Masada and the Dead Sea Day Trip from Jerusalem
4.5
Masada and the Dead Sea Day Trip from Jerusalem
By Bein Harim Tourism Services
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About
Enjoy two of Israel’s top sights on this full-day tour from Jerusalem, all without transportation hassles or overlooking any details or places of interest en route. Hear about passing sights such as the Qumran Caves, catch a cable car at Masada to explore with a guide, and get ample time to enjoy the Dead Sea. Included entrance fees and central hotel pickup and drop-off make everything super-smooth and convenient.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 4-99, max of 40 per group
Duration: 9h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: German, English, French, Spanish
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Highlights
- Hassle-free day trip to Masada and Dead Sea from Jerusalem by coach
- Tour Masada’s ruins with a guide to learn about its past
- Unrushed visit to Dead Sea to relax in its waters and mineral mud
- Extra convenient: includes entry fees, guide, and central hotel transfers
- Hotel pickup and drop off
- Professional guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Cable Car up to Masada
- Entrance fees
- Entry/Admission - Masada National Park
- Entry/Admission - Dead Sea
What's not included- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
- Depart your central Jerusalem hotel or other city-center location by air-conditioned coach and journey to Masada, where a crumbled ancient fortress covers a mountaintop. Along the way, listen as your guide points out places of interest, including the site of the bible’s Good Samaritan parable. Nearing Masada, experience panoramic views of the Dead Sea before riding the cable car for a guided tour of the 2,000-year-old mountain fortress and its relics. View and learn about the must-sees and hear about the mass suicide of Jewish zealots here in AD 74. Then, pass Ein Gedi and the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, and visit the Dead Sea, situated at the Earth’s lowest point. Enjoy ample time to wallow in the salt waters and mineral-rich mud before traveling back to Jerusalem past Jericho and ending your trip at the original starting point.
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.Pickup details
- Please note that our pickup/drop-off is available from a few central hotels only. Please select the hotel closest to your address from the drop-down menu on the tour page. If you are not sure which of the listed hotels is a good fit, please choose the option “I don’t see my pickup location” and insert enter your accommodation address. After the booking is approved by the local tour operator, a confirmation email from Bein Harim will be sent to you mentioning the final pickup point closest to your address. Please read the email with the attached booking confirmation carefully to make sure you are waiting for the pickup at the correct location. Please make sure to wait for the pickup at the hotel entrance.
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5209MASDSJ- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Recommended to bring hats, bathing suit, towels, sun protection.
- Most travellers can participate
- Please note this tour is not suitable for children under the age of 4
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5209MASDSJ
From
C$162.26
per adult
Select date and travellers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- 1Pass byKhan Al-Hatruri - The Good Samaritan Inn
- 2
- 3Pass byEn Gedi Nature ReserveQumran Caves
- 4
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Msa023230 contributionsTour director was wonderful!Our director, Tomer, went out of his way to make our experience great. He has wonderful energy, and was extremely accommodating and kind like all the Israeli’s I’ve experienced. I was skeptical before the tour because I had booked one earlier in the week where they forgot to pick me up and that I was never contacted by the tourdirector to apologize or even explain:( I would recommend this tour but I will say we needed more time at the museum. Bring water, and cash if you want souvenirs and of course, for tipping!Written February 4, 2025
- mattmA8389PY0 contributionsJerusalem Tour OptionVery informed guide and it was well organized with good quality for the cost. Pickup and drop off was easy. 3 of my other Nazareth, Jericho and Bethlehem tours were canceled so buyer beware if the group has less than 4 people as the tour will be canceled. They refund your money quickly within the week for me, which I greatly appreciated. Good luckWritten January 9, 2025
- Traveler013437413280 contributionsvery nice tourIt was a great tour! We have seen a lot of ancient places in and around Jerusalem, I also appreciate our guides! I do recommend without any reservationsWritten December 10, 2024
- Martin F0 contributionsGreat tourTour was well organized, on time, tour, guide,Itamar was well-versed, congenial, attentive to all the participants needsWritten July 23, 2024
- Davidlv7020 contributionsGreat Tour!Had a great time on our tour today. Our guide Itamar was outstanding. I would absolutely recommend this company you won't be disappointed.Written July 23, 2024
- Tom A0 contributionsQualityThe most amazing place to be, relaxing with family & friends. Very healthy for your skin. Enjoy your trip from Jerusalem.Written July 22, 2024
- 811martenp0 contributionsMasada Dead sea relaxI really enjoyed the trip! The guide Eyal was very provident and professional! I Learned a lot about the places we passed by. We went through the sites without any hurry. The things were explained in an very eupeptic manner. Although we passed through the Westbank in summer 2024, there was no impression of any danger on the way. Local people we found where very kind at all places. The stay at the beach was about 1.5h, enough to enjoy this extraordinary place. Thanks for a very nice trip!Written June 26, 2024
