| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
| French | * | * | |||||
| Spanish | * | * | * | * | |||
| German | * |
Select Date and Travelers (2 easy steps to complete order)
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before activity starts
Masada and Dead Sea Herod's Fortress and Palaces Swim in the Dead Sea
Description Book now
Masada and Dead Sea Herod's Fortress and Palaces Swim in the Dead Sea. Pickup from all Hotels in:Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Netanya and Herzelia
About this activity
- Printed or mobile voucher
- Rapid confirmation
- Live guide
- Pick-up service
- Secure Payments
Hilights & Itinerary
Tour number 31We begin out journey by taking the route down from Jerusalem descending below sea level through the Biblical wilderness towards the Dead Sea. On the way we can see the Inn of the Good Samaritan and stop on route to look out across the desert as we pass the point marking "sea level". The ancient city of Jericho can be seen in the distance where Joshua's troops caused the walls to fall (Joshua 6) and where Jesus healed the blind (Mark 10:46-52). We reach the shores of the Dead Sea encrusted with white salt and follow the shoreline towards Masada. Although it's possible to climb the ancient Snake Path up Masada as the Romans did 2000 years ago, we take the convenient cable car up to the mountain top plateau. It was here that King Herod built a fortified palace complete with every convenience. Herod had built a swimming pool, water cisterns, two palaces, store rooms and even a synagogue. Following Herod's death the mountain top was the last outpost of Jewish zealots when the Romans tried to rid the land of Jews in the First Jewish-Roman War of 66-73AD. The Jewish zealots maintained their position for three years before the Romans finally managed to scale Masada using a ramp built by slaves. The 960 Jews didn't wait for the Romans to reach the summit, instead they killed themselves, becoming religious martyrs. It was on Masada that the first parchment from this era was discovered in an Israeli archaeological excavation. On the parchment was the prophesy of Ezekiel "…I will take the children of Israeli from among the nations…and bring them into their own land…" (Ezekiel 37). Heading back to the Dead Sea we pass the desert oasis of Ein Gedi where there is lush foliage and gorgeous waterfalls and where David hid from angry King Saul. We also pass by Qumran were the 2,000 year old Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in a number of hillside caves. To end off a perfect day we stop at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth and a contender for the title of one of the Seven Wonders of the World. People come from across the globe to enjoy the therapeutic mineral rich waters. And don't worry if you don't know how to swim, the high salt content will keep you afloat.
- Choose your tour language: English, Spanish, French or German
- Join the tour directly from your hotel and enjoy a high-quality touring experience for a fair price
- Guaranteed departure - makes your trip planning much easier and gives you complete peace of mind
- Ascend to Masada by a cable car
- Visit Masada, the symbol of the ancient kingdom of Israel
- After the tour of Masada, spend the rest of the day sunning yourself on a Dead Sea beach
- Float in the salty Dead Sea and cover your skin with the mineral-rich black Dead Sea mud
- End your touring experience back in your hotel
Language Schedule
What To Expect
We start this exciting Masada and Dead Sea tour traveling south of Jerusalem through the Judean Hills. The tour passes the Inn of the Good Samaritan and pauses by the sign indicating sea level. From that point the tour descends beneath sea level to the Dead Sea at the lowest point on the planet. The tour travels along the edge of the Dead Sea where the turquoise water is lined with a white salt crust. Our first stop on this tour is Masada, a “mesa” or flat-topped rock outcrop rising 450m from the desert plains. We take a cable car to the plateau summit of Masada where there are breathtaking views of the Dead Sea. On Masada we tour the remains of King Herod’s palace fortress, built in 37-31 BC. Excavation of Herod’s fortress revealed guardhouses, water cisterns, store rooms, palaces and a bathhouse as well mosaic and murals. Thanks to the dry climate and remote location the structures have been well preserved. About 100 years later during the First Jewish–Roman War (66–73 CE), a group of Jewish zealots took refuge on Masada. They held off the Romans for several months until the Romans built an earthen ramp to scale the steep cliffs. When Roman troops reached the plateau they found that all of the 960 Jews had killed themselves rather than be captured and forced to forsake their God. This event in Jewish history has made Masada a symbol of Jewish determination not to relinquish their independence.
The tour leaves Masada and takes you to the nearby Dead Sea past Ein Gedi and Qumran, site of the Dead Sea Scroll discovery. Our final stop on this tour is the Dead Sea where you can relax on the beach and unwind. Enjoy the natural health benefits of the Dead Sea environment including the salt-rich water, oxygen-rich air and mineral-rich black mud that you can use as a natural skin mask. Don’t leave before you have a shot of yourself floating in the Dead Sea!
Additional Information
The tour includes:
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off service
- A fully qualified and licensed tour guide
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
- Cable car and entrance fees
The tour does not include:
- Food and drinks
Notes:
- Guaranteed departure
- Recommended to bring hats, bathing suit, towels, sun protection
- It is possible to have pick ups/ drop offs in different cities. However, we do not disperse to specific drop off locations
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellation fee of 4% charged for notification up to 2 days in advance.
- Cancellation fee of 25% charged for notification up to 1 days in advance.
- Cancellation fee of 100% charged for notification on the day of the tour.
- Non Show - 100% Cancellation fees
Remarks:
Guaranteed departure.
Recommended to bring hats, bathing suit, towels, sun protection
Tour may be bilingual (English and another language)
Remarks
Additional Information
The tour includes:
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off service
- A fully qualified and licensed tour guide
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
- Cable car and entrance fees
The tour does not include:
- Food and drinks
Notes:
- Guaranteed departure
- Recommended to bring hats, bathing suit, towels, sun protection
- It is possible to have pick ups/ drop offs in different cities. However, we do not disperse to specific drop off locations
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellation fee of 4% charged for notification up to 2 days in advance.
- Cancellation fee of 25% charged for notification up to 1 days in advance.
- Cancellation fee of 100% charged for notification on the day of the tour.
- Non Show - 100% Cancellation fees
Remarks:
Guaranteed departure.
Recommended to bring hats, bathing suit, towels, sun protection
Tour may be bilingual (English and another language)
