Mongolian Yurt Stay in the Desert: The Yurt Village at Alpaca Farm, Mitzpe Ramon
A Mongolian yurt stay in the desert starts with the structure itself: a round tent whose tradition comes from the nomads of Central Asia, and of which ten now stand at Alpaca Farm in the Negev highlands, in Mitzpe Ramon. Before you step inside, it is worth slowing down to look at the shape, the space and the ground it sits on.
A Mongolian yurt stay: a round building on land with its own history
A yurt has no front and no back. It is one circular room, and it carries the habits of people who lived in open country and preferred a home that felt like a circle. At the farm that idea has a permanent address: a village of ten Mongolian yurts, each one made for up to five people.
The yurt village belongs to a small family farm that has raised alpacas for wool since 1987.
Ilan and Naama Dvir founded the farm, and the alpacas and llamas were brought to Israel from the Andes. Almost forty years of breeding, a shearing every spring and a wool mill on site, where you can follow the whole process from the alpaca to the sweater, give the yurt village something that cannot be bought: it is not a lodging dropped onto empty land, but a corner of a working family farm.
Inside the yurt: thirty square metres, a pergola and hammocks
Each yurt is very spacious, about 30 square metres, and suits two to five guests. At the entrance there is a pleasant pergola with a private sitting corner, and a shaded porch as well, so the first morning can begin outdoors with a cup in your hands and a view in no hurry to go anywhere.
Inside, the beds are made up, the mattresses are good ones and towels are provided. The air conditioning heats as well as cools, the lighting is warm, and every yurt has its own private toilet and sink. Hammocks hang outside, and the yurts look out over Ramon Crater.
Around the yurts: a kitchen, a dome and a studio
The yurts do not stand alone. The compound has nine toilet stalls and nine private shower stalls, benches and seating areas out in the open, and fire corners. A fire is welcome; barbecues and grilling meat over an open flame in the shared area are not.
The farm does not serve meals. Instead there is a large, fully equipped kitchen, with a household-size fridge and cooking utensils, set up for self-catering by individuals or groups of up to 50. Anyone who wants to cook slowly, the way the place invites you to, will find what they need.
At the heart of the compound stands the geodesic dome, a space for gathering and movement, and beside it a wide studio with a wooden floor for yoga and meditation. These are the places where the village turns from somewhere to sleep into somewhere to stay.
The desert outside the door
Ramon Crater is about seven minutes by car from the farm. It is the largest of the Negev craters and an international dark-sky reserve, the first in the Middle East, which is why the night here is part of the experience rather than the gap between two days. The farm offers guided stargazing with professional telescopes and explanations of what you are looking at.
By day you can wander along the easy walking trails that leave the farm for viewpoints, or drive a little further: the Ammonite Wall and the Minsara are about a quarter of an hour away, Nahal Havarim and Bor Hemet 25 minutes. And in between there are the animals. The farm is home to around 250 of them, alpacas and llamas alongside horses, goats, donkeys and a camel, and you can feed them from the palm of your hand.
Coming as a group or for a retreat
The yurt village suits groups of up to 50, and the farm hosts retreats of two to four days, in yoga, meditation and other workshops. The studio is 80 square metres and air-conditioned, and practice can also happen under the open sky.
For retreats, workshops and business events, call 051-2998460 or write to [email protected]. For general questions about staying: 08-658-8047 or [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
How many people can sleep in one yurt at Alpaca Farm?
Each yurt at Alpaca Farm in Mitzpe Ramon suits two to five guests and measures about 30 square metres. There are ten yurts in the village, so groups of up to 50 can stay together.
Do the yurts have heating and air conditioning, and how cold do desert nights get?
Every yurt has air conditioning that both heats and cools, made-up beds and warm lighting. The desert cools down at night, and the system keeps the room comfortable in any season.
Can I eat at the farm, or do I need to bring food?
The farm does not serve meals, but the yurt compound has a large, fully equipped kitchen for self-catering, with a household-size fridge and cooking utensils. You can also bring food from home. Soft and hot drinks and ice lollies are sold on site.
Is the yurt village suitable for a retreat or workshop group?
Yes. The farm hosts retreats of two to four days, and the village suits groups of up to 50, with an air-conditioned 80-square-metre studio and a geodesic dome for gathering. To arrange one, call 051-2998460.
How do I get to Alpaca Farm in Mitzpe Ramon without a car?
The farm sits in the Negev highlands, a short drive from Mitzpe Ramon. No public transport reaches it, but you can walk from town or take a taxi.
What are the check-in and check-out times for the yurts?
Check-in at Alpaca Farm is between 15:00 and 19:00, and check-out is by 11:00 on the day you leave.
Is there a minimum number of nights?
On weekends and holidays the minimum booking is two nights.
Can I stay with young children or a baby?
The farm suits children, and they are welcome to join in feeding the animals. Lodging is charged for children from age two (inclusive), and a baby cot is available on request.
Can I bring a dog, pitch a tent or light a barbecue?
No. Pets are not allowed at the farm, camping is not possible and sleeping is only in the lodging compounds. Barbecues and grilling over open flame are not permitted in the shared area, but there are fire corners.
