Israel Package Tours
Jewish Jerusalem and Masada 2 Day Tour
- 2 days
- Pickup: Tel Aviv, Jerusalem
- 4.4/5 company rating on TourRadar
- Duration2 days
- Starts07:15 AM, hotel pickup
- GuideEnglish
- Group sizeUp to 45 travelers
- CancellationNon-refundable: this tour includes a pre-paid hotel night.
Overview
Trace 3,000 years of Jewish history from King David's city to Herod's desert fortress on this Jewish Jerusalem and Masada 2 day tour. One day takes you to Masada and the Dead Sea, and the other goes below the streets of Jerusalem to the Herodian mansions, the Western Wall and the City of David. A licensed English-speaking guide leads both days, with hotel pickup from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem and one night in a tourist class hotel with breakfast.
Day 1 heads down into the Judean Desert. You ride the cable car up Masada, walk through Herod's palaces and the ancient synagogue, and learn why the rebels' last stand still means so much in Jewish culture. After views of Ein Gedi and the Qumran caves, you float in the Dead Sea. Day 2 starts on the Mount of Olives and continues to King David's Tomb on Mount Zion, the four Sephardic synagogues, the Broad Wall and the underground Herodian mansions, then the Western Wall, the City of David and the Gihon Spring.
The Jewish Jerusalem and Masada 2 day tour is made for travelers who want the story of the Jewish people told in depth: families planning a bar or bat mitzvah trip, Jewish heritage travelers, and history lovers. Masada and the City of David each deserve a full, unhurried visit, and the desert heat makes doing both in one day hard work. With a night in a hotel between them, you see more and rush less.
Pickup is from your hotel in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. The price is per person and changes with your room choice, double, triple or single, and the booking form shows the exact price for your date and pickup city. Because the package includes a pre-paid hotel night, it is non-refundable. Want even more time underground? See our City of David tour in Jerusalem, the Jerusalem and Dead Sea day tour, or the private Jerusalem tour. Check the calendar and grab your seats on the Jewish Jerusalem and Masada 2 day tour.
Highlights
- Cable car ride up Masada and a tour of Herod's fortress
- The story of the rebels' last stand and its meaning in Jewish culture
- A float in the Dead Sea, about 10 times saltier than the ocean
- King David's Tomb on Mount Zion
- The restored Four Sephardic Synagogues and the Broad Wall from King Hezekiah's time
- Underground Herodian mansions with mosaics and a ritual bath
- Time to place a prayer note at the Western Wall
- The City of David excavations and the Gihon Spring
- 1 night in a tourist class hotel 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, the Last Stand, and the Dead Sea
- 1
07:15 AMPickup in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem
We pick you up at your hotel in Tel Aviv at around 07:15 or in Jerusalem at around 08:30. Pickups may begin 30 to 60 minutes earlier, and you will get your exact time the day before. Carry your passport for checkpoints on the desert road.
- 2
MorningBelow sea level in the Judean Desert
The road falls steeply from Jerusalem into the Judean Desert, past the Inn of the Good Samaritan. At the sea level sign you stop for a view across the wilderness toward Jericho, the first city Joshua's tribes conquered in the Promised Land.
- 3
Late MorningHerod's fortress on Masada
Drive along the white, salt-crusted shore to Masada and take the cable car to the top. Walk through Herod's palaces, bathhouses, storerooms and huge water cisterns, built as a luxury refuge in the middle of the desert.
- 4
MiddayThe synagogue and the siege
Stand in one of the oldest synagogues ever found and hear the story of the siege of Masada. For three years the rebels held out against Rome, until the legion's ramp reached the top. A fragment of Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones was found here, and the phrase Masada shall not fall again is still part of Israeli identity today.
- 5
AfternoonEin Gedi and the Qumran caves
Heading north, you pass Ein Gedi, the spring-fed oasis where David hid from King Saul. Then come the Qumran caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest known copies of the Hebrew Bible, were discovered.
- 6
Late AfternoonFloat in the Dead Sea
Finish the day on a Dead Sea beach, about 10 times saltier than the ocean and the lowest place on Earth. Lie back and let the water hold you up, then rinse off and enjoy the afternoon light on the Moab Mountains.
-
EveningOvernight at your tourist class hotel
Check in at your tourist class hotel and enjoy a free evening. The hotel name and location are confirmed on your booking voucher. Breakfast is served the next morning before you head out for Jerusalem.
- Day 2Underground Jerusalem and the City of David
- 7
MorningMount of Olives and the Kidron Valley
After breakfast, start with the view from the Mount of Olives over the ancient Jewish cemetery to the Temple Mount, where the Second Temple stood until 70 CE. Driving down the Kidron Valley, you see the tombs of Absalom, the priest Zechariah and the sons of Hezir.
- 8
Late MorningKing David's Tomb on Mount Zion
Visit King David's Tomb on Mount Zion, where a cenotaph draped in velvet and embroidered with a lyre and crown honors the king. Men and women pray in separate sections, and you are welcome to pause for a quiet moment.
