And they took this dream far, much further than you imagined: they have four horses that run freely on the hills and come right to your doorstep for a visit, 3,000 olive trees that are processed into high-quality oil and pickled olives that will be waiting for you in the fridge, and the crowning glory - a lake.
Their lake is a man-made water body that blends into the desert landscape and is a refreshing spot for birds during the migratory season, a source of water for local animals, and for you, the guests, allows for swimming during the summer season.
A solitary farm that only recently opened to the general public
This is a solitary farm, one where only one family lives, located in the Mashabei-Sade area (twenty minutes from Be'er Sheva, an hour and a half from Tel Aviv). The farm was established as part of the Wine Road project in the Negev Valley. For ten years, the farm was closed to visitors and only recently opened to the general public.
The farm is hidden among hills and is not visible from the road, so I used Waze to get to the entrance gate. From that moment on, I was cut off from the outside world - you can't see the road and you certainly can't hear it, and all that fills your eyes is a wild, pristine landscape and a lake.
Tahiya greeted us at the gate and led us on a tour of the cabins. The isolated and remote location is the main attraction here, so this is not the place to be if you are looking for restaurants and entertainment.
Cabins designed with inspiration and open views
The two cabins are secluded and provide complete privacy. Each is located on opposite sides of the lake. The lake cabin is right on the lake. It is built as a well-equipped trailer designed with lots of inspiration. If you could fulfill a fantasy, buy a trailer and park it in the middle of nowhere - this is the exact experience you will get here.
This cabin is a romantic, intimate retreat in the truest sense of the word. Don't expect a spacious place, but here, size doesn't matter: the cabin simply allows you to completely disconnect from people, merge with the desert oasis, and focus on what's important to you - togetherness, quiet, good conversation, and a glass of quality wine on the adjacent balcony.
For those who find it difficult to completely disconnect, there is a refuge in the form of high-speed wireless internet and a television with a Cellcom TV VOD library. Quite a few cultural figures have drawn inspiration from this cabin and the lake located right at its foot: Meir Shalev, Amos Oz, A.B. Yehoshua, theater actors, musicians and even the ninth president - Shimon Peres.
The View Cabin overlooks not only the lake, but also the olive groves. It is a spacious, well-designed structure, perched above the lake and overlooking the farm from above. The wooden structure is designed with clean lines, and large windows that surround the cabin bring the view inside (shade curtains allow for complete privacy inside the cabin).
One large space contains a fully equipped and comfortable kitchen, a dining area overlooking the view, and a comfortable seating area facing the TV. In the center of the space stands a large double bed. Outside there is a spacious balcony, lawn, and jacuzzi-spa.
You will find unique design details (the hosts' son designs unconventional wall clocks), decorative lighting fixtures, and a mesmerizing view that can also be seen from the large spa jacuzzi, located in the yard, on the grass.
Really, really special hosts
When I met Dudu and Tachi, I realized how much they enjoy their lifestyle and how happy they are to host guests on their farm, a farm that is a home. This was evident throughout my entire stay at the complex - from the short conversations revealed by fascinating conversationalists, to the culinary surprises they made (which also await guests on the terrace in the morning), to the meticulous attention to cleanliness - all of which gave the feeling that every little detail was taken into account here.
In conclusion - there are very few places in the Negev that offer quality romantic accommodation. True, there is a connection to nature in many places, but it is difficult to find a well-maintained place, where the hosts pay attention to every detail. So if you are going out - it is worth doing it right: a place with inspiration, at a distance that is close enough to the center of the country but also far enough, a place that is well-maintained, well-designed and with an important added value: quality. Such is the Maayan HaNaurim farm.
