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Southern District, Israel Outdoor activities

Our most recommended Southern District, Israel Outdoor activities

From Tel Aviv: Masada, Ein Gedi, and Dead Sea Guided Tour

1. From Tel Aviv: Masada, Ein Gedi, and Dead Sea Guided Tour

Embark on a guided tour of the Masada Fortress and take in the sweeping views of the Judean Desert. Travel in a comfortable and airconditioned van to the nature reserve of Ein Gedi before floating in the salty waters of the Dead Sea. Depart Tel Aviv. Be driven through the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea region, the lowest on earth. Heading south alongside the Dead Sea, reach the foot of Mount Masada, the ancient fortress which was constructed in Roman times and is famous as the location of an iconic story of heroism. At 9:00 AM ascend Masada by cable car and explore the site. At 11:00 AM continue to Ein Gedi, a beautiful nature reserve and oasis where you will have a chance to take a short hike or walk through the cooling and beautiful surroundings. After Ein Gedi, continue to the Dead Sea where you will access a private beach and have a chance to float in the famous waters and immerse in the muds that are so famous all around the world. Return to your hotel in Tel Aviv in the early evening.

Eilat Mountains: Sunset Jeep Adventure to Mount Joash

2. Eilat Mountains: Sunset Jeep Adventure to Mount Joash

After pickup from your hotel, head to the jeep gathering point. From this point you'll ascend through the wadi along Nahal Solomon, Rehoboam Nahal, Jehoshaphat Nahal up to 725 meters above sea level on the way to Mount Joash. At a few stopping points, your guide will share stories about the history of the area.  You'll also stop for a little picnic with pita bread with local labane cheese and a cup of herbal tea, before continuing up to the last point of your trip. From this observation point you'll be able to see four countries, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. After visiting Mount Joash you'll head back to your hotel.

From Jerusalem: Full-Day Bethlehem and Dead Sea Day Tour

3. From Jerusalem: Full-Day Bethlehem and Dead Sea Day Tour

Discover the famous old city of Bethlemen and the Dead Sea on a guided day trip from Jerusalem. Swim in the Dead Sea, visit an olive wood factory and see the famous Church of the Nativity. Following pickup in Jerusalem, ride to Bethlehem to meet your guide before heading to the Old City of Bethlehem. Begin with a guided visit to the Church of the Nativity. Next, if availability allows, visit the Nativity Star and the Cave of St. Jerome. From there, head to the Milk Grotto Church, where it is believed that the Holy Family found refuge from the Massacre of the Innocents before they could flee into Egypt. Next, drive to the City of the Shepherd's, Bayt Sahur. In Bayt Sahurt, enjoy a guided visit to the Chapel of The Shepherd's Field, the church where the angels first appeared to the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus Christ. Continue your trip with a visit to an olive wood factory and watch the artisans crafting wooden sculptures. Continue through the Judean Desert to reach the lowest point on Earth. Hop out and take pictures at sea-level in the desert . Continue to the Dead Sea to enjoy the rest of the day, either floating in the rich water or relaxing at the beach.

Eliat: Coral Reef Snorkeling Trip with Instructor

4. Eliat: Coral Reef Snorkeling Trip with Instructor

Snorkel the underwater world of Eliat's colorful coral reefs, and admire the more than 10,000 different kinds of fish, sponges, coral and other sea creatures that live there. Take the option for an underwater photo shoot to take some great memories home with you, if you like. Assemble at the meeting point, and rent or purchase your mask, snorkel, and fins from the local partner's diving center. Then, set off an unforgettable journey to Eliat's coral reefs. Receive brief instructions on swimming techniques and equipment safety rules from your experienced instructor before plunging into the water. Capture the experience by ordering an underwater, digital photo shoot from the diving center, at additional cost. Make fantastic souvenirs with photos of your friends and family with the abundant sealife and vibrant corals in the background. Please note that you cannot touch anything while you are underwater so as not to harm the natural balance. For the same reason, it is prohibited to feed the underwater inhabitants.

From Eliat: Red Canyon Guided Tour

5. From Eliat: Red Canyon Guided Tour

Start with pickup from your hotel in Eilat in a jeep. Travel for 20 minutes to the Red Canyon located in the nearby mountains of Eilat. Upon arrival, enjoy a scenic walk for 90 minutes through the canyon. Learn about the geology and history of the region.  Admire the vibrant pink color of the gorges and discover the various rock formations created by water and wind erosion over millions of years. Take a moderately challenging hike in the direction of Ein Natafim. Finally, take in the beautiful views from the Mount Yoash observation point. See 4 different countries from this unique vantage point, as well as the Gulf of Eilat. Afterwards, be returned to your hotel in Eilat.

Eilat: 2-Hour Glass-Bottom Boat Tour

6. Eilat: 2-Hour Glass-Bottom Boat Tour

Discover the underwater world of the Red Sea without getting your feet wet with this glass-bottom boat tour. Departing from Hananya Beach, travel in the comfort of a boat with all of the luxuries including shaded seating, a snack bar, and sun deck. Spot an array of underwater life such as different species of fish and coral.  Sail along the Gulf of Eilat in a 3-deck ship, with the lower deck located 2 meters underwater for optimal viewing. During your tour, see sights such as the Eilat Coral Reserve, the military port, and the Jordan border. Benefit from an informative commentary from the ship's captain along the way.

