Traveling on a windy desert road with no vegetation in sight, the green oasis surrounding Evason Ma’in Hot Springs appeared to me a mirage. The hotel sits below several hot-spring waterfalls dramatically cascading down a canyon wall.
The water flows from a volcanic source deep within the mountains at around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Over time, the mineral-laden water has colored the canyon walls like melted candle wax.
The luxury hotel combines Arabian, Asian and surrounding environmental influences in its earthy design. Guests bask in seclusion, but are still able to reach the nearby Dead Sea and much of Jordan within a few hours.
The resort incorporates eco-sound practices into everyday operations, including using many local and organic ingredients in meals. For those looking to bask in a pampering experience, the resort’s Six Senses Spa offers a range of spa treatments and pools with the distractingly beautiful hot-springs waterfall in the background.
I enjoyed wandering the resort’s lush grounds and seeing the occasional guest reading in a shady hammock or floating in a pristine pool. That evening, after a decadent dinner buffet, I took some time listening to the sounds of the waterfalls and watching the lights of Jerusalem in the distance.