Embark on a full-day guided tour from Tel Aviv to the Judean Hills and the shores of the Dead Sea by bus. Visit the ancient palace of Masada, ride a cable car, and admire the Qumran caves on your drive back. Perched on a high plateau, the ancient fortified palace of Masada became a refuge for Zealots who took a stand against the Romans, until the mass suicide of the zealots in 73 AD. The ruins sit precariously on a plateau some 1,300 feet above sea level and measure 2,000-foot long by 1,000-foot wide. They boast extraordinary views of the Dead Sea and the Judean Desert. It is an exhausting climb, but we will ascend by cable car to make life easier. Explore the fortress built by King Herod in around 37 BC. Visit the remains of the palaces and see mosaic floors, Roman baths, and other findings. Masada was also home to the oldest synagogue in Israel, but one of the most remarkable features is the 12 water cisterns, each with a capacity of up to 140,000 cubic feet. Following the tour of Masada, you will drive to the Dead Sea Mineral Beach located in the Jordan Rift Valley, between Jordan and the West Bank. It is the lowest place on earth and its high density of salt makes for a unique experience as you float on the beautiful aquamarine surface. Take a mud bath and benefit from the therapeutic qualities of the natural Dead Sea mud. You will then drive back to Tel Aviv, with an on-route view of the Qumran cave, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.

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.

The moment you disembark from your cruise ship in Ashdod port you’ll be in the capable hands of a professional tour guide. The day begins with a drive south through ever-changing landscapes until you reach the Judaean Mountains. Then enjoy the thrill of the winding road that takes you down below sea level to the lowest point on Earth. We pause for a moment to enjoy the view and take a photo of the sign indicating that we are now going beneath sea level. Our first stop is at Masada, a massive rock outcrop 434m-high (1,424ft). Ride the cable car to Masada’s flat summit where there are incredible views of the desert and the Dead Sea below. Your guide will give you a tour of the remaining structures from King Herod’s palace-fortress. Find out about the history of Masada, and how it served as an untouchable refuge for Herod and later for Jewish rebels. Learn how King Herod built this palace complex in 37BC-31BC, and see mosaics and archaeological remains of a Roman bathhouse, storerooms, guardhouse, palaces, and more. At the end of the Masada tour, you can spend time in the Masada Museum located at the foot of the mount. The museum holds more than 500 artifacts discovered at Masada, and there is an informative movie about Masada’s history. We continue from Masada to Ein Bokek, a hotel and resort area on the shore of the Dead Sea. Here you can enjoy the Ein Bokek beach. The tour will stop for a lunch break either at a restaurant at the foot of Masada or at the beach. Spend the remaining time relaxing on the beach, and enjoying the unique environment of the Dead Sea. Try smothering your skin in the mineral-rich black Dead Sea mud, or float in the hypersaline water. The water is so thick with salt that you can’t sink! The Dead Sea water, mud, and even the Dead Sea sun are known to be therapeutic to the body and soul. After a satisfying day of new experiences, we drive via the city of Arad back to your cruise ship in Ashdod port.

Meet your private guide at your hotel in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Then, drive across the Palestinian border to visit Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. Visit the ancient Nativity Church and explore the Nativity and Manger grottoes. Make your way to the Old City of Jerusalem. Enter the Old City at the Jaffa Gate and enjoy the views of King David's Citadel. Walk through the colorful Christian Quarter of the Old City. Visit the Holy Sepulcher Church to see the Golgotha and Jesus' Tomb. Enjoy some time for lunch at one of the local restaurants in the Old City. Then, continue the tour by a scenic drive across the Judea Desert to the Dead Sea. Visit the famous Dead Sea Resort at Qalia to enjoy a swim in the salty Dead Sea. Afterwards, be returned to your hotel in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv

See Masada, float in the Dead Sea, and descend through the Jordan River Valley on this private day tour from Jerusalem. Learn about the history of each site and experience the beauty and rich history of the area. Begin the Masada and Dead Sea private tour by descending through the Jordan valley with Jericho in the distance and imagine the Israelites crossing the Jordan River into the promised land. Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to reach Masada and ascend via cable car, taking the opportunity to look down at the snake path used thousands of years ago by King Herod. Learn the history of Masada, and how it was one of the last Jewish strongholds against the Romans, where they were under siege atop the mountain. See the well-preserved synagogue, proving that synagogues existed during the second temple period, and see the first piece of parchment discovered by Israeli archaeologists. Explore the famous bathhouse, swimming pool, and storehouses, and gain a real insight into the lives of those under siege on Masada. Following the descent from Masada, visit Ein Gedi, where David is said to have taken refuge, hiding from the wrath of King Saul. Make a stop to see beautiful waterfalls and freshwater pools. Next, stop with the guide at the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Experience the Dead Sea resort, where visitors can enjoy the floating sensation in the waters of the Dead Sea and cover their bodies in the mineral-rich muds, said to have maintained Cleopatra’s youthful looks. Wash the mud off in a Sulphur pool nearby before returning to your hotel.