Eilat: Camel Safari with Bedouin Meal

7. Eilat: Camel Safari with Bedouin Meal

On arrival at the camel farm, receive a safety briefing and instructions for riding a trusty desert steed. Then, climb up onto your camel and enjoy a ride across the sandy terrain consisting of a circular ride through the beautiful desert landscape of the Eilat Mountains Reserve. Learn how to master the rolling gait and enjoy the views from your elevated perch. After your roughly 1.5 hour ride, return to the camel farm and enjoy a Bedouin tea, made with mint-flavored habak. Sip on the refreshing brew and relax as you chat over your camel ride adventures then sit down to a delicious Bedouin sit-meal. Traditional Bedouin meals usually consist of small plates of food shared between everyone, so expect to dig into tasty dishes such as fluffy Bedouin flatbreads (Bedouin pita made on the spot), labneh cheese, olives and tea brewed from desert plants, unique to Eilat. As you eat, absorb the torchlit setting and desert surroundings - it’s a magical experience!

From Tel Aviv: Masada Sunrise, Ein Gedi, and Dead Sea Tour

8. From Tel Aviv: Masada Sunrise, Ein Gedi, and Dead Sea Tour

After a pre-sunrise departure from Tel Aviv, drive through the rolling hills of the Judean desert. At 5:30 AM, you’ll arrive at Masada, a set of mountaintop fortifications that date back to the 1st century BCE. Hike to peak to watch the sunrise from the summit, painting the surrounding valleys in rich hues. Continue to the En Gedi Nature Reserve, which covers an astounding 3,500 acres. A massive oasis in the desert, it includes vast streams and rivers that spill out from impressive waterfalls. Amble through the mountainous terrain, marvelling at the lush greenery in the heart of the desert. To cap things off, head to the Dead Sea, where you’ll have 1.5 hours to relax. Coat yourself in its iconic black mud, famed for its restorative qualities, and float in the highly saline water. After your time at the lowest point on earth, you’ll head back to Tel Aviv.

From Eilat: Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour

9. From Eilat: Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour

This fascinating four-hour tour will open up the wonderful world of the Arava desert and one of its pearls, Timna.  See bizarre colored rocks, natural sculptures, the blue of the sky and the ocher of the surrounding mountains. Your guide will tell you about the amazing history and geology of this unique place. Inside the park, stop a few times and see the incredible history of the copper-related area. Along the way, see the natural mudflats of sandstone and a few pillars of Solomon, Borg Hill, the famous mushroom and arches. Take your hike at a stop near Lake Timna where you can fill up bottles with colorful sand for a souvenir. From there, head back towards Eilat.

From Ashdod Port: Masada and Dead Sea Guided Day Trip

10. From Ashdod Port: Masada and Dead Sea Guided Day Trip

The moment you disembark from your cruise ship in Ashdod port you’ll be in the capable hands of a professional tour guide. The day begins with a drive south through ever-changing landscapes until you reach the Judaean Mountains. Then enjoy the thrill of the winding road that takes you down below sea level to the lowest point on Earth. We pause for a moment to enjoy the view and take a photo of the sign indicating that we are now going beneath sea level. Our first stop is at Masada, a massive rock outcrop 434m-high (1,424ft). Ride the cable car to Masada’s flat summit where there are incredible views of the desert and the Dead Sea below. Your guide will give you a tour of the remaining structures from King Herod’s palace-fortress. Find out about the history of Masada, and how it served as an untouchable refuge for Herod and later for Jewish rebels. Learn how King Herod built this palace complex in 37BC-31BC, and see mosaics and archaeological remains of a Roman bathhouse, storerooms, guardhouse, palaces, and more. At the end of the Masada tour, you can spend time in the Masada Museum located at the foot of the mount. The museum holds more than 500 artifacts discovered at Masada, and there is an informative movie about Masada’s history. We continue from Masada to Ein Bokek, a hotel and resort area on the shore of the Dead Sea. Here you can enjoy the Ein Bokek beach. The tour will stop for a lunch break either at a restaurant at the foot of Masada or at the beach. Spend the remaining time relaxing on the beach, and enjoying the unique environment of the Dead Sea. Try smothering your skin in the mineral-rich black Dead Sea mud, or float in the hypersaline water. The water is so thick with salt that you can’t sink! The Dead Sea water, mud, and even the Dead Sea sun are known to be therapeutic to the body and soul. After a satisfying day of new experiences, we drive via the city of Arad back to your cruise ship in Ashdod port.

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What people are saying about Southern District, Israel

the guide took us to the mining place from this century, what was very nice experience even before the Timna… then we went to Timna park where we stopped on some nice places, like the ancient mining spots, solomon pillars, the mushroom rock and finally near to the lake to make some color sand bottles. To go by jeep on the main road - with strong wind against you is cool experience. I would prefer to spend little more time on the