A surprising number of people still live in caves throughout the Middle East, but hardly any of them have a home that is as luxurious as the enviable Columbarium in Israel.
Iranians live in caves, some Turks live in caves, and one of the region’s most sought-after Couchsurfing hosts brings guests to his tranquil lair in Petra, Jordan, but most of those dwellings are rather simple and dank. Not so with this Airbnb listing for a two bedroom apartment located between caves Hazan and Beit Govrin in the Judean hills of Shefek Israel.
At 592 square feet, the Columbarium is the perfect size: not too small that claustrophobia instantly sets in and yet not so large that it becomes a heating and cooling nightmare.
Using mostly natural materials such as wood and stone that complement the natural earthen walls, the owners upgraded the interior and listed the home on Airbnb – an international short-term house rental website.
For about €290 a night (gasp!), visitors get a double suite, fireplace, kitchen, a beautiful shower in a bathroom with pebble floors, as well as heating and cooling, internet access and even a cozy private garden up above.
Ancient basins previously used to collect rainwater have been converted into jacuzzis, which is a shame given Israel’s water shortages, but perhaps this is a boon for happy holiday-makers.
Whether or not one is prepared to pay the price probably depends on each person’s individual income. Knowing that I could skip over to Turkey and stay in a cave for a month at that price, there’s little risk of me ever setting foot in this eco-luxe space, though it would be a lie to say I stopped dreaming.
:: Airbnb
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
