A Desert in the Shadow of the City of Kings

This tour takes you to Jerusalem, “the most fascinating city on earth,” and beyond into the historic hills of the Judean Desert and the shores of the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea, a region in the Land of Israel that has historically served as a refuge for rebels and kings in hiding alike.

In Jerusalem every stone tells a story. This tour covers Christian, Jewish and Muslim theology as well as a bit of history. Hear stories of various conquerors and characters who shaped the city. Jerusalem through the ages had its share of adventurers, swindlers, dreamers, zealots and wannabe archaeologists who didn’t always operated by the book. You are invited on a magical tour of uncovering and discovering Jerusalem’s beauty and mystique.

ITINERARY

Start off your day with a fantastic view of Jerusalem’s Old City from the Mount of Olives before walking down the hill, with stops at the Garden of Gethsemane and Mary’s Tomb, and proceeding to Mount Zion at the doorstep of the Old City. There you will see King David’s Tomb, the Room of the Last Supper and another view of the Old City.

Once inside the Old City, your tour guide will take you through the Jewish Quarter to see sites such as the Roman Cardo, the last remaining wall from the First Temple period and the Western Wall. In the Muslim Quarter, you’ll walk through the authentic oriental bazaar and then along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for a tour of the church, the Golgotha and the tomb.

From the Old City, you’ll head east into the Judean Desert, where you’ll first stop at St. George Monastery in Wadi Qelt and the Qasr al-Yahud Baptismal Site, where Jesus is said to have been baptized by St. John the Baptist, and then at one of the most important archaeological sites in the world, Qumran. It was here that archaeologists uncovered the Dead Sea Scrolls, which shed new light on how Jews lived at the turn of the first millennium.  Your tour guide will tell you the story of the Essenes, a sect of Jews who practiced a mystical form of the religion and were responsible for writing the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Finally, you’ll conclude your tour with a trip to the shores of the Dead Sea, where you can enjoy a dip and float in its salty, therapeutic waters and experience.

DETAILS

Time: Hotel pickups from Netanya (6:30 am), Herzliya (7:00 am), Tel Aviv (7:20 am) and Jerusalem (8:30 am)
Price: $99
What to bring: Comfortable walking shoes, a hat and a bottle of water, proper clothing (covering knees and shoulders) for places of worship, swimsuit and towel for Dead Sea
Phone for more detail and to reserve: +972-72-3281206

ABOUT IRZAHAV AND EVIA RONEN

Tour operator “Irzahav” was founded in Jerusalem in 2010. Irzahav means “City of Gold” and it is one of Jerusalem’s 70 names. Irzahav specializes in boutique and tailored tours in and around Jerusalem.

Evia Ronen, is a tour guide certified by the Ministry of Tourism. He was born and raised in Jerusalem and continues to happily call this special city his home. Full of curiosity since childhood, he has explored the streets and alleyways of Jerusalem inside and out. His love for the unique scenes, the exciting human mosaic and the city’s mystique comes across in his tours. His passion is to share his enthusiasm for Jerusalem with guests to the city.

The comprehensive yet entertaining tours are great for tourists to Jerusalem who want to learn about the city in a unique way from a local who is in love with the city. 

Evia looks forward to hosting you in his beloved city, Jerusalem!

Check out Evia’s Masada tour >>