- 811martenp0 contributionsJerusalem in a rushIt was a really nice trip! The guide Abu Shai was very professional, a history professor giving courses in US universities, as he stated. And indeed a lot of historical background was given beyond the facts about the sites we visited. Furthermore information was always intended to be in a consistent (not always religious) context. I really enjoyed the discussions. Unfortunately, we went through Jerusalem with a great portion of hurry, not really giving us time to rest and contemplate as I would have preferred for such a magic place on earth. People were also told to don't stop at any stall or photographic site except the ones we were told by the guide. The excuse was that we had to pass by so many places in the given time frame. Finally we finished the tour in around 6 hours. Anyway I learned a lot and enjoyed what I found. ThanksWritten June 26, 2024
- esimisrael0 contributionsUnforgettable Masada and Dead Sea Adventure!This "Masada and the Dead Sea Day Trip from Tel Aviv" was incredible! The convenience of hotel pickup and drop-off, combined with comfortable air-conditioned travel, made the journey stress-free. Our guide's detailed explanations at Masada were enlightening, enhancing our appreciation of this historic site. Floating in the Dead Sea was a surreal experience, with optional therapeutic treatments available. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Israel!Written June 26, 2024
- K3739KIangelar0 contributionsExcellentSimply the best! The guide was very knowledgeable and informative about all the historical details. Transitions from each site were spot on!Written June 22, 2024
- francotheexplorer0 contributionsJerusalem &Betlehem TourGreat experience. Our tour guide is Itamar, and he is so knowledgeable about the whole place and adding some trivias. He is a great tour guide he truly connects with people and can communicate with different languages like english and spanish.Written June 18, 2024
- U5755YDadrianam0 contributionsAmazingThe help they gave us for the process at the border is very supportive, they make it easier in Procedure and all the travel was amazing, or course we’ll return 😊Written June 4, 2024
- katlinw20240 contributionsGreat tour and amazing tour guideThis trip was the highlight of my time in Israel. Itamer was an amazing tour guide- his knowledge of history, Israel, and the Bible all fused to make this trip really memorable. All the sites we visited were amazing, there was ample time at each one but it didn’t feel like we were there for too long, and Itamer did a great job conducting the tour in multiple languages for different people. He truly cared about each person having a great experience. Visiting Jesus place where he grew up and did most of his ministry was truly incredible and the price for the tour was great. If you go, download what’s app because they will communicate with you that way for the pick up and drop off.Written May 21, 2024
- blancahavila0 contributionsHorrible experience with ViatorHorrible tour to Valle de Guadalupe We bought a tour to Valle de Guadalupe, from a supposed “Tour company.” They sent us 4 people plus the driver in a 4 persons sedan car, my daughter had to go in the middle for 6 hours. The driver was talking on the phone back and forth, when I told him that I thought it was dangerous for us to do it, he said that he had a lot of experience driving 8 wheelers, so he didn't stop. I don't think it's allowed to take tourists this way. So unprofessional, didn't know anything about the area, he just transported us to the destination in the most uncomfortable and dangerous way. At the last point, the vineyard where they gave us a cheese board, he sat at our table and loudly talked on her cell phone, taking away the only pleasant experience of the entire day. What he did share with us, was all the dangerous places in the area. Although the driver tried, this company is not a professional tour company. We brought a bigger and safer truck, if we had known how bad it would be, we would have left on our own.Written January 1, 2024
- 619jeffry0 contributionsNatural beauty and historical sites in the HeightsThe Golan Heights is an area of outstanding natural beauty and intriguing historical sites It was captured from Syria during the Six Day War in 1967 and is now part of Israel. The Golan Heights is of great strategic importance, it has a commanding view of the northern Galilee. Apart from its military value, the Golan is a fertile agricultural region. The trip from Jerusalem to the Golan takes around two hours by car.Written November 3, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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Saba S
7 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
I loved visiting the Dead Sea. That was by far the best part of the tour. We went in December and it was still warm enough to get in the water, though it was a bit chilly when we got out. It was well worth it to get in the water as the floating is effortless and magical. The Dead Sea part of the trip took us to a beach resort where you could rent towels for 15 shekels, and purchase other beach items. They also had a reasonably clean shower and bathroom to wash up and change before and after floating in the Dead Sea. I would recommend bringing flip flops as the beach is quite rocky, along with other beach essentials.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the Masada tour. It’s somewhat interesting, but I had not heard of it before and didn’t have a personal or religious tie to the area. I felt it took a long time to take the cable car up there and once we were up there, there were tons of crowds that made the tour go slowly. In the future, I would have just skipped the Masada tour and taken a car to a Dead Sea resort.
