Israel Package Tours
Jerusalem, Masada and Dead Sea 3 Day Tour
- 3 days
- Pickup: Tel Aviv, Jerusalem
- 4.4/5 company rating on TourRadar
- Duration3 days
- Starts07:15 AM, hotel pickup
- GuideEnglish
- Group sizeUp to 45 travelers
- CancellationNon-refundable: this tour includes pre-paid hotel nights.
Overview
A desert fortress, the saltiest sea on Earth and the Holy City all fit into this Jerusalem Masada Dead Sea 3 day tour, without the usual rush. Day 1 takes you down to Herod's mountaintop palace at Masada and a float in the Dead Sea. The next two days belong to Jerusalem, first beneath the streets in the City of David and then on the path of Jesus from the Mount of Olives to the Via Dolorosa.
Day 1 drops from Jerusalem through the Judean Desert, past the sea level marker, to Masada and the story of the last Jewish rebels against Rome, then passes Ein Gedi and Qumran on the way to a Dead Sea beach. Day 2 explores Jewish Jerusalem: King David's Tomb, the Four Sephardic Synagogues, the Herodian mansions, the Western Wall and the City of David. Day 3 visits the Chapel of the Ascension, Dominus Flevit, Gethsemane, the Pools of Bethesda and the Roman paving stones under the Sisters of Zion convent.
This Jerusalem Masada Dead Sea 3 day tour is a great fit for first-time visitors, families with kids aged 4 and up, and anyone who wants history and a little sun in the same trip. Masada and the Dead Sea need a full day on their own, and Jerusalem deserves at least two. Splitting it this way means more time at the sites and less time on the road.
Pickup is from your hotel in Tel Aviv at around 07:15 or in Jerusalem at around 08:30, and you are dropped back at your hotel in either city after day 3. You stay 2 nights in tourist class hotels with breakfast, named on your booking voucher. Choose a double, triple or single room, and the booking form shows the exact per person price for your date, room type and pickup city. Masada park entrance with the cable car is paid on the day. Because the hotel nights are pre-paid, the Jerusalem Masada Dead Sea 3 day tour is non-refundable. For a shorter trip, see the Masada and Dead Sea day tour or the Christian Jerusalem 2 day tour, or browse all 3 to 5 day Israel tours. Choose an open date on the calendar and book your seats today.
Highlights
- Three fully guided days with a licensed English-speaking guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem
- Herod's palaces and the siege story on top of Masada
- A float and mud treatment in the Dead Sea
- King David's Tomb, the Sephardic synagogues and the Western Wall
- Underground Herodian mansions and the City of David
- Chapel of the Ascension, Dominus Flevit and Gethsemane
- Pools of Bethesda and the Lithostrotos
- 2 nights in tourist class hotels with breakfast
Itinerary & route
Numbers match the itinerary below. Solid lines are walking legs, dashed lines are drives. Map is for orientation only.
- Day 1Masada and the Dead Sea
- 1
07:15 AMHotel pickup in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem
Pickup from Tel Aviv hotels is at around 07:15, and from Jerusalem hotels at around 08:30. Pickups can start 30 to 60 minutes earlier, and we confirm your exact time the day before. The road then winds down from Jerusalem past the Inn of the Good Samaritan and the sea level marker, with Jericho in the distance.
- 2
Mid-morningHerod's fortress on Masada
Ride the cable car to the summit of Masada, where King Herod built palaces, a bathhouse, storerooms and huge water cisterns. Your guide tells the story of the Jewish rebels who held out here against Rome until 73 CE. The park entrance ticket with the round-trip cable car is paid on the day.
- 3
AfternoonEin Gedi and Qumran
Drive north along the shore past the green oasis of Ein Gedi, where young David hid from King Saul. You also pass Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in hillside caves.
- 4
Late afternoonFloat in the Dead Sea
End the day on a beach at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth. The salty water holds you up even if you cannot swim, and the mineral mud makes a free natural spa.
-
EveningOvernight at your tourist class hotel
Check in to your tourist class hotel, which is named on your booking voucher. Dinner is not included, so the evening is free. Breakfast is served the next morning before day 2.
