Southern District, Judean Desert · Israel
A rock plateau above the Dead Sea where Herod built a palace-fortress and where, in Roman-era accounts, a Jewish revolt made its last stand.
Photo: Godot13 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Masada is a rocky plateau that rises about 450 metres above the western shore of the Dead Sea. Herod the Great built a palace-fortress on it between about 37 and 31 BCE, with storerooms, cisterns, bathhouses and a hanging palace on three levels on the northern cliff. It is one of the most dramatic archaeological sites in the world, and it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001.
Its fame comes from the account by the Roman-Jewish historian Josephus. He wrote that in 73 or 74 CE, after the fall of Jerusalem, a group of Jewish rebels held the fortress against a Roman siege, and when the Romans breached the walls, its 960 defenders chose mass suicide rather than capture. Historians debate the details, and archaeologists have not found evidence for all of it, but Masada has long been a powerful symbol in Israel.
Below the fortress, the Dead Sea lies about 430 metres below sea level, the lowest point on land, with a shoreline of hotels, spas and public beaches. The oasis of Ein Gedi, a nature reserve with waterfalls and pools, is 20 minutes to the north. Together they make up one of the best day trips in the country.
Why visit
It is one of the best day trips from Jerusalem, and one of the few places where the landscape is as striking as the history.
The remains of Herod's palaces, baths and storerooms are spread across the flat top, and the ancient Roman siege camps and ramp survive at the foot.
The Snake Path climb in the dark and the view of the sunrise over the Dead Sea and the mountains of Jordan is a highlight of many visitors' trips.
The water is roughly ten times saltier than the ocean, and you float without effort. It is odd, memorable and easy to do.
A green canyon in the desert with waterfalls, pools and ibex, reached by short and easy trails, and a welcome relief from the heat.
The drive down through the Judean Desert takes about 75 minutes, and the change in scenery is dramatic.
Main attractions
Masada takes two to three hours, Ein Gedi two to four and the Dead Sea an hour or two. All three fit in one day with an early start.
A winding trail from the eastern base to the summit, gaining about 350 metres in 45–60 minutes. The path opens before sunrise so that hikers can reach the top for dawn.
Tip Bring a head torch, water and a jacket for the cold at the top. The path can close in extreme heat or weather.
A cable car from the visitor centre carries visitors to the top in a few minutes. It is popular with families and those who prefer to avoid the climb.
Tip Book in advance for busy periods. Consider going up by cable car and walking down.
A three-tiered palace on the northern edge of the plateau, with frescoes, columns and a private bathhouse, and a spectacular position on the cliff.
Tip Go here first, as it is the most impressive and quietest in the morning.
The main part of the summit, with a Roman-style bathhouse, one of the oldest synagogues found in Israel, and a huge storeroom complex that held food and supplies.
Tip Look for the mosaic floors and the cisterns cut into the rock.
The western side of the plateau shows a huge ramp built by the Romans, and eight camps and a siege wall around the base, among the best-preserved Roman siege works in the world.
Tip The best view of the ramp is from the top, on the western side.
An oasis in the desert with springs, waterfalls, pools and wildlife such as Nubian ibex and hyraxes. The trails are short and suitable for families, with longer hikes to the David Falls and the Ein Gedi spring.
Tip Go early, bring water and swimming gear, and stay on the marked paths.
Public and hotel beaches such as Ein Gedi Beach and Ein Bokek offer showers, mud and access to the sea. The water is about ten times as salty as the ocean, and you float on the surface.
Tip Do not stay in for more than 15–20 minutes, avoid getting water in your eyes, and shower afterwards.
Things to do
Most people combine two or three of these in a day, and an early start is the key to enjoying any of them.
Start the Snake Path in the dark and reach the top as the sun rises over the Dead Sea. It is a memorable experience, and it avoids the midday heat.
Tip Book a tour or drive to the visitor centre. The path opens in the pre-dawn hours.
The ruins make more sense with a guide who can explain the palaces, baths and siege. Audio guides and guided tours are available.
Tip Go with a guide, or read up on Josephus first.
Trails follow the streams to the waterfalls and pools, and offer refreshing dips. The longer routes climb through canyons and to the Dead Sea Scroll caves.
Tip Pick the trail that suits your energy. The Wadi David trail is the most popular.
Walk in slowly, lie back and float. Try the mineral mud on your skin and rinse off in the fresh-water showers.
Tip Do not shave before you go, and keep the water out of your eyes.
