Masada is the single-most visited archaeological site in Israel. It’s a massive fortress built on top of a rugged rocky crag towering over the Dead Sea. Jonathan the Maccabee first built a fortress here in 150 BC and it was later enlarged by Herod the Great. Masada is best known for its role in the Jewish War (66-70 AD) when it was an outpost of Jewish resistance against the Romans.
Most visitors here make the pilgrimage to watch the sunrise. We couldn’t book a hotel near enough to make this possible, so we summited in the mid-morning sun, which was fine because it was a great day for it–not too hot. (There’s only one hotel/hostel inside the National Park. If you can’t book a room here, the closest option is about thirty minutes away. Warning: stay away from the Oasis Hotel!). There are three routes to the top of Masada: a cable car (similar to Palm Sprigs’ tram), the Snake Path and the Roman Path. We wanted to hike/walk and took the Snake Path, which was a relatively easy hike that switch-backs up the mountainside along a well maintained trail. It took us a leisurely hour with plenty of water and photo breaks to make it to the top (although I imagine that if you’re hiking in the summer, it has to be much more difficult).
Once you arrive to the top, you are immediately rewarded with stunning 360 degree views of the Dead Sea, the surrounding valley and the remains of the fortress and Herod’s fabulous palace clinging to the edge of the cliff.
Once you descend, the visitor center is a great place to grab lunch (with an accompanying glass of wine) and to shop–they have a great selection of Dead Sea products and foodstuffs, i.e. honey, wine, spices, teas…(Sorry Nicole, I didn’t buy you anything, nor did I buy myself anything. I was too tired from the hike to shop).
Jen Maan in Amman 
Fabulous, Jen! Thanks for sharing these with us as this is probably the closest we will ever get. We are living vicariously through your adventures. Safe, happy travels and lots of love~ Bud and Jacque
Thanks, Jacque. I’m sure you’ll venture out this way…someday, but in the meantime, thanks for checking out the pictures. Take care, Jen & Raj
Wonderful! I hiked Masada at sunrise a couple of years ago. Beautiful!
Darn I am visitor #2.
You lost that title weeks ago! I’m sending your skull garland (that I completed this morning, thanks to the blizzard) and the ugly doll next week. I wonder if I’ll get anything in return???
I can’t believe that you didn’t buy anything! How could you?
No money!! Saving for a house!!!
Oh, I miss hiking! I’ll have to hike stateside though. LOL. Lassen National Park in July. Can’t wait. Views look great over there!
Where is Lassen National Park? Raj says he’s never been there.
Great photos – it’s hard to imagine a place so dry- yet dripping with history.
Jen the pictures are great as usual and what they wouldn’t do for a tree once in a while.. Not much shade going on.. We just finished our walk and all we got to see were those beautiful sail boats, not much history but lots of beautiflu colors.. Keep up the history lessons, I am almost ready for the test. Dad
Again…………an amazing journey, thanks so much for sharing it. Your photos are breathtaking. What beautiful history. I so enjoy your posts!
Jen, the pictures are wonderful. What a dry, arid place it is. As I read the Bible, I am beginning to see these places through different eyes. I am going to look up Macabees and Masada. Thanks for the history lesson throught pictures.
Love, Mom
Wow! I usually don’t like the dessert much, but that is absolutely gorgeous. Great pictures!
Wow. Stunning! Now I REALLY want to go there!
great pics! love the yoga pose 🙂 What I find fascinating is that this desert makes Arizona’s Sonoran Desert look lush 🙂
Yeah, I totally agree. The landscape here is SO devoid of color. Sometimes I feel like I’m color deprived after living here for almost a year.
don’t know if i’m more impressed with the scenery, the history, the hike up to the fortress (i’ve had friends who tried it in the summer) or the armstand!
You’re too kind. I can’t imagine hiking up in the summer unless you do it before sunrise and then take the tram down.
Wow!!!! I too love the yoga pose! Glad I found your blog!
Thanks! The pictures on your blog are AMAZING! Love the chipmunks!
LOL! Thank you!
Thabks for visiting my blog!!
This post is interesting
I would love to visit…my husband and i have been trying to…since we found out our church went almost 3 yrs ago
We have also just had an study through revelation where we learned about masada!
Crazy story!!!!
You should visit — it was surreal and so rich with history!
So very cool…
It was beautiful.
Masada is my favourite place in Israel. A very peaceful and soul searching place. Thankyou for sharing.