Southern District: Tours & Tickets

I booked it from Jerusalem to Jerusalem. They picked up us at our Hostel (Abraham Hostel), we were six. They picked up at 8:45. After we picked up some other people in Jerusalem. First we headed to Ein-Gedi and we jumped into the AHAVA factory shop :) - it is the same price at the airport. After we went to Masada. We go to the top with cable car, it was nice. Everything was paid (tickets), we did not have to wait for buying tickets. We have nearly 2 hours at Masada, after we went to Ein-Gedi to the "beach". At the beach there is a small boutiqe, restaurant, we had spent a lunch, it was "ok", nothing special, fish, meat, salad. It is payable, not free, not included in the tour. We deeped into the Dead See, it was nice, there was a bathroom in the restaurant where you can change your dress, and take a shower. After we went to back Jerusalem at 5-6 o"clock as I remember. The complete team was 16 people + the tour guide + the driver.

All in all a great tour with a reliable tour guide and a good price-performance ratio. Highlights were of course the sunrise at Masada and Ein Gedi with it's animals and the waterfal. Things to mind: - The climb at Masada is really exhausting. The cable car starts at 8am,, so you have to walk. If your old or not that sporty, it is possible, that you are not in time in Masada for the sunrise. - We don't know why everybody's talking about the dead sea and how wonderful it is. You feel like a dead fish in (too) salty, oily, nearly boiling water. If you make the mistake to put finger in your eyes, you feeling the pains of your life and after 30 minutes lying at the "beach" (more like mud desert) you sweating like hell. You can say, that you were at the lowest point at the earth, maybe that's the experience. But, like I said: The tour was all in all a great adventure!

I was reading the other reviews about this hard hike and sweating and I totally knew what I am going to do, but when I actually were doing it, it was sooooo hard, like I wanted to stop the hike up to the hill, but I wanted to see sunrise as well, so the conclusion is - you will sweat a lot, but it will be worth it. National park with waterfalls was nothing really special, just being in nature was nice. In hot weather would not recommend. And finally - dead sea - I loved it, floating in the water was fun and new experience, we were there for one and half hours and it was totally enough, because you cannot be very long time in salty water. We made these mud full-body masks as well and pictures were really nice haha. p.s. I would recommend doing afternoon tour with cable ride up there.

Masada is breathtaking, the place itself, the view, the history of the region, the Building of the fortress and the history of the famous rebellion... Everything was so interesting, moving, and amazingly told... As an italian girl with a strong passion for history, archeology and art, I'm not so easy to impresa, but at the end of the day I came back to my place feeling so thankful and rich. I recommend the tour to Masada ti everyone and the relaxing couple of hours at the Dead Sea is a pleasurable Moment, the cherry on top of a perfect experience and day. Thank you, Lorne! You've been amazing, at the same time a great "Bard" and story-teller, entertaining, smart and fine, and so precise, scientific and academic. Wish you the best and I hope to come back soon to the amazing Israel

The tour guide was exceptional. He makes this trip 3 or 4 times a week and his English was very good. The best thing is that while you are on your way he explains everything you are seeing from the tour vehicle exceedingly well.