- Day 2City of David and Jewish Jerusalem
- 5
MorningPickup from your hotel and Mount Zion
After breakfast you are collected from your hotel and look over the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives before driving the Kidron Valley to Mount Zion. At King David's Tomb a velvet cloth with a lyre and crown covers the cenotaph, and visitors pray in separate sections for men and women.
- 6
Late morningSephardic synagogues and the Herodian Quarter
Enter the Jewish Quarter through Zion Gate to visit the Four Sephardic Synagogues, restored after the Six Day War. You pass the Broad Wall from the days of King Hezekiah and go underground to see 2,000-year-old mansions with mosaic floors and ritual baths.
- 7
MiddayThe Western Wall
Stand at the Western Wall, the last remaining part of the walls around the Second Temple compound. There is time to place a prayer note between the huge stones and watch the plaza in front of it.
- 8
AfternoonCity of David and the Gihon Spring
Exit through Dung Gate to the City of David, where digs have uncovered the first Jerusalem from 3,000 years ago. You learn how King Hezekiah's engineers cut tunnels to bring water inside the walls, and finish at the Gihon Spring where Solomon was anointed.
-
EveningOvernight at your tourist class hotel
Return to your tourist class hotel for a free evening. Breakfast is included in the morning before your final day in Jerusalem.
- Day 3In the Footsteps of Jesus
- 9
MorningPickup and the Mount of Olives churches
Your last day starts at the Chapel of the Ascension, where a rock is said to hold the final footprint of Jesus. Nearby, the Pater Noster church marks where he taught the Lord's Prayer, shown on its walls in over a hundred languages.
- 10
Mid-morningDominus Flevit and Gethsemane
Walk down the slope to Dominus Flevit, the teardrop chapel where Jesus wept for the city. Below it lies the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations, with the coats of arms of its donor countries in the ceiling.
- 11
AfternoonBethesda, Saint Anne and the Lithostrotos
Cross into the Old City at Lions' Gate to see the Pools of Bethesda and the Crusader Church of Saint Anne. Below the Sisters of Zion convent you find a Second Temple cistern and Roman flagstones tied to the trial before Pilate. The tour then follows the start of the Via Dolorosa.
- 12
EveningDrop-off at your hotel in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem
After the Old City you ride back in the air-conditioned vehicle. You are dropped off at your hotel in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem at the end of the day.
What's included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem
- Professional licensed English-speaking guide on all three days
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- 2 nights in tourist class hotels
- Breakfast on days 2 and 3
- Free time to float and swim at the Dead Sea
Not included
- Masada National Park entrance with the round-trip cable car: about $32 per person, paid on the day
- Lunches and dinners
- Drinks and snacks
- Optional Dead Sea spa treatments
- Tips for the guide and driver
- Personal expenses and travel insurance
Pickup & meeting point
- Tel AvivFrom $515 per adult
- JerusalemFrom $515 per adult
You choose your pickup city when you book. We confirm the exact pickup time and place by email or WhatsApp the day before the tour.
Tour ends with: Drop-off at your hotel in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem
Know before you go
Pickup and Start Time
Pickup is from your hotel in Tel Aviv at around 07:15 or in Jerusalem at around 08:30. Pickups can start 30 to 60 minutes earlier, and we confirm the exact time the day before. On days 2 and 3 you are collected from your tour hotel after breakfast.
Accommodation
2 nights in tourist class hotels with breakfast. Hotel names and locations are confirmed on your booking voucher. Bring a compact overnight bag, since luggage space in the vehicle is limited.
Rooms and Prices
Prices are per person and depend on room type: double room (2 or more travelers), triple room (3 or more travelers) or single room (solo travelers or anyone who wants their own room). There is one price category, so children pay the same per person rate. The booking form shows the exact price for your date, room type and pickup city. Masada National Park entrance with the round-trip cable car is not included and costs about $32 per person, paid on the day.
