s heart-pounding attractions that make Eilat the perfect location for youngsters and families. Kings City is a high-tech theme park with attractions based on the Bible and its many inspiriting stories.

Just when you thought Eilat could offer nothing else but water attractions, the Arava region, located north of the city, and the Eilat Mountains prove otherwise. Aside from this arid desert, there are plenty of nature posts and historical sites found tucked between the mountains that make Eilat a good jump off point for jeep tours and camel treks.

But most of all, tourists love the combination of the hot climate, the tropical sea and the breathtaking background of granite mountains that prove Eilat to be a pleasant bloom in the middle of the unknowing desert.