Masada, Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea

Can you do Masada, Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea in one day?

Yes. It is a long but easy day: about 10 hours from Jerusalem and back, with the driving shared between the three stops.

Most itineraries give Masada two to three hours, Ein Gedi one to two hours, and the beach one to three hours, depending on the tour. The self-guided trips give you the most free time at each stop; the guided trips give you the story. Guests on the sunrise trip say there is plenty of time at each stop.

Masada and the beach alone make a shorter, calmer day. The Masada and Dead Sea tour and the fees-included tour both skip Ein Gedi and add a stop at Qumran or a cosmetics shop instead.

How does a Masada, Ein Gedi and Dead Sea day run?

Masada in the cool of the morning, Ein Gedi before noon, and the beach in the afternoon heat.

1. Early morning, leave Jerusalem: pickup at your hotel or a central meeting point such as Abraham Hostel or the David Citadel Hotel. The sunrise trip leaves in the small hours.
2. Masada: up by cable car or by the Snake Path, then two to three hours on the summit among Herod's palaces, the bathhouse and the storerooms.
3. Ein Gedi: a walk up David's stream to the waterfall, about 40 minutes from the entrance, with ibex and rock hyraxes along the way.
4. The Dead Sea: a managed beach with showers and a lifeguard. Float, try the black mud, rinse off.
5. Back in Jerusalem by evening: about 10 hours in all.

The Snake Path before dawn, Ein Gedi and a long float, with transport and the beach paid. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

★ 4.5 · 10 hours · from $106

Explore the Masada sunrise trip → Tour details

How much are the Masada and Ein Gedi entrance fees in 2026?

37 NIS for Masada National Park, 54 NIS for the cable car round trip, 31 NIS for Ein Gedi and about 45 NIS for a private Dead Sea beach.

These are the fees the tour listings quote for 2026. Bring shekels in cash or a card for the ticket offices. If you buy all four yourself, the total is about 167 NIS per adult.

Should you take the Snake Path or the cable car up Masada?

The cable car if you want an easy morning and more time on top. The Snake Path if you want the sunrise and do not mind a steep climb.

The Snake Path zigzags up the east face and climbs about 300 metres. It takes about 40 minutes to an hour on foot and opens one hour before sunrise, when hikers start in the cool. In summer the trails can close during the day because of the heat, and water is easier to find at the top than on the way.

The cable car opens at 8 AM and takes a few minutes. The Masada and Dead Sea tour, the fees-included tour and the guided Ein Gedi tour all go up by cable car; on the first two, the 54 NIS ticket is already paid.

Is the Masada sunrise hike worth it?

Yes, if you are fit and can manage an early start. The sun comes up over the mountains of Jordan across the sea, and you are on top before the heat.

The Masada sunrise trip takes you up and down by the Snake Path in the dark, then on to Ein Gedi and the beach. It needs moderate fitness and is not for pregnant women or people with mobility problems. Masada (37 NIS) and Ein Gedi (31 NIS) are paid on the day.

Jill from the United States put it plainly: "The sunrise hike on Masada was beautiful. Be prepared as it is a challenging climb up but worth it." (Jul 2026). The Masada sunrise times post has the season's times.

What is there to see on top of Masada?

Herod's northern palace on three terraces, Roman-style baths, huge water cisterns, a synagogue and the siege ramp the Romans built.

King Herod built the fortress in the first century BC as a refuge, with palaces, storerooms and cisterns cut into the rock. In the revolt against Rome, Jewish rebels held out here until the Roman siege of 73 or 74 CE. The historian Josephus wrote that 960 people died rather than surrender; archaeologists still debate his account. UNESCO listed Masada as a World Heritage Site in 2001.

Give yourself time at the northern palace, which steps down the cliff edge, and on the western side, where the ramp still leans against the mountain. The Roman camps are visible below.

How long do you need at Ein Gedi?

About one to two hours. The walk to David's waterfall takes about 40 minutes from the entrance.

Ein Gedi is a spring-fed oasis between Masada and the northern beaches. The short trail follows David's stream past pools and reeds to a waterfall, and Nubian ibex often wander close to the path. Rock hyraxes sit in the trees near the road. Wear shoes with grip, because the rocks by the water are slippery.

Flash floods after winter rain can close trails for a day or more. When that happens, operators swap in another stop such as Qumran, guests say. The reserve closes earlier in winter and on Friday, so tours plan it for late morning.

Which Masada and Dead Sea tour should you book?

For everything paid, the Masada and Dead Sea tour. For all three sights with a guide at the lowest price, the guided Ein Gedi tour.

• Masada and Dead Sea tour (from $115): pickup, a guide, the Masada entry, the cable car and the beach included. No Ein Gedi. Up to 40 people; 4.4 from 836 reviews.
• Guided Ein Gedi tour (from $99): a live guide all day and all three sights from the David Citadel Hotel. All fees extra, about 167 NIS. Guests say the guide calls the night before. Up to 30 people.
• Fees-included tour (from $123): late hotel pickup, a licensed guide, the cable car and the beach paid, plus a cosmetics shop stop. Up to 35.
• Bus trip (from $106): self-guided, all three sights, beach paid, park fees on the day. 4.7 from 51 reviews.
• Private tour (from $1,059 per group): up to 10 people, Masada, Ein Gedi and Qumran with your own guide. One review so far.

A live guide at Masada, Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea for the lowest guided price here. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

★ 4.4 · Full day · from $99

Explore the guided Masada and Ein Gedi tour → Tour details

Frequently asked questions