Ein Bokek and Ein Gedi have spas and hotels that use Dead Sea minerals in treatments and baths.
Tip Check whether day access is offered at the hotels.
Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947, is about 30 km north of Ein Gedi, in the West Bank, and is administered by Israel. It is a national park with the remains of a settlement and a view of the caves.
Tip It is a short detour on the way to or from Jerusalem. Check the current status and advice.
Local food
Food here is simple: cafés and restaurants at the visitor centres and hotels, and picnic supplies. Bring your own lunch for Ein Gedi.
Pita, hummus, vegetables, olives and fruit bought in a supermarket or bakery before you go. There is no shade at Masada, so plan to eat somewhere cool.
Where to try it Supermarkets in Jerusalem and Arad, or the kibbutz shop at Ein Gedi.
Ein Gedi's kibbutz has a shop and café that serves salads, sandwiches and coffee. It is a pleasant stop.
Where to try it Ein Gedi kibbutz.
The hotels at Ein Bokek serve large Israeli-style buffets with salads, fish, eggs and pastries.
Where to try it The hotels at Ein Bokek and Ein Gedi.
Medjool dates grow in the Dead Sea region and are sold fresh and dried. They are a good snack for the trail.
Where to try it Roadside stalls and kibbutz shops.
Essential in the heat. Kiosks at the visitor centres sell water, juice and ice cream.
Where to try it Kiosks at Masada and Ein Gedi.
Accommodation
Most visitors visit as a day trip, but staying overnight lets you climb Masada at dawn. A range of hotels, hostels and kibbutz guesthouses is available.
Transport
Masada is about 100 km from Jerusalem and 200 km from Tel Aviv, and a car is the easiest way to reach it.
The sites are spread along the Dead Sea road, and a car or a bus is required between them.
When to go
The Dead Sea region is a desert below sea level, and summers are extremely hot. October to April is the comfortable season, with the sunrise climb best from late autumn to early spring.
Warm to hot days and the desert in bloom after winter rain. Start early, and expect heat by May.
Extremely hot, often over 40°C, with the sites and trails close to unbearable. The Snake Path may close during the heat. Go only at sunrise if you must.
October and November are ideal, with warm days and cooler mornings.
Mild, sunny and pleasant, often 18–24°C. Rain can cause flash floods in the wadis, and trails at Ein Gedi may close.
Worth planning around: Midday in summer, and rainy days when flash floods are a danger in the desert canyons.
Itinerary
Sunrise at Masada, a hike at Ein Gedi and a float in the sea. Assumes a start from Jerusalem before dawn, or a night nearby.
A packed desert day that beats the heat.
Travel tips
The desert is unforgiving, and a few tips make the day comfortable.
FAQ
The Snake Path takes about 45–60 minutes at a steady pace, and most people spend two to three hours on the summit. The cable car takes a few minutes.
Yes. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with remarkable ruins and a dramatic setting, and it has a powerful place in Israeli history. Go at sunrise if you can.
Yes. It is easy and safe if you follow the rules: enter slowly, float on your back, keep the water out of your eyes, and stay in for no more than about 15–20 minutes.
October to April, when temperatures are comfortable. Avoid summer, when the heat is severe.
Yes, by about a metre a year. The retreat is visible along the shore, where old beaches and hotels are now some distance from the water.
Yes. It is about 75 minutes from Jerusalem and 2 hours from Tel Aviv, and tours run daily. A sunrise visit requires an early start or a night nearby.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with Masada and Dead Sea, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
Jerusalem District, Israel
One of the oldest cities in the world and a centre of pilgrimage for Jews, Christians and Muslims, with a dense Old City, a lively market and a fine museum.
Don't miss The Old City, where the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Dome of the Rock can be reached on foot in an hour.
Explore Destination — JerusalemSouthern District, Negev Desert, Israel
A desert of canyons, craters and Nabataean cities, with a small town on the edge of the world's largest makhtesh and an easy base for hiking and stargazing.
Don't miss The rim of Makhtesh Ramon at dawn, a 40-km crater of coloured sandstone that falls 500 metres to the desert floor.
Explore Destination — The Negev & Mitzpe RamonNorthern District, Jezreel and Beit She'an valleys, Israel
Two of the country's best archaeological sites, both close to Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee: a UNESCO-listed tell of biblical significance, and one of the great Roman cities of the Decapolis.
Don't miss Beit She'an's Cardo, a Roman colonnaded street that runs uphill to a temple, with an intact theatre beside it.
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