The tour required us to meet at 7:50 AM at a pick up point in Jerusalem. The tour happened to start a little late that morning and we ended up getting to Masada mid-morning and eating lunch around 2 or 2:15. We got to the Dead Sea around 3 and had about an hour in the water before we had to go home. We had a bus, where we could leave our stuff in the bus safely while we were out. In the future, I would have brought snacks, and more beach items to make the trip more fun.
Our tour guide Dorit was the best. She was hilarious, kind, and warm. She had a really great sense of humor that was refreshing and made the tour worthwhile. Overall, good tour.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the Masada tour. It’s somewhat interesting, but I had not heard of it before and didn’t have a personal or religious tie to the area. I felt it took a long time to take the cable car up there and once we were up there, there were tons of crowds that made the tour go slowly. In the future, I would have just skipped the Masada tour and taken a car to a Dead Sea resort.
The tour required us to meet at 7:50 AM at a pick up point in Jerusalem. The tour happened to start a little late that morning and we ended up getting to Masada mid-morning and eating lunch around 2 or 2:15. We got to the Dead Sea around 3 and had about an hour in the water before we had to go home. We had a bus, where we could leave our stuff in the bus safely while we were out. In the future, I would have brought snacks, and more beach items to make the trip more fun.
Our tour guide Dorit was the best. She was hilarious, kind, and warm. She had a really great sense of humor that was refreshing and made the tour worthwhile. Overall, good tour.
Written December 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks very much for sharing this detailed review.
Hard though to accept you felt you could have skipped a remnant of fro the 20BC era, a spectacular monument in this desert setting. Indeed you traveled at a busy time of year, and the weather being so good there, it attracts volumes of visitors and tourists.
Indeed one should ring along snacks etc and even a packed lunch. Sometimes logistics are only according to the situation at the location and as you have written lunch was late, and you are quite hungry having started early that day.
So happy to read that Dorit was the excellent guide she is known to be and you enjoyed her interesting commentary and tour management skills.
Written January 13, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
hannasofiastark
Gothenburg, Sweden1 contribution
Jul 2023
This was the perfect day trip into the desert! We had around 1,5 hours to spend on top of Masada and you could chose to go alone or with your guide. I’ll say go with the guide since they will provide you with unvaluable knowledge. Our guide Dan had great knowledge of general history, Masada, the area around the Dead Sea and also current history and events. He spoke clearly and always made sure the full group was gathered. Bring sun screen, water, a hat/cap and good walking shoes, or at least sneakers and not flip-flops to Masada. The lunch restaurant at Masada offers many options, such as a buffet with around five different mains + five different side dishes, such as fried rice, roasted potatoes etc, and a large sallad buffet. They also have burgers, falafel and fries. Vegan options among the sides and sallads but not the mains.
The 1,5 hour stay at the Dead Sea is just enough since you can’t stay there for too long due to the heat (it was 43 degrees Celsius when we were there…) so I wouldn’t recommend taking a tour that let you stay there for many hours.
NOTE: despite it saying on the map we were going to the south part of the Dead Sea, to Ein Bokek, we ended up going to the north, to Kalia Beach. You will still experience the strangeness of floating in the Dead Sea, and Kalia Beach has facilities such as two bars, restaurant, changing rooms, showers and restrooms. It was a bit of a disappointment for us since we were prepared to go to Ein Bokek since that is bigger and apparently cleaner but Kalia Beach was after all still okay.
We are very happy with this tour and would recommend you to take it!
The 1,5 hour stay at the Dead Sea is just enough since you can’t stay there for too long due to the heat (it was 43 degrees Celsius when we were there…) so I wouldn’t recommend taking a tour that let you stay there for many hours.
