Dead Sea Area

Dead Sea Shore

The Dead Sea area is beautiful and calm, and personally, one of my favourite holiday and vacation spot in Israel, 2 hrs drive from Tel Aviv, 1.5 hrs from Jerusalem. The Dead Sea itself is an amazing piece of nature’s art and the lowest of all seas, more than 400 meters below sea level.

Attractions:

Masada: A mountain top fortress which king Herod transformed in 35BC into a three tiered winter home, boasts two luxurious palaces, bathhouses, storage rooms and impressive water cisterns. An eternal symbol of Jewish history and heritage, it is the site of defiance by a few Jewish zealots who took their own lives rather than surrender to the might of the Roman empire.
Masada offers marvellous views of the Dead Sea and Judean Desert. Easily accessible via a quick cable car ride or by hiking up the serpentine trail. Located only 18km north of Ein Bokek hotel area. On site restaurants, cafeteria and gift shop.
Open 7 days a week – first cable car at 8:00.
Closing times: October to March at 16:00. April to Sep at 17:00.

Masada Sound and Light show: Recounts the dramatic history of Masada along with special pyrotechnic effects.

Beach, Moria Plaza Hotel

Spectators sit in a natural amphitheater on the west side of the mountain, reachable only via Arad city, 20km away west. Rental of simultaneous translation headphones are available for English, German, Russian, French & Spanish. Show is open from Mar to Oct at Tuesdays & Thursdays, excluding Holiday evenings.

Ein Gedi nature reserve: Near the Ein Gedi kibuts. Visitors have access to the close by nature reserve for viewing bird sanctuaries & wildlife. Hikers follow trails past waterfalls, springs, caves, canyons and an early Bronze Age temple.

Visitors have the choice of hiking along 2 riverbeds: The David Spring nature reserve walking tour (1.5 – 3km). Including a short trek to the two waterfalls, can take between 1.5 to 3 hours.
The Arugot reserve is close to the David reserve and includes a series of shallow pools perfect for bathing. The 4km circular hike can take up to four hours. A marked path leads to an impressive waterfall.
Both reserves open 7 days a week between 8:00 to 16:00.
Bring binoculars, bathing suits, drinking water and don’t forget the hat!

Ein Bokek Nature reserve: located near the Ein Bokek hotel area is this beautiful nature reserve. You can park your

Ein Bokek nature reserve

car at the various parking spaces near the hotels. The start is a few meters from the security car check booth at the place.
You will see water shortly after you enter the reserve and the waterfall and the shallow pool is only 10 minutes walk. Suitable for children too! On the way to the fall you will likely see wild mountain goats in display of an amazing balance & climbing skills. beautiful site.

Mount Sodom: A 12 km geological ridge of salt in the southern part of the Dead Sea, believed to be the infamous biblical city that perished together with Gomorra. Features unique salt pillars dubbed Lot’s Wife, whom biblical legend says became a pillar of salt when she looked back on the destruction of Sodom & Gomorra.

Qumran: Ancient caves and settlement on the northern shores of the Dead Sea where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls – the oldest biblical documents ever found – trace the history and daily lives of the mystical Essenes, a Jewish sect that fled Jerusalem 2000 years ago. Initially discovered in caves in clay jars by a Bedouin shepherd in 1947, the scrolls prompted excavations which revealed the complexity of Essene life. This restored archaeological site offers a glimpse in the life of this culture. An audiovisual show demonstrates the story of Qumran. Many of the original Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed in the shrine of the book at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.
Open 7 days a week from 8:00.
Closing hours: Oct to Mar 16:00, Apr to Sep 17:00. Closes one hour earlier on Fridays and eve of Jewish holidays.
On site a self-service restaurant and duty free shop.

Flour Cave: A short drive south from Ein Bokek. An intriguing 30 meters underground passage created by water erosion of the soft limestone located west of Mt. Sodom. Bring flashlights.

Ahava visitors centre: Ahava (“Love” in Hebrew) produces cosmetic and health products based on mud, minerals and salts found in the Dead Sea.

Accommodation:

• Many Hotels along the shore
• Rent a Bungalow in the Ein Gedi beach
• Camping with a tent – Ein Gedi beach and more
• Rooms in various Field schools around
• Rooms in one of the Kibbutz’s around

How to get there:

there are two options -
1-Via Jerusalem: follow signs to the Dead Sea as you approach Jerusalem.
2-Via Arad: Drive about 30km via road #4 (Ge’a road), then to road #41 (watch the sign for Eilat, Be’er sheva) until Gedera Junction, where you turn right to road #40. About 50+ km driving strait, take a left at the Lehavim Junction to road #31 that will lead you to the Dead Sea via Arad city.