Destinations in the Judean Desert & Dead Sea
Ein Gedi: An Oasis in the Desert
A lush desert oasis with waterfalls, ibex, and the cave where, according to tradition, David hid from King Saul.
Ein Prat (Wadi Qelt Springs): A Desert Oasis Near Jerusalem
Natural spring pools in the Judean Desert, a 20-minute drive from Jerusalem, where water flows year-round through a desert canyon.
Einot Tsukim (Ein Feshkha): Freshwater Springs on the Dead Sea
A hidden oasis of freshwater pools on the Dead Sea shore, surrounded by desert.
Kibbutz Ein Gedi and the Botanical Garden
A kibbutz botanical garden in the desert with over 1,000 plant species from around the world, including ancient baobabs.
Mar Saba: A Monastery in the Desert Abyss
One of the oldest inhabited monasteries in the world, clinging to the cliff face of a Judean Desert canyon since the 5th century.
Masada at Sunrise: The Iconic Experience
Climbing the Snake Path before dawn and watching the sun rise over the Dead Sea from Herod’s fortress.
Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls
The caves where a Bedouin shepherd discovered the oldest biblical manuscripts in existence.
Ancient Synagogue at Ein Gedi
A Byzantine synagogue with a famous mosaic floor and a curse inscription protecting the secret of Ein Gedi’s balsam perfume industry.
Caves of the Bar Kokhba Revolt
The desert caves where Jewish rebels hid from the Romans during the last great revolt, leaving behind letters, coins, and personal belongings preserved for 1,900 years.
The Dead Sea
The lowest point on earth, one of the saltiest bodies of water on earth, and a geological wonder that is slowly disappearing.
The Dead Sea Works and the Evaporation Pools
The mineral extraction industry that is both an economic powerhouse and one of the causes of the Dead Sea’s shrinking.
Good Samaritan Museum
A mosaic museum on the ancient road from Jerusalem to Jericho, on the site traditionally associated with the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Judean Desert: A Wilderness of Refuge and Revelation
The vast, barren wilderness between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, where prophets sought God, rebels hid from empires, and monks found silence.
Wadi Qelt and the Monastery of St. George
A dramatic desert gorge with a Byzantine monastery carved into the cliff face, on the ancient road from Jerusalem to Jericho.
Explore this site and 65 more in Sacred Steps in the Holy Land
225 pages · The Life, World, and Footsteps of Jesus · Maps, photos, and Scripture references
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