NOTE: despite it saying on the map we were going to the south part of the Dead Sea, to Ein Bokek, we ended up going to the north, to Kalia Beach. You will still experience the strangeness of floating in the Dead Sea, and Kalia Beach has facilities such as two bars, restaurant, changing rooms, showers and restrooms. It was a bit of a disappointment for us since we were prepared to go to Ein Bokek since that is bigger and apparently cleaner but Kalia Beach was after all still okay.
We are very happy with this tour and would recommend you to take it!
Written July 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing your feedback about your perfect day tour and the great guide, Dan Porges. We're thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful experience exploring the desert.
However, we would like to address your comment about the destination discrepancy.
You mentioned that it stated on the map that you were going to the south part of the Dead Sea, specifically Ein Bokek. We apologize for any confusion caused by this information. To ensure accuracy and improve our future tours, could you please let us know where you saw this reference to Ein Bokek? This will help us correct any misleading information and ensure that future travelers are properly informed.
Written July 5, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
rottovaveronika
Prague, Czech Republic1 contribution
Aug 2022
The trip was great, nature was amazing. Everything went smootly, the pick up from the hotel, division into different groups in order to different trips on Mt. Scopus… technically everything was well-managed. The bus was well equiped. And the driver (Hassan) was amazing as well. The tour guide was an amazing guy. Funny, clever, outstanding. His stories were really funny, his english was clear and nice. He used microphone inside of the bus, so it was clear and loud enough for everybody. I would really recommend this tour and especially if you will find Dan Porges as your tour guide you are considered to be very lucky. Tour itself was great as i mentioned - a lot of stops to make photos, enought time to explore places by yourself. We have good time management and we even saw some “extras” on our stops - the dessert or the spiky tree.
Written September 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks very much for this reave review; of your tour guided by our very capable and experienced guide DAn.He deserves your praise for his efforts and professional tour management, always keeping your needs and interests in the highest regard.
Happy to read you have an immensely enjoyable and memorable tour to cherish.
Written September 3, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
lehlioman
Singapore, Singapore15 contributions
Jan 2023
The good:
Masada was a breathtaking sight. Wish we had a longer time there.
Our tour guide Dan was entertaining and shared a lot of stories with us.
Our group went to the dead sea before Masada, which seems like a better sequence as we got to see a quieter Masada against a setting sun.
The not-so-good:
The cumbersome pickup process. All Ben Harim tours to different destinations were picked up at David Citadel and brought to another location before the tourists waited at a cafe and were directed to different buses. This transfer process took over an hour. We hurried through breakfast to reach the pickup point at 750am and then waited more than an hour before getting onto our actual bus going to our destination, and this was not stated on the itinerary. What a waste of time.
Poor customer service. I wrote to Ben Harim the day before the tour to ask about the lunch arrangement and the items to bring along for the dead sea. Did not receive any response. Only found out on the bus itself that towels need to be bought or rented from the resort we are heading to.
Dead Sea. If you are not keen to soak in the water, not much else to do or see at the resort.
The lunch venue. We were brought to the restaurant at Qumran National Park. Overpriced tourist place. If you brought your own food, you are not allowed to eat inside the restaurant, even though it was 10 degrees outside and there isn't a comfortable space for us to sit down and eat.
On the whole, the tour was just alright, thanks mainly to Masada and a friendly guide.
Masada was a breathtaking sight. Wish we had a longer time there.
Our tour guide Dan was entertaining and shared a lot of stories with us.
Our group went to the dead sea before Masada, which seems like a better sequence as we got to see a quieter Masada against a setting sun.
The not-so-good:
The cumbersome pickup process. All Ben Harim tours to different destinations were picked up at David Citadel and brought to another location before the tourists waited at a cafe and were directed to different buses. This transfer process took over an hour. We hurried through breakfast to reach the pickup point at 750am and then waited more than an hour before getting onto our actual bus going to our destination, and this was not stated on the itinerary. What a waste of time.
Poor customer service. I wrote to Ben Harim the day before the tour to ask about the lunch arrangement and the items to bring along for the dead sea. Did not receive any response. Only found out on the bus itself that towels need to be bought or rented from the resort we are heading to.
Dead Sea. If you are not keen to soak in the water, not much else to do or see at the resort.
The lunch venue. We were brought to the restaurant at Qumran National Park. Overpriced tourist place. If you brought your own food, you are not allowed to eat inside the restaurant, even though it was 10 degrees outside and there isn't a comfortable space for us to sit down and eat.
