The Judean Desert is a desert in Israel and the West Bank that lies east of Jerusalem and descends to the Dead Sea. It stretches from the northeastern Negev to the east of Jerusalem and is marked by terraces with escarpments. It ends in a steep escarpment dropping to the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley.
Tour Route
We start the tour at you hotel where you are picked up by the tour guide. From there we drive towards the Judean Desert but not before we stop at the Inn of the Good Samaritan, a site which was only opened to the public in 2010 and includes the impressive mosaic museum and fascinating archaeological park from the Byzantine era. From there we continue in the direction of the Dead Sea, on the way stopping at a lookout point over the Judean Desert and Jordan valley – a beautiful observation point. After our stop we continue our journey driving around the Dead Sea – the lowest point on Earth. We stop on the way at another observation point this time overlooking the ancient Qumaran Caves where in 1946 the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered which are mentioned in the Bible. After all of this we arrive at the starting point of the jeep tour, and this is where the fun really begins.
In the jeeps we drive into the heart of the desert where we visit a few of the most beautiful sites in Israel. The first place we reach is the famous Dragot Cliff. From this famous cliff we look out over Dragot River and the Murbaat Caves which was discovered for the first time in the 50's and contained artifacts from various periods in history, primarily from the time of the Bar Kochba revolt, which indicates that the caves were used during the revolt as a place of refuge. Bonds were found in the caves from the time of the revolt signed by Bar Kochba himself, this was a primary source and proof of his existence.
From there we continue on to Michvar, located between two of the steepest canyons in the Judean Desert, Dragot River and Hatzazon River, one of the most breathtaking, moving and impressive views in the desert. From there we continue on to the top of Hatzazon situated above the river and an incredible observation point.
After the observation point we begin our journey back towards the hotel but not before we make a brief stop in the middle of the desert to make you authentic herbal tea using the local plants, this is a perfect ending to an incredible tour…enjoy.
Additional Information
The tour include:
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off service.
- Professional tour guide in your language.
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle/bus.
- Sandwiches / snacks (Late lunch)
The tour does not include:
- Natural treatments and massages.
Notes:
- Bring hat, bathing suit, comfortable shoes.
- Recommended to bring water and light meal.
- Minimum of 2 travelers per booking is required.
- Confirmation will be received 24 hours post booking.