Pick up      08:30 Jerusalem;   07:30 Tel Aviv

Do not forget to bring swimming suit, towel, and sandals.

On our way east we can say farewell to Jerusalem from Mt of Olives as well to see that the eastern out skirt of Jerusalem is the Judean Desert, due to the phenomena "Rain Shadow". Will say hello to the Scapegoat Mountain and we start out journey to the lowest point on earth.

The view from Masada is much better afternoon so we r going to visit the other sites first. We need to remember the last cable car winter (October-March)  is 3 pm and summer (April- September) at 4 pm. Weekends (Friday Saturday) an hour earlier  2-3 pm.

St. George Monasteryfrom Byzantine era is only 5 km drive from HWY 1. The outstanding monastery is curved on the cliff edge of Wadi Kelt. Located on the main Biblical road from Jericho to Jerusalem and where the prophet Elijah found safe haven from the Baal prophets, where king Saul (first Kink of Israel) lost his donkeys and found his crown, where Jesus and many others walked. It is an active monastery for more then 1,500 years despite it was ruin so many times. Today it is a living "time capsule".

If we r lucky to have a jeep we can short cut through the desert to the very famous site of Qumran where the Dead Sea Scroll where found, to see cave number 1 out side the site quick visit to Kibbutz Kalya.

The Dead Sea region is one of the warmest places on earth so it is quite refreshing to deep in the water especially if it is Mineral beach. Careful no splashing as it is so salty but also real fun to float like no where else. Do not forget to cover yourself with mud which is famous since Cleopatrarequested it from her lover Mark Antonyfor its healing and cosmetic power. Only if u wish we can stop at Ahavathe only cosmetic factory on the Dead Sea.

Kibbutz Ein Gedi's cafeteria is a good place for quick lunch as we have no time left. A short drive in the nearby Nature reserve might reveal to us some of the wild life as Rock Hyraxor Nubian Ibex.

Masadais a mountain over looking the Dead Sea with ruins from King Herod the Great. But the fame of Masada is because of the Jewish Zealots 73 or 74Ad decision to die as free men and not to be the slaves of the Roman in the last act of First Jewish Roman War. We'll try to find the truth from the famous historian Josephus in his book The Wars of the Jews.

Optional

Enter St George Monastery.

Inn of the Good Samaritan  - unique mosaic museum

Baptism siteQuasar El Yahud Israeli border

Mar Sabaobservation or visit only for men close Wednesday + Friday

Herodiumand center Judean desert

South Judean desert

Cross Judean desert 2 days sleep under the sky in a hotel with thousands stars