On the whole, the tour was just alright, thanks mainly to Masada and a friendly guide.
Written January 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for this detailed and sincere report of our services We are open to hearing such feedback in order to improve our services
Jerusalem pickup system however much we try and understand is in need of improvement.
It is certainly not a direct hop-on bus and embarks on tour procedure. (much of the logistics are complex as we operate free hotel pickups!! to save time and budget for travelers.
Traffic and light rail closures etc are all contributors and the human factor. But indeed it is most irritating to have to wait. We do clearly state this is a pickup service before embarking on the actual tour. We intend to state this more clearly on tour confirmation to avoid misunderstanding
It is a logistic we contend with daily.
The Dead Sea region was hard hit during covid and restaurants are far and few to come by in order to serve volumes of travelers and groups.
Kumaran is the only one! option in the northern Dead Sea area. (we cannot travel 50 km to the hotel district in the south just to eat..)Shore Beaches with facilities are really scarce ( 4 others didn't reopen due to the SInkhole phenomena in the region!!)
You certainly can bring your own food, and we recommend this to those traveling here, The guide should direct you to an area where you can sit and eat.
The Dead sea float is a unique swimming experience phenomenon rarely experienced anywhere else on the planet. For most this is awesome
Written January 14, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Noelle M
37 contributions
We booked 3 tours on 3 consecutive days as shore excursions from a Royal Carribean Cruise.
First day Jerusalem & Bethlehem: long story short, it was horrible. They take you to a store that stuff is triple the price of the on street vendor and then they don’t give you time to shop. No time to see the important stuff just a quick run through. Very stressful, packed and guides most likely get kick back from places they force you to go to .
Second day : Massad & Dead sea- Massad is a waste of time, the lines to get in are horrendous, takes forever and you are packed in like sardines. Its alot of walking and just boring and mundane information. It is better seen from a distance rather than wasting time going up. Dead sea was only 20 minutes. Barely enough time to get in. Don’t recommend the massad. I recommend going to spend the day at a resort on the dead sea. Wish I had more time at the dead sea, less time at the massad.
Third day was in Haifa- again, everything is rushed. They only want to show you what they want and skip over important stuff.
Food on all three days was HORRIBLE. Pack a snack because you will go 6 hours without eating. When you finally do go to a restaurant the food is terrible and expensive.
💯 do NOT recommend this tour.
First day Jerusalem & Bethlehem: long story short, it was horrible. They take you to a store that stuff is triple the price of the on street vendor and then they don’t give you time to shop. No time to see the important stuff just a quick run through. Very stressful, packed and guides most likely get kick back from places they force you to go to .
Second day : Massad & Dead sea- Massad is a waste of time, the lines to get in are horrendous, takes forever and you are packed in like sardines. Its alot of walking and just boring and mundane information. It is better seen from a distance rather than wasting time going up. Dead sea was only 20 minutes. Barely enough time to get in. Don’t recommend the massad. I recommend going to spend the day at a resort on the dead sea. Wish I had more time at the dead sea, less time at the massad.
Third day was in Haifa- again, everything is rushed. They only want to show you what they want and skip over important stuff.
Food on all three days was HORRIBLE. Pack a snack because you will go 6 hours without eating. When you finally do go to a restaurant the food is terrible and expensive.
💯 do NOT recommend this tour.
Written November 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear noellem218,
We are most regretful to learn that this was the nature of your experience. When booking a group tour, you must understand that you are submitted to a tighter and more complex schedule. The businesses we work with are chosen carefully in order to provide warranty (stores, for example) and to serve large groups (restaurants, for another example). To be the master of your itinerary and schedule ,we recommend to book a private tour. We don't have control over lines in national parks and other touristic sites. The "important stuff" is your subjective perspective. All our guides are government licensed and professional and are given the credit and judgment to decide what's important.
Written November 6, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Paul H
2 contributions
Feb 2023
A great trip guided by Itamar. Very clear prior information send to me about where and when to meet the tour bus which arrived bang on time.
Some faffing around at the site (a cafe with a great city view but far too few toilets) where all the tour buses converge to then place people onto the specific bus for the tour, but although the instructions were pretty clear some people still didn't do as asked so our poor tour guide wasted around 20 minutes trying to find a few passengers.
Itamar gave us lots of information on the coach about the history of the area which was all fascinating.