- 9
MiddaySephardic synagogues, the Broad Wall and Herodian mansions
Through Zion Gate you reach the Four Sephardic Synagogues, left in ruins after 1948 and fully restored after the Six Day War. Walk the Cardo, see the Broad Wall built in King Hezekiah's time, and go beneath today's streets to the Herodian mansions with their mosaic floors and ritual bath.
- 10
Early AfternoonThe Western Wall
Arrive at the Kotel, the Western Wall that once enclosed the Second Temple compound. Take time to pray, reflect or tuck a written note between the 2,000 year old stones.
- 11
AfternoonCity of David and the Gihon Spring
Leave the Old City through the Dung Gate to the City of David, the original Jerusalem from about 3,000 years ago. See how the Canaanites and King Hezekiah cut tunnels to bring water inside the walls, then rest at the Gihon Spring, where Solomon was anointed king. It is a fitting place to close two days of Jewish history.
- 12
EveningDrop-off in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem
Your driver takes you back to your hotel in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, usually arriving in the early evening depending on traffic. Expect tired legs and a camera full of photos.
What's included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem
- Professional licensed English-speaking guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- 1 night in a tourist class hotel
- Breakfast on day 2
Not included
- Masada National Park entrance with the round-trip cable car: about $32 per person, paid on the day
- Lunches and dinners
- Drinks
- Tips for the guide and driver
- Optional Dead Sea spa treatments
- Personal expenses and travel insurance
Pickup & meeting point
- Tel AvivFrom $329 per adult
- JerusalemFrom $322 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 in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem
Know before you go
Pickup and Start Time
Hotel pickup at around 07:15 in Tel Aviv or 08:30 in Jerusalem. The pickup window can open 30 to 60 minutes earlier, and your exact time is confirmed the day before. Day 2 starts at your overnight hotel.
Accommodation
1 night in a tourist class hotel with breakfast. The hotel name and location are confirmed on your booking voucher.
Rooms and Prices
The price is per person and depends on room type: double (2 or more travelers), triple (3 or more travelers) or single. Children pay the same per-person rate. The booking form shows the exact price for your date, room type and pickup city.
What to Bring
- Valid passport for both days
- Sturdy walking shoes with good grip
- Hat, sunscreen and at least 1.5 liters of water
- Swimwear and towel for the Dead Sea
- Modest clothing for holy sites on day 2
Dress Code
Knees and shoulders must be covered for men and women at King David's Tomb, synagogues and the Western Wall. Shorts are not allowed, and entry may be refused if the dress code is not followed.
Physical Requirements
Moderate to active. Expect 1 to 2 hours of walking in strong sun on Masada and 3 to 4 hours on day 2 on uneven stone streets, stairs and slopes, including steps down to underground sites.
Age and Children
Not suitable for children under 4.
Language
Guided in English by a licensed professional guide.
Cancellation Policy
Non-refundable, because the package includes a pre-paid hotel night. Date changes may be possible on request, subject to availability. Please contact us.
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
How much does the Jewish Jerusalem and Masada 2 day tour cost?
Pricing is per person and depends on your room type: double room (2 or more travelers), triple room (3 or more travelers) or single room for solo travelers or anyone wanting their own room. Children pay the same per-person rate. The booking form shows the exact price for your date, room type and pickup city. The price covers hotel pickup and drop-off, a licensed English-speaking guide, an air-conditioned vehicle, 1 hotel night and breakfast. Masada entrance with the cable car is an extra of about $32 per person, paid on the day.
What are the pickup times?
Pickup is at around 07:15 from hotels in Tel Aviv and around 08:30 from hotels in Jerusalem. Pickups can start 30 to 60 minutes earlier, and we confirm your exact time the day before. On day 2 the tour leaves from your overnight hotel after breakfast.
What kind of hotel is included?
One night in a tourist class hotel with breakfast. The hotel name and location are confirmed on your booking voucher.
Is the tour refundable?
No. Because the hotel night is paid in advance, the package is non-refundable once booked. Contact us if you need a new date and we will do our best to help, subject to availability.
Which days does the tour depart?
The tour currently departs on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Open dates vary through the year, so check the calendar in the booking form.
Do I need a passport, and how should I dress?
Yes, carry your passport on both days because the Dead Sea road passes checkpoints. Men and women must cover knees and shoulders at King David's Tomb, the synagogues and the Western Wall, and shorts are not allowed. Paper head coverings for men are available at the Western Wall.
How physically demanding is it?
This is an active tour. Masada's summit involves 1 to 2 hours of walking in the sun, and day 2 has 3 to 4 hours on stone streets, stairs and slopes, including steps down to underground sites and the hill of the City of David. Good walking shoes are a must.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Children aged 4 and older can join. The tour is not suitable for children under 4. Kids pay the same per-person rate as adults since prices are based on hotel rooms. It works well for families marking a bar or bat mitzvah in Israel.
Are meals included?
Breakfast on day 2 is included. Lunches, dinners and drinks are not included, and your guide makes stops where you can buy food.
What should I pack?
Pack your passport, a hat, sunscreen, plenty of water, swimwear and a towel for the Dead Sea, and sturdy shoes with good grip for Masada and the City of David. Bring modest clothes for day 2 and an overnight bag.
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…”
N. M., Mexico · Trustpilot
