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The Dolphin Reef Eilat
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The Dolphin Reef Eilat

The Dolphin Reef Eilat

Eilat travel guide

The Beach

The dolphin reef beach is a private beach, offering a diversity of services, such as bathrooms and showers, restaurant, diving courses, swimming and diving with dolphins and a lot more.

The beach itself is not very big, but the golden sand compensate you for the little round stones covering the other Eilatian beaches.

As soon as you enter the beach, you see the defined area, in which the dolphins are swimming.

For the time being, there are ten dolphins, some of them were brought from the Caspian Sea in Russia, and some of them were born in Eilat, and are Israeli citizens….

The uniqueness of the place is the fact that there was not and there isn’t an attempt to domesticate the dolphins. That defined area in which they are living is not closed, and allows the dolphins free entrance and exit. As a matter of fact, the dolphins are staying there out of their own free will.

The dolphins frequently swim to the open sea, for the simple fact that they have to supply themselves with food. The “Dolphin-reef “ crew does not supply them with food, and does not interfere with their private life. Aside from that, those dolphin has a good taste of their own…they too – same as we – loves the Red Sea, with all of its beautiful coral reefs and spectacular undersea creatures.

Preparing to swim

After struggling with myself, I chose to swim with the dolphins, rather than diving with them.

Sarit, the instructor, gave me a short brief, focusing on the interaction between those diverse mammals and us.
There are some rules such as not chasing the dolphins, not touching sensitive areas like the eyes, the blowhole on their head and their genitalia (as if we wanted to do that…).

We also got an explanation regarding the personal equipment, which includes snorkel, diving-mask, flippers and diving suit.

If you are anxious to commemorate the occasion, you can rent an under-water camera, or pay to professional photographer to come along with you, for video shooting or stills.

No one promised us that we could get real close. After all, that depends on the dolphins themselves. We were a little disappointed, but our hopes increased while remembering that half an hour of swimming is a lot of time.

After a short demo practice, outside the defined area, we moved into it (“we” means me, five other visitors and, of course, Sarit).

In the water with the dolphins

What can I tell you…from the first moment you can sense the presence of that amazing creature, by hearing the unique sounds that it can produce. It is unbelievable! You can Swimming and Diving with dolphins in Eilatnot see them yet, but you sure can hear them. We all tried to make the first eye contact, but came out with nothing. I raised my head out of the water, and caught a glimpse of back-flippers about 50 meters from me. After a few minutes I nearly had a cocktail of salty sea water, when my mouth almost opened wide because of a huge dolphin, swimming in superb, passing along my swimming buddy, a tourist from the Netherlands, who actually was able to touch it.

I saw the dolphin moving on into the deep water, and I was so envious of my friend at that time, because I was afraid that this time I wouldn’t share his experience.

The first encounter

But, after a few minutes of swimming here and forth, came, just out of the blue, an amazing dolphin, named Bunchy, according to Sarit. Bunchy was a young dolphin, which explains the fact that he still doesn’t get bored of meeting groups of enthusiastic people such as we were. The wild dive

Bunchy stayed with us for about 15 seconds more, and during this time he surely felt like the most beloved dolphin in the world.

We touched him, caressed him and played with him. It took us a while to realize that we are swimming with a dolphin (!), but soon it seemed like the most natural thing to do. Bunchy surrounded us and examined us above and under the water… it was really hard to say who enjoyed this meeting more…Bunchy or us…

Conclusions

I can hardly explain the feeling touching his smooth skin, and the feeling I got out of a 10cm distance between my head and Bunchy’s. You just have to be there in order to understand.

Swimming with dolphins was something I dreamt about since I was a little boy. I guess it was under the influence and impression of books that had been read to me, or because the mythological and unforgettable TV show – “Flipper”.

Out of that short experience I’ve had in the Dolphin Reef, I can say that dolphins are the most amazing mammals. You can sense, in every moment, their high intelligence (no doubt, much more then a few people I happened to have met in my life).

All farewells are sad, especially if that farewell is from the first dolphin you have ever met, but you can find some comfort knowing you can always do that again, if you are in Eilat, and have about two hours and some bucks (about 200NIS) to spend.

The Red Sea Jazz Festival

The Red Sea Jazz Festival

Red-Sea jazz festival, the biggest and most successful of its kind in Israel is hosting more than 20 world-known and international artist such as Rickie-Lee Jones, Garry Barton, Stephan Harris, Danilo Perez, Niki Yanofski, Beri Saharoff, Rea Mohich, Shem-Tov Levi and many others… The Red Sea Jazz Festival (RSJF) established in 1987 as a four day international jazz festival with 9 concerts per evening, 6 clinics with guest artists and nightly Jam sessions. The festival is held yearly in the last week of August. RSJF strives to introduce to the public the broadest possible musical spectrum, from New Orleans jazz to the contemporary, including Latin and World music. The festival presents guest groups from all around the globe plus Israeli top groups. RSJF is also active in the jazz education field in Israel, promoting original jazz compositions and youth jazz bands. This year same as previous years – we are following the tradition of hosting world top jazz performers and also headlining young jazz artists and Israeli groups. Every evening at 19:00 we welcome you to an open concert featuring the best Israeli young jazz groups. During 4 days, the festival will feature 3 different concerts in each of the halls, performed by international and Israeli artists – participating in the festival. The concerts will be held in three venues: The CLUB with the capacity of 1,000 seats around tables serving food and beverage, the HALL with 2,000 regular seats and the ARENA with 4,000 seats, some arranged gradually overlooking the Red Sea. Tickets Wide PASS allowing 4-day admission to the two big halls and to the club on an availability basis. Daily PASS and single tickets for each concert will be available as well. The youngsters, honor guests of the festival, remain with their young PASS allowing free admission to all concerts on availability basis. Blue/Yellow PASS allowing admission to 4 concerts per day. The Eilat Port is waiting you again, music aficionado, to celebrate the end of the summer vacation with lots of good music and pleasant ambiance complemented by encounters with friends and top musicians from Israel and abroad. The Red Sea during the day and Eilat Port at night – what could be better?