Masada was really interesting and a great visit. The palace is an utter ruin but Itamar tried to bring it to life with his historical stories. The mountain is really high and the desert and Dead Sea views are breathtaking.
Then a stop for lunch at a truly awful and thoroughly crowded 'eating factory' (again with far few toilets for the masses of people there). The nearly 2 hours there was far too long. I'd suggest you just tell everyone to bring a packed lunch of their own and avoid this hell-hole.
Then to the Dead Sea where the 1.5 hours we had allocated actually went by really fast when you take into account the changing and a bit of a walk to the shore. I was rocky underfoot as you first get into the water so you have to walk carefully although there is soft mud then in most of the water. It was great fun to float there - a real life time experience and a great view across the Sea to Jordan.
Then back to the hotels in Jerusalem.
Well done Itamar - a very good and well organised tour. And you kept your calm so well when some of the people on the tour did not do as you asked (your instructions were really clear!) and you had to search for them at cabled car at Masada.
Some faffing around at the site (a cafe with a great city view but far too few toilets) where all the tour buses converge to then place people onto the specific bus for the tour, but although the instructions were pretty clear some people still didn't do as asked so our poor tour guide wasted around 20 minutes trying to find a few passengers.
Itamar gave us lots of information on the coach about the history of the area which was all fascinating.
Masada was really interesting and a great visit. The palace is an utter ruin but Itamar tried to bring it to life with his historical stories. The mountain is really high and the desert and Dead Sea views are breathtaking.
Then a stop for lunch at a truly awful and thoroughly crowded 'eating factory' (again with far few toilets for the masses of people there). The nearly 2 hours there was far too long. I'd suggest you just tell everyone to bring a packed lunch of their own and avoid this hell-hole.
Then to the Dead Sea where the 1.5 hours we had allocated actually went by really fast when you take into account the changing and a bit of a walk to the shore. I was rocky underfoot as you first get into the water so you have to walk carefully although there is soft mud then in most of the water. It was great fun to float there - a real life time experience and a great view across the Sea to Jordan.
Then back to the hotels in Jerusalem.
Well done Itamar - a very good and well organised tour. And you kept your calm so well when some of the people on the tour did not do as you asked (your instructions were really clear!) and you had to search for them at cabled car at Masada.
Written March 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for such a detailed in depth review. of your tour experience. It will certainly paint a vivid picture for others who read this!
Itamar is most worthy of your compliments for his pleasant engaging manner and skillful tour management.
Written March 9, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nuno Paiva
Kingston, Canada51 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
Masada is a very interesting place to visit and to know its history. We were lucky to have a brilliant storyteller that explained in detail what happened there 2000 years ago. Incredible view of the Dead Sea. The restaurant could be better but you can have a quick and nice meal there for an affordable price.
The Dead Sea was a must have experience, funny and unique. Remember to take water shoes (going in with no shoes can be painful, you can buy them for $25) and towels, and just sit in that warm water and relax. Use the mud, our skin was shinny and so soft after using it. There’s a shower there that quickly removes the mud.
The trip was smooth and well organized and the bus was comfortable. Highly recommended.
The Dead Sea was a must have experience, funny and unique. Remember to take water shoes (going in with no shoes can be painful, you can buy them for $25) and towels, and just sit in that warm water and relax. Use the mud, our skin was shinny and so soft after using it. There’s a shower there that quickly removes the mud.
The trip was smooth and well organized and the bus was comfortable. Highly recommended.
Written February 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks very much for sharing this info as well as your satisfaction with your tour guide and with our services. We could pass it on if you would mention his name.
and your recommendation to bring aqua shoes for the sharp rocks, and towels. The Masada and the Dead Sea are indeed unique areas with incredible views. Glad it was an enjoyable tour and itinerary to cherish.
Written February 19, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mitch N
Ra'anana, Israel1 contribution
This was the first time my nephew visited Israel.
The tour guide was great, but although we were picked up on time (7:50), we were taken to a Cafe place and waited for about an hour and a half because one person had not shown up. Due to this, our visit to Masada was cut short.
It wasn't the tour guides fault and she was upset about it, but mostly everyone waiting was not happy.
Otherwise, the bus was great, but I was surprised it didn't have wi-fi. The bus driver was great.
The wait at the coffee shop for so long, when I woke up early and gave up a breakfast at the hotel (that I paid extra for) so I can be on time , was annoying.