What to Bring
- Valid passport (needed every day)
- Comfortable closed walking shoes
- Hat, sunscreen and plenty of water
- Swimsuit, towel and water shoes for the Dead Sea
- Light scarf or shawl for holy sites
- Overnight bag and personal items
- Cash for lunch, the Masada ticket and tips
Dress Code
Men and women must cover knees and shoulders at churches, the Western Wall, King David's Tomb and some museums. Please do not wear shorts on the Jerusalem days.
Physical Requirements
Moderate walking every day. Masada means about an hour on an exposed summit, and Jerusalem includes uneven stone streets, slopes and steps. Do not shave before the Dead Sea visit, and keep the water away from your eyes.
Age and Children
Not suitable for children under 4. Children aged 4 and up pay the same per person rate as adults.
Language
Every day is guided in English by a professional licensed guide.
Cancellation Policy
Non-refundable, because the package includes pre-paid hotel nights. Date changes may be possible on request, subject to availability, so please contact us as early as you can.
Cancellation policy
| When you cancel | Cancellation fee |
|---|---|
| Any time after booking, or no-show | 100% fee (no refund) |
This tour includes flights or accommodation that are booked for you as soon as you book, so it is non-refundable, including no-shows. Border and visa fees are also non-refundable once paid. We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers trip cancellation. If we cancel or materially change the tour, you can choose an alternative date, a credit or a full refund. Read the booking terms.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Jerusalem Masada Dead Sea 3 day tour price include?
The price covers hotel pickup and drop-off in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, a licensed English-speaking guide on all three days, an air-conditioned vehicle, 2 nights in tourist class hotels and breakfast on days 2 and 3. You pay per person, and the rate depends on your room: a double room for 2 or more travelers, a triple room for 3 or more, or a single room if you travel solo or want your own room. Children pay the same per person rate as adults, and the booking form shows the exact price for your date, room type and pickup city. Masada National Park entrance with the round-trip cable car is not included: it costs about $32 per person, paid on the day.
What time is pickup, and from which cities?
You choose Tel Aviv or Jerusalem when you book. Pickup from Tel Aviv hotels is usually around 07:15 and from Jerusalem hotels around 08:30. Pickups can start 30 to 60 minutes earlier, and we confirm your exact time the day before.
Where do I stay for the two nights?
You spend 2 nights in tourist class hotels with breakfast. The hotel names and addresses are confirmed on your booking voucher. Dinners are not included, so your evenings are free.
Can I cancel or change my date?
This package is non-refundable, because the hotel nights are paid in advance as soon as you book. If your plans change, contact us and we will try to move you to another date, subject to availability.
Which days does the tour depart?
The tour departs on set days of the week, and open dates change through the year. Check the booking calendar on this page for the dates available right now.
Do I need my passport, and is there a dress code?
Yes. Carry a valid passport every day, since you may be asked for it at checkpoints. Churches, the Western Wall, King David's Tomb and some museums need modest dress, so cover knees and shoulders. Shorts are not allowed at holy sites, and you may be refused entry if you are not covered.
How hard is the walking, especially at Masada?
The cable car takes you up Masada, but you walk for about an hour on the summit in strong sun. The Jerusalem days involve uneven stone streets, slopes and steps, including steep parts of the City of David and the Mount of Olives. A normal level of fitness is enough.
Can children join this tour?
Yes, children aged 4 and up are welcome. The tour is not suitable for children under 4. Kids pay the same per person rate as adults.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast at the hotel on days 2 and 3 is included. Lunches, dinners and drinks are not, so bring cash or a card for food during the day.
What should I bring?
Bring your passport, closed walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water for Masada. Pack a swimsuit, towel and water shoes for the Dead Sea, a light scarf for holy sites, an overnight bag and cash for lunch, the Masada ticket and tips.
Why book with Booking-Tours
- Local operator in Eilat since 2008Our own office and team on the ground, not a call center abroad.
- Licensed local guidesSmall details, good pacing and real stories at every stop.
- Real people on WhatsAppHelp in English, Russian and Hebrew before and during your trip.
- Secure online paymentPay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay through Stripe.
“We had a great experience during our tour in Petra. Our tour guide, Ahmed, was very friendly and kind…”
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