Discover NOW hotel Eilat: Luxury Redefined in the Heart of Mediterranean

Discover NOW hotel Eilat: Luxury Redefined in the Heart of Mediterranean

In the heart of the sun-kissed city of Eilat, a boutique gem awaits travelers. A place where everything happens in the present, where the present moment is celebrated and savored. Introducing the NOW Eilat, an innovative boutique hotel, steeped in Mediterranean charm and offering a whole new paradigm of luxury and leisure. Perched only 200 meters from the beach, this prestigious hotel caters exclusively to adults over 18, making it an idyllic sanctuary for couples and groups seeking a luxurious vacation in a laid-back atmosphere. NOW Eilat offers an exceptional blend of traditional charm and contemporary style. It houses 19 meticulously curated boutique rooms, each with its unique specifications and design. These rooms are spread over two floors, with 14 double rooms and 5 rooms capable of hosting up to three guests. A number of special accommodations take your experience to a whole new level. Rooms with private swimming pools that are heated in winter, garden rooms with Jacuzzis, and pampering suites await you. For those with mobility impairments, an accessible room equipped with a private pool ensures a comfortable and enjoyable stay. Two pools serve as the hotel's vibrant hubs, one centrally located on the restaurant floor and a rooftop pool exclusively for guests and VIP events. Both pools adapt to the weather conditions, with heating in the winter, creating a year-round oasis. At the heart of the hotel is MOOD, a chef-driven restaurant that promises to take you on a gastronomic journey. With a menu that evolves throughout the day, MOOD offers a rich array of dishes for hotel guests and outside visitors alike, accompanied by a robust bar serving hot and cold alcoholic beverages. NOW Eilat’s level of service takes the concept of personalization to the extreme. The hotel's "Jokers" are on hand round the clock to cater to all your needs. Furthermore, dedicated spa treatments can be ordered directly to your room, ensuring a truly indulgent experience. Let’s delve into the various room types: Balcony Rooms (Rooms 201, 202, 203, 204): These standard rooms located on the 2nd floor are embellished with an outdoor balcony overlooking the street. Designed for a perfect couple's vacation, they offer the luxury of tranquility, albeit with a higher noise scale on brunch weekends. Pool & Restaurant View Rooms (Rooms 206, 207, 208): These are also on the 2nd floor, offering a balcony with views of the pool and restaurant. Do note, there's no direct pool access from the balcony, and these rooms also see increased noise during weekend brunches. Garden Rooms with Jacuzzi (Rooms 101, 102, 103, 104, 105): These rooms on the ground floor offer the ultimate in relaxation. A large balcony with sunbeds, a beach shower, and a rustic seating area makes these rooms an inviting retreat, particularly quieter on brunch weekends. Junior Suite (Room 109): This spacious suite on the ground floor features a garden balcony complete with sunbeds, a beach shower, and a rustic seating area. This suite is capable of hosting up to three guests, providing a tranquil getaway, especially on the quieter brunch weekends. Royal Suite (Room 205): This luxurious suite offers direct access to the heated pool and the chef's restaurant from a private corner balcony. With views over the beautiful lagoon of Eilat, this suite accommodates up to three guests for an opulent experience, although it is noisier on brunch weekends. All rooms come with a noise scale rating to ensure guests' preferences are well catered for. NOW Eilat offers you a blend of tranquility, luxury, and a dash of the Mediterranean lifestyle. Come, make the present moment unforgettable at NOW Eilat. Your exclusive vacation awaits you.

Little Brazil Restaurant: An Authentic Meat Experience in Eilat

Little Brazil Restaurant: An Authentic Meat Experience in Eilat

Little Brazil Restaurant in Eilat is a must-visit for meat lovers. The small and intimate restaurant boasts a warm Brazilian atmosphere, with the smell of meat and the sound of jazz and bossa nova music filling the air. The restaurant is designed like a cozy Brazilian house, with each room painted in earth and sea colors and adorned with memories and stories behind them. Little Brazil has been named one of the top ten meat restaurants in Israel by the Food and Wine Channel (YNET). The restaurant prides itself on its treatment and grilling of meats, ensuring quality, freshness, and taste. The menu has recently been updated and now offers a butcher's menu with a wide selection of local and aged steaks, including entrecote, wrap steak, sirloin, beef fillet, asado, picanha, and a variety of special cuts on the bone, such as Newark, tomahawk, prime rib, lamb chops, and porterhouse. Vegetarians need not worry as there are also several starter options available, such as homemade bread, sautéed mushrooms, tahina eggplant, green salad, Caesar salad, foie gras, chorizos, carpaccio, veal almonds, and pejuada with smoked meat. For dessert, the restaurant offers a selection of homemade treats, including churros served with milk jam dip, crème brulee, soufflé, and the traditional Brazilian dessert, brigadier. Little Brazil's wine menu has been carefully selected to complement its meat dishes, with imported wines from France, Italy, and South America, as well as small boutique wineries from Israel, all offered at affordable prices. Home delivery is available for those who prefer to enjoy their meals in the comfort of their own homes, including a selection of sandwiches and hamburgers. If you're looking to host a barbecue or cook at home, Little Brazil offers a fresh meat menu, including tzimitzuri sauces and onion jam, all delivered straight to your doorstep. Little Brazil Restaurant is your go-to destination for a truly authentic and delicious meat experience in Eilat.

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