Overall, my nephew enjoyed the sites.
The tour guide was great, but although we were picked up on time (7:50), we were taken to a Cafe place and waited for about an hour and a half because one person had not shown up. Due to this, our visit to Masada was cut short.
It wasn't the tour guides fault and she was upset about it, but mostly everyone waiting was not happy.
Otherwise, the bus was great, but I was surprised it didn't have wi-fi. The bus driver was great.
The wait at the coffee shop for so long, when I woke up early and gave up a breakfast at the hotel (that I paid extra for) so I can be on time , was annoying.
Overall, my nephew enjoyed the sites.
Written June 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Mitch,
thanks for this feedback from which we must learn as well as investigate fully. Delays occur, but this is not usual to wait for a single traveler, certainly not 1.5 hrs as you have reported. The coffee shop wait doesn't seem to coincide with the tour schedule, not as you write. We'll look into this via the driver. It is indeed annoying to have to wait. Glad that you were satisfied with our guide and driver. Apologies from Ben Harim that you had to go through this.
Sincerely,
Bein Harim team
Written July 12, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dylan L
18 contributions
Jun 2023
I had the pleasure of being led by Dan Porges on our unforgettable Tour of Masada, and I must say, his knowledge and enthusiasm made the experience truly enjoyable. From the moment we set foot on the ancient grounds of Masada, it was evident that Dan possessed an immense wealth of historical knowledge. His explanations were clear, insightful, and delivered with a passion that was contagious. Dan's ability to bring the stories of the past to life was remarkable, captivating our attention and sparking our imagination. Moreover, his enthusiasm for the tour was palpable, and it was evident that he genuinely loved what he did. His energy and charisma kept us engaged throughout the journey, making every step of the tour an absolute delight. I couldn't have asked for a better tour leader than Dan Porges; his expertise and genuine passion for sharing it made our Tour of Masada an unforgettable experience.
Written July 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for this sincere and detailed report back and most of all we appreciate your expression of gratitude for the excellent tour guide Dan. He sure deserves your praise for his efforts and enlightening commentary.
Written July 5, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
garit32
New York City, NY90 contributions
Feb 2023
My wife and I joined this tour. Our tour guide was Dan P. and he was informative and well organized. You start the tour by being picked up at a designated spot. You then go to an overlook point situated above Jerusalem (nice view). Once the rest of the group arrives (both the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem tours meet at this overlook point), you then board a bus and go to Masada via the West Bank. The scenery is beautiful. Masada is impressive. At the end of the trip you visit a beach on the Dead Sea with basic locker facilities. You can rent a towel (I *believe* you can also purchase a bathing suit, but I am not sure as we brought our own). You then return to Jerusalem and are dropped off at the same designated spot where you were collected that morning. It is good value overall - it is not a private tour, so you will likely be travelling with 15-25 other people (which was totally fine with us).
Written February 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Glad you had a great tour experience with Dan. He sure deserves your favorable feedback for his efforts. Your detailed description of the tour schedule is most helpful to those reading this.
many thanks.
Written February 20, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi, My wife and I together with our 1 year and 11 month old child (boy), will accompany us in our vacation in Israel. Please confirm:
i. if we can bring our child in this Tour
ii. if we need to book a seat in the tour for our child? (or is it free/ at no cost?)
Written October 25, 2022
Hi
Sorry for the belated response. You can safely bring your child along with u . No need to buy a ticket for him
Written February 25, 2023
Are we allowed to have a 9 month old in our group? Can this trip work for cruise ship tourist?
Written September 9, 2022
Hello
Is there a pick up at the Dan Boutique hotel. We are staying on Gihon street
If its possible we wil do this tour on sunday
Thanks
Johanna
Written September 7, 2022
Yes!
You can hike up the trail.
However, during the summer months, the Snake Pass may be closed because it's too hot and it may be a health hazard.
Check with on the web to confirm.
Written September 4, 2022
Jose Ederaldo Q
Curitiba, PR
About the atractions: are the prices in us dolar, euro, shekel?
Written February 15, 2022
Hola voy a estar el día 10 de abril en Jerusalén es posible que pueda tomar el tour en ingles para ora poder ir? Viajo sola y solo me queda ese día para ir gracias
Written February 6, 2020
Hola Cristina yo no lo se eso tendrias que preguntarlo a la agencia si este dia tienen tour y en que idiona
Written February 7, 2020
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