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Day Trip: Masada Sunrise, Ein Gedi, and Dead Sea from Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv, Israel
- 11 hours
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Watch the sun rise at Masada and visit Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea on this day trip from Tel Aviv. Hike up Masada mountain in the early hours to see the sun emerge over the mountains and Dead Sea, and inspect the mountaintop ancient fortress ruins. Then, explore the Ein Gedi oasis and visit the Dead Sea to float in its waters. Return air-conditioned transport with central Tel Aviv pickup and drop-off included.
- Explore the UNESCO-listed ancient fortress ruins on the mountaintop
- Stroll around the waterfalls, caves, and pools of stunning Ein Gedi
- Enjoy the salt-rich waters and therapeutic mud of the Dead Sea
- Round-trip, air-conditioned transport including pickup and drop-off in central Tel Aviv
What's Included
- Bathing in a private beach at Dead Sea
- All transport
- Gratuities
- Drinks
- Masada entrance (29 NIS)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Kaufmann St 2, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Israeli Textile Center, Kaufman Street 2 (Corner of Shenkar & Kaufman St)
Start time
02:00 AM
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
After early-morning pickup in central Tel Aviv, travel by air-conditioned vehicle through the Judean Desert to Masada, perhaps catching up on sleep on route.
Head through the gates (own expense) below the mountain: where a UNESCO-listed, ruined 1st century-BC fortress sits on the summit. Then, set out independently to make the challenging hike up a pathway to the top.
At the summit, absorb the spectacular sunrise: watching as the sun ascends over Jordan’s Moab mountains and the Dead Sea. Then, explore the fortress remnants before descending and continuing to Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, an idyllic oasis of palms, waterfalls, and pools.
Enter the reserve (own expense), and enjoy free time to explore the trails. Admire the fairy tale-like waterfalls, caves, and springs, and watch for wildlife like the desert ibex.
Next, travel to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, and enjoy ample time to enjoy the unique setting. Visit a private beach to float in the salt-heavy waters and if you wish, slather yourself in the mineral-rich, therapeutic mud.
Finally, journey back to Tel Aviv, where your trip ends at your original starting point.
Head through the gates (own expense) below the mountain: where a UNESCO-listed, ruined 1st century-BC fortress sits on the summit. Then, set out independently to make the challenging hike up a pathway to the top.
At the summit, absorb the spectacular sunrise: watching as the sun ascends over Jordan’s Moab mountains and the Dead Sea. Then, explore the fortress remnants before descending and continuing to Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, an idyllic oasis of palms, waterfalls, and pools.
Enter the reserve (own expense), and enjoy free time to explore the trails. Admire the fairy tale-like waterfalls, caves, and springs, and watch for wildlife like the desert ibex.
Next, travel to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, and enjoy ample time to enjoy the unique setting. Visit a private beach to float in the salt-heavy waters and if you wish, slather yourself in the mineral-rich, therapeutic mud.
Finally, journey back to Tel Aviv, where your trip ends at your original starting point.
Masada National Park
2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
Dead Sea
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
En Gedi Nature Reserve
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for child aged 12 and under
- The hike to the top of Masada Mountain requires a moderate level of fitness
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
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Reviews
4.0
113 reviews
Rachel_B, Mar 2023
The tour guide was awful in educating us and hosting the tour. He was friendly but very unorganized. The bus had mold on it and was incredibly dirty.
Audra_E, Jun 2022
Ofir was wonderful, kept a good pace and was mindful of the time to keep on track with the day. He chatted with everyone to keep us included whether traveling alone or with others.
Djamila_S, Feb 2020
It is worth going to Massada! The hike is very tough some people gave up. Take water with you. You got to go fast if you want to get there for Sunrise. Ein Geidi was very short the driver kept rushing us and was always in a bad mood. We only saw the first waterfall and had to go back. He shortened our time there. He told us to meet at a certain time and left 5 minutes prior leaving 2 people behind.
Natasha_k, Nov 2019
The Masada sunrise was worth leaving at 2am for and a certain level of fitness is required to ascend it in time. There was not enough time to explore Ein Gedi however and, while the Dead Sea experience was a joy, less time spent there and more time at Ein Gedi would have made the trip better balanced. There was also a distinct lack of tour guide throughout the trip - just the driver dropping us off without much interaction.
Kaz, Jan 2018
For a 2am start, you are better off going during the day. It is a very long drive to get to Masada around 2.5 hours. Unless the bus gets you at the entrance early enough, you do not get to the top of the mountain in time for dawn breaking or the sunrise. You have to be very fit to walk up to the top, and it is done in darkness, so make sure you have a torch. The hike is at least 30-40 minutes and the path is not always smooth. There are some nice waterfalls at Ein Gedi, moer like a trickle, and they are not spectacular. It is a nice walk, but you dont have too much time there, around 1 hour all up. The Dead Sea location is very very basic, and not very clean. The clear water comes out of old rusted water pipes. Each location is deserving of its own day trip.
Steven G, Nov 2017
Sunrise hike was incredible. One piece of advice depending upon time of year- bug spray.. lot of knats out. Breathtaking. Ein Gedi is a paradise in the middle of nowhere and the dead sea club- a chance to walk in the salt water and bathe in mud is simply fun.
sarahwiggerham, Jul 2017
A truly amazing trip, very exhausting but the sites you see are beautiful.
2 things to bear in mind or that could be improved.
1. You are given an hour in Ein Gedi, and it's just not enough. The waterfalls are beautiful and it takes 25 minutes to get up to the first one, so by the time you get down too you feel super rushed.
2. Water - note that none is provided for you, nor food. So remember to bring your own
Kasia_M, Apr 2017
I really enjoyed this tour. Our driver, Zvika, was an excellent guide, friendly and doing his best to deliver great service. Zvika was knowledgable and easy going, helpful too. Fantastic tour with great views and amazing experience. Highly recommend!
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