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A not-to-be-missed tour to one of the most unique places on the face of the earth – the Dead Sea.
Highlights
- Masada National Park – including a cable car ride to the fortress of King Herod.
- Dead Sea beach and swim
- Qumran Caves
Overview
In addition to being the lowest place on earth, the Dead Sea valley, located in the heart of the Judean desert, offers unique scenery, fascinating history, world heritage sites and last but not least – Sun. A superb SPA resort and an option to enjoy the famous mud bath that will do miracles for your skin.
Joining our small group shore excursion will ensure that you will see more and have enough time on your hands to relax and enjoy this wonderful and unique region.
Tour Description
Our tour guide and mini-bus will meet you in the arrival hall of the Ashdod port, once your ship has docked and according to the time stated after you booked your tour. We will be in contact with the port authority to confirm arrival time. From the port, we will embark on a two-hour drive, passing through Jerusalem and begin our descent through the Judean Desert into the Valley of the Dead Sea. On a clear day, you will be able to enjoy the superb view that stretches well into Jordan.
After about an hour drive, we will enter the great plateau of the Dead Sea and we will officially be in the lowest place on earth.
We will start with a visit to Qumran to discover the city where John the Baptist and his followers made their home.
Next, we will head to Masada. The Fortress of Masada sits atop a table shaped mountain built by King Herod in 31 BCE and is now considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This was the last stronghold of Jewish warriors and their families during the great rebellion against the Romans. After a long siege, the Romans managed to build a ramp up the mountain, and it was clear that the battle was lost. The Jewish rebels then made a communal decision to commit suicide and not fall to the Romans’ sword.
We will go by cable car to the top of Masada, walk through its magnificent ruins, and enjoy its wonderful views.
From Masada, we will continue to the Dead Sea. You will experience the floating sensation of the sea while enriching your skin with nature’s greatest natural cosmetic healing invention. Change into your bathing suit and take your towel as you head towards the salty waters of this unique place, and follow it up with some great photos to take home as you cover yourself in curative muds.
After our refreshing time at the beach, on our way back, we will pass by Jericho, the oldest city in the world and continue to the port in time for your departure or overnight stay.
Included in the tour:
- Luxurious, new, comfortable and air-conditioned mini-bus.
- Top-rated, licensed tour guide with expertise in local history, culture, and nature.
- A small group of 6-16 persons.
Not Included in the tour
- Admissions to sites are extra (payable directly on day of travel)
- Massages and SPA treatments.
- Lunch
- Tips to guide and driver (at your own discretion).
- Other personal expenses.
Additional Information
The tour will last between 8-9.5 hours long.
The drive to Masada may take up to 2 hours.
You will be walking on uneven ground and climbing steps on Masada, so wearing comfortable walking shoes is a must.
We recommend bringing a bathing suit, water shoes or flip-flops, and a towel for the Dead Sea.
Travelers with special needs, (i.e. limited mobility and wheelchair-bound persons) must inform us prior to booking their excursion.
Contact Information
14 days prior to your arrival, you will receive your detailed time schedule and more detailed tour information. If you need additional assistance, our office tour manager is available anytime, please do not hesitate to contact us via:
Email: info@israelcruiseexcursions.com
Phone (also for WhatsApp messages): (+972)54-9301499
Arrival and Meeting Point
Once you book your tour, the tour departure time will be stated on your booking confirmation. Upon arrival at the dock in Ashdod, you will meet our tour guide outside the Reception Hall. Your guide will be holding a sign with your name.
The tour guide and driver will guarantee that you make it back to the port in time for your cruise departure or overnight stay. During the tour, our guide will be in touch with ports and ships authority and will be informed and updated of an unlikely event.
Money in Israel
The Israeli currency is the shekel (NIS). We recommend going to www.xe.com for the most up to date exchange rate closer to departure.
You should be able to exchange money on your cruise ship, but also once you arrive at the port there will be a money exchange counter. We recommend walking around with at least some cash since there might be certain places on our tour that do not accept credit cards.
What to Bring
Here are some basic packing tips for your day tour. If you have more specific questions, please contact us directly.
Weather during the summer is hot during the day (26-32 C/ 80-90 F) and gets cooler in the evenings.
Recommended on all tours to bring a hat, water bottle, and sunscreen. On this specific tour please also bring a bathing suit, water shoes or flip-flops, and a towel for the Dead Sea.
We recommend bringing a small travel bag to store extra clothing and personal belongings.
We are doing quite a lot of walking, so be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes.
Booking The Dead Sea and Masada Tour
This cruise excursion tour from Ashdod is available for all cruise ships that dock in the port of Ashdod throughout the year.
We are doing our best to meet the growing demand for our tours and we will open new groups on request, however, we do urge you to book early and secure your place, especially during peak seasons.
Cancellation Policy
Up to 14 days before the tour there will be no cancellation fee, except for a $10 processing fee.
7-13 days before the tour, there will be a 25% cancellation fee, with the additional $10 processing fee.
2-6 days before the tour, there will be a 50% cancellation fee.
48 hours prior to departure, there will be a 100% cancellation fee.
*If there is an unforeseen circumstance, such as your ship does not dock in our port or for any sort of security reason, you will be refunded the full amount.
We Accept The Following Payment Options
