2 Day tour of Jerusalem, Masada, & The Dead Sea
- Duration
2 days - Departure days
Every Day - Languages
English, French, German, Russian, Spanish
Overview
This two day tour combines the Jerusalem Old & New Tour with the Masada & Dead Sea Tour and one night in a tourist level hotel in Jerusalem.
Highlights
Day 1 – Jerusalem Old & New
On the first day of this tour we will visit Mount Olives, Yad VeShem, the Holocaust Museum and the Old City of Jerusalem where we will see the Byzantine Cardo, the Kotel, the Western Wall, the Via Dolorosa, the Stations of the Cross and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
As we stand above the Jewish cemetery on Mount of Olives we see the Old City and the Temple Mount where Solomon’s Temple, destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE, and the Second Temple, destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE, once stood.
Below us are the garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations in the Kidron Valley with its ancient Jewish burial tombs.
Entering the Old City through the Zion Gate we pass the Armenian Quarter on our way to the Jewish Quarter and the fifteen year old Byzantine Cardo. Partially destroyed and unused during the Moslem conquest, it had a brief new lease of life during the Crusader period. The excavated Crusader shops are now modern stores.
We stop at the Kotel, the Western Wall where Jews have prayed since the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE. Built by King Herod it was a supporting wall enclosing the enlarged Temple Mount area.
The Via Dolorosa, also known as the Way of the Cross, is the route many pilgrims follow on their way to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the church built over the place of the crucifixion of Jesus and the burial tomb. Although the Byzantine church was partially destroyed during the Persians and Moslem conquests, the rebuilt and redesigned Crusader Church preserved much of the earlier church.
We exit the Old City via the market and the Jaffa Gate for a short tour of the new city. A visit to Yad VaShem, the Holocaust museum, reveals artifacts and photographs documenting the discrimination, persecution and finally the annihilation of the Jewish communities of Europe. It also remembers those righteous among the nations who risked their lives while trying to save Jews.
Day 2 – Masada & the Dead Sea
We begin our 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 2,000 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 including 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. 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 successfully reach the summit. Instead they killed themselves becoming religious martyrs. Shortly afterwards the Second Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70CE.
It was on Masada that the first parchment from this era was discovered in an Israeli archaeological excavation. On the parchment was the prophecy 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 hidden 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.
Departure times
- Jerusalem: 8:20 am
- Tel Aviv: 7:15 am
- Herzliya: 7:00 am
- Netanya: 6:30 am
Additional notes
- Age: 4+
What to bring and wear
- Comfortable walking shoes and water
- Modest dress for holy places in Jerusalem
- Bathing suit, towel, hat, sun protection, flip flops for the Dead Sea
TOUR LANGUAGES BY DAY
PICKUP CITIES AND PRICES
Special notes
- There is also a three day option for this tour. Contact us for more information.
- Includes accommodations in a double room on a bed and breakfast basis
- The sequence of the days, pick up times and hotel accommodation are subject to change
- Single supplement $60 per person per night
- High season supplement $60 per person per night
- On Fridays, Saturdays & Jewish Holidays, when the Holocaust Museum is closed, the tour will include a visit to the Church of All Nations at the Garden of Gethsemane and to King David’s Tomb and the Hall of the Last Supper on Mount Zion.
- Airport drop off is available for additional 65$ per person
- Changes of vehicle required for transfers of pick up / drop off destinations to save time, avoid traffic and delay
- The second day of Masada and the Dead Sea can be exchanged with a Dead Sea Relaxation Tour.
Cancellation Policy
- No refunds will be provided for no-shows or cancellations on the day of travel
- Cancellations are accepted 24 hours or more before tour begins.
- No refunds for tours that include flights and accommodation
- Cancellations will incur a 4% commission fee if booked by credit card or Paypal.
Have questions about this tour?
FAQ About 2 Day tour of Jerusalem, Masada, & The Dead Sea
Can I bring along my luggage on the tour?
Yes, you can bring your luggage with you on the tour for no additional cost, it will be stored in the trunk of the van or bus during the tour.
Please be advised as we do not take any responsibility for any damage or loss of luggage.
It is recommended that you let us know that you are travelling with luggage.
Can I be dropped off in a different city from where I was picked up?
Yes, when booking you can select a different drop-off location when booking, though there maybe an additional fee depending on where you need to be dropped off.
What choices do I have for the over-night accommodation?
There are 4 choices for the over-night accommodation:
- Tourist Class: Shani Hotel
- First Class: Grand Court Hotel
- Superior Class: Dan Boutique Hotel
- Luxury Class: The Inbal Hotel
These can be selected when booking.
What is the difference between economy and business class tours?
A Economy Class tour will travel as a large group in a luxury tourist bus with up to 50 people.
A Business Class tour will travel as a small group in a luxury tourist van with up to 22 people for an additional fee.
There are no other differences between the tours
Can I get picked up and dropped off at my hotel?
Yes. When booking, you can select the hotel where you will be staying at, for pick-up and drop-off.
If you are not staying at a hotel, you can choose the hotel closest to you on the list provided, when booking.
Which languages does the tour take place in, and how do I choose my tour?
The tours take place in English, French, Spanish and German. Check the tour itinerary, above, to see which days offer your desired language for the tour.
When booking, you can select the language you want, and it will show you on which days it is available.
What choices do I have for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner?
Breakfast for the 2nd day will be provided by your accommodation.
The choices for lunch and dinner:
- You can add lunch to your tour during the booking process, vegetarian options are available.
- You can bring money to buy lunch and dinner during the tour.
- You may bring your own lunch, but we would recommend that you keep the food in a cooler bag, as it can be warm on the tour.
What should I do if I don't receive a confirmation email?
We work hard to make sure that you receive a confirmation e-mail after booking, but on the off-chance, you don’t receive it:
- Please check your Spam or Promotional folder.
- If you still don’t find the email confirmation, there may have been a mistake in your email address. Please double-check by contacting our customer support team at the following number or email.
Telephone: +972-3-542-2000
Email: [email protected]
Will we be taking a dip in the Dead Sea?
Yes, taking a dip in the Dead Sea is included in the tour.