Our most recommended things to do in Judaean Desert, Israel

From Jerusalem: Masada & Dead Sea Full Day Tour with Pick Up

1. From Jerusalem: Masada & Dead Sea Full Day Tour with Pick Up

Enjoy a full-day bus tour from Jerusalem to ancient ruins in the Judean Hills and the shores of the Dead Sea. See the archeological site of Masada and a fortress built by King Herod. Go for a dip at the Dead Sea Mineral Beach and uncover the cave where the dead sea scrolls were found. Visit the Masada National Park ruins which are perched on a high plateau. View the ancient fortified palace of Masada which became a refuge for zealots who took a stand against the Romans, which ended in the mass suicide of the zealots in 73 AD. Follow your guide and ride up on a cable car to 1,300 feet above sea level to the plateau where the immense Masada ruins rest precariously. Look out at extraordinary views of the Dead Sea and the Judean Desert. Explore the fortress built by King Herod in Masada in around 37 BC. Stroll through the remains of the palaces and see mosaic floors and Roman baths. Uncover the oldest synagogue in Israel and admire remarkable features like the 12 water cisterns that each had a capacity of 140,000 cubic feet. Drive to the lowest point on earth at the Dead Sea Mineral Beach which is located in the Jordan Rift Valley. Experience the high density of the salt in the water as you float with ease on the surface of the aquamarine water. Take a mud-bath and benefit from the therapeutic qualities of the natural Dead Sea mud before heading to the Qumeran cave, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Return to your accommodation in Jerusalem at the end of your tour.

From Jerusalem: Bethlehem, Jericho & Qasr al-Yahud

2. From Jerusalem: Bethlehem, Jericho & Qasr al-Yahud

Descend to the Judean desert, and see the Inn of the Good Samaritan on route. Look out over the remarkable moonscape of the breathtaking Judean desert. Continue on to Jericho, the oldest city in the world. Stop at Zacchaeus' Sycamore to see one of the oldest Sycamore trees, which Zacchaeus climbed in order to spot Jesus. Visit the Mound of Ancient Jericho, where 25 ancient cities were uncovered. Enter Jericho, which was founded in 8,000 BC, and is the oldest Jewish settlement, captured by Joshua and Israel in 1,200 BC. Stop for an overview of Mt. Temptation, where Satan endeavored to tempt Jesus, and see of the oasis of Jericho and Elisha's Spring. Depart Jericho to travel to the Judean mountains and the city of Bethlehem. Visit Bethlehem, the birthplace of King David, whose name literally translates as “City of Bread,” due to the wheat crop that grew in the region, the city where according to Christian tradition, it is the birthplace of Jesus, and undoubtedly one of the most biblical sites on earth. Discover the Church of the Nativity, and the cave where Jesus was born. See Manger Square, where Jesus was placed after his birth. Explore the Greek and the Catholic Church before continuing with an overview of Shepherd's Fields.  Enjoy round-trip transfers from Jerusalem and the services of an English-speaking guide, on this essential tour of biblical sites and fantastic panoramic views.

