Masada & Dead Sea Day Tour
- Duration
1 day - Departure days
Every Day - Languages
English, French, German, Spanish
Overview
Take a great opportunity to indulge yourself in the curing waters of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, visiting Masada fortress, and learning about its inspiring history on this 1 day tour.
Highlights
- Head down to the Dead Sea, Judean desert area
- Take a cable car up to Masada, Herod’s Fortress
- Learn about the people and scrolls of Qumran
- Dip in the Dead Sea’s salty waters
Masada & Dead Sea Tour- Itinerary
Pick-up Times:
6:30 am: begins pickup from hotels in Netanya
7:00 am: begins pickup from hotels in Herzliya
7:15 am: begins pickup from hotels in Tel-Aviv
8:30 am: begins pickup from hotels in Jerusalem
Tour Schedule:
9:30 am – 1:00 pm: Masada
1:00 pm: Lunchtime at Masada
2:00 pm – 4:30 pm: The Dead Sea
Drop-off Times:
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm: tour ends in Jerusalem
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: tour ends in Tel-Aviv
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: tour ends in Herzliya
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: tour ends in Netanya
All times are approximate
- To see all available pickup hotels, please click “book now” and choose the desired date and city
- Return to hotels in the above cities (other drop-off points available on request, payment not included)
- You will have approximately 1.5 hours to spend in the water at the Dead Sea.
- Price includes all entrance fees.
What to expect
This journey begins by taking the route down from Jerusalem descending below sea level through the Biblical wilderness towards the Dead Sea. On the way we will see the Inn of the Good Samaritan and stop en 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 mountaintop plateau. It was here that King Herod built a fortified palace complete with every convenience. See Herod’s 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, in 70CE, the Second Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed.
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 Israel 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 where 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.
Masada & Dead Sea Tour - Languages
Additional Notes
- What to bring and wear: A hat, water, food, comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, bathing suit, towel and water shoes.
- Guests can add lunch onto their tour when booking, a vegetarian option is available.
- Change of vehicle maybe required for transfers of pick up/drop off destinations to save time and avoid traffic/delays.
- Ages suitable for this tour: 4+
Changes
- Up to one day before the tour date you may change the date and/or the destination, details to do this will be given to you via e-mail when booked.
Cancellations Policy
- Cancellations two or more days in advance incur a 4% charge.
- Cancellations one day in advance incur a 25% charge.
- Cancellations on the day or no-shows incur a 100% charge.
Have any questions about this tour?
FAQs about Masada & Dead Sea Day Tour
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 at a different city from where I was picked-up from?
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’s 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 you are staying in to be picked-up and dropped-off.
If you are not staying at a hotel, you can choose a hotel closest from you in the list provided when booking.
Can I be dropped-off at the Dead Sea?
Yes, when finishing the booking, please write in the Comment section that you would like to be dropped-off at Kalya Beach at the Dead Sea.
From Kalya Beach you can take a bus that stops at many places on the way to and including Eilat:
What languages is the tour in, and how do I choose?
The languages for the tours are: English, French, Spanish and German. The days in which these languages are available are found in the tour itinerary above.
When booking, you are able to select the language you want, and it will show you which days it is available.
What choices do I have for lunch?
There are many options available:
- You can add lunch to your tour during the booking process, vegetarian options are available.
- You can bring money to buy lunch and snacks 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.
Is there a tour discount for children or students?
Yes, for both children under the age of 12, and students (with a valid student card) receive a 10% discount. This is automatically applied when booking.
How long will the day tour take?
The tour is approximately 10 hours long.
What should I do if I didn't receive a confirmation email?
We work hard to make sure that you do receive a confirmation e-mail after booking, but in off-chance, you don’t:
- Please check your Spam or Promotional folder.
- If you still haven’t found the email confirmation, you may have typed in a wrong E-Mail address. In such a case, please contact our customer support team below.
Tel: +972-3-542-2000
Will we be taking a dip in the Dead Sea?
Yes, taking a dip in the Dead Sea is included in the tour.