Full-Day Guided Tour in Bethlehem, Jericho, Jordan River

3. Full-Day Guided Tour in Bethlehem, Jericho, Jordan River

Explore Bethlehem's Sacred Sites: Embark on an unforgettable guided tour to Bethlehem, home to the Nativity Church—the world's oldest Christian church, where Jesus was born. Your local Christian guide will lead you to see Banksy Art on the wall and offer a refreshing break with Arabic coffee and tea at a charming local souvenir shop. Picturesque Desert Scenery: Journey through the enchanting Judean Desert, capturing the sea level point overlooking ancient Jericho. Explore the ancient city walls and take in the stunning view from Mount Temptation. Visit the famous Sycamore Tree associated with Zacchaeus and follow the footsteps of Jesus with stops at the Jordan River's baptismal sites. Visit Jericho, the world's oldest town, the Spring of the prophet Elijah. with your local guide. 1- Pick up from Tel Aviv (In front of the Hotel of David Intercontinental) (06:30 - 06:45) Am 15 min to finish all the Travelers picking up. 2- Pick up from Jerusalem (David Citadel Hotel) from (07:45 - 08:00) Am 15 min to finish all the Travelers picking up. 3- 10 min for resting and taking photos at the Dead Sea level Point, Enjoying the view of the Judia desert. 4- Continue our way through the Judean Desert to the oldest City in the World. (10500 Years Old). Meeting our local guide to see the Ancient wall of Jericho, went to the Spring of the prophet Elijah. 5- Continue by cable car to the Mountain of Temptation (20$ fees) optional. - Notice: that walking 15 min upstairs needed to reach the Greek Orthodox cave. 6- Resting and Refreshing stop point for snakes, Caffe, toilets, and visiting a Dead Sea Products Center 30 min. 7- Heading to the Jordan River stopping at the sycamore tree the famous story of Zacchaeus (Taking Photo), then driving to the Jordan River the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. -Pass By Jericho city center. 8- Overlook to the Jordan River where Jesus was baptism (optional experience for the people who like to live the baptism following Jesus' path) min 30 . 9- Heading to Bethlehem to a Biblical Birthplace of Jesus (60 min) There are a million reasons to visit Bethlehem and the West Bank but, if you need one more, Banksy Artworks in Bethlehem might just be it. Our wonderful guide will bring you special stories and explanations. 10- Arrive at the Manger Square and enter the church of Nativity, visiting a 4th century AD Holly church that was built around the Jesus Born place. -(Grottos are not always open because of masses and sometimes very long queue lines). 11- Visiting the local factory for olive wood souvenirs to feel the local people's hospitality - (Coffee break and toilets) . 12- Heading to the Banksy Hotel to see the Graffiti artwork around the separation wall (optional visit to the Banksy Museum within 30 min ) 13- Going Back to the drop-off points in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv - ( Pick-up and drop-off points are the same places ). -All times are approximate due to the traffic and weather situation

Tel Aviv/Jerusalem: Christmas in Bethlehem and Jerusalem

4. Tel Aviv/Jerusalem: Christmas in Bethlehem and Jerusalem

Following your pickup, you will begin with great views from the Mount of Olives. It is a high summit which connects the old city of Jerusalem to the east, separating it from the Judaean Desert. Due to its proximity to the city and its soft and comfortable rock quarrying, this place was used for burial in the Canaanite days. From there you will be able to tour Jerusalem, the “City of David”. The most striking structure that emerges from the observation is the rock dome structure built by Abd al-Malek in 691 A.D. Entering the Old City, you will pass through the Old Market until you arrive to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the heart of the Christian Quarter is considered the most sacred place in the world for most Christians. You will pass through Via Dolorosa on the way back to the bus, before then heading to Bethlehem if time permits. Entering Bethlehem you will feel the Christmas spirit with the entire city decorated with banners, bells, and lights. You will continue on to Manger Square where the decorated Christmas tree is located, before enjoying a holiday dinner near Manager Square while waiting for Midnight Mass. It may be possible to enter the Church of Nativity for Mass, but if not, you will watch Midnight Mass in Manger Square on one of the large outdoor screens. Following the Mass, you will be dropped off to your starting point (Tel Aviv or Jerusalem).

From Jerusalem/Tel Aviv: Jerusalem and Dead Sea Private Tour

5. From Jerusalem/Tel Aviv: Jerusalem and Dead Sea Private Tour

Explore Jerusalem and the Dead Sea on a private, customized tour for you and your family or friends. Visit Jerusalem's Old City including the Via Dolorosa and the Church of the Sepulchre. Explore local markets and the famous Western Wall. Then, head east through the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. Enjoy bathing and floating in the therapeutic waters.

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What people are saying about Judaean Desert, Israel

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 557 reviews

We have enjoyed the experience. This is more of a Masada than Dead Sea experience. I wish we had more time at the Dead Sea, but it was enough. At Masada we had a quite comprehensive experience. Our guide Dorit is great one, it kept us entertained with different historical and other facts on the road about the region and places we were going to visit.

The tour guide Doris is excellent! Very informative.i highly recommended this tour. Shuttle bus is also comfortable.

An unbelievably magical experience. Dan, our tour guide, was brilliant and so knowledgeable.

A great informative trip with many interesting sitghts pointed out along the way.

Great tour guide and bus driver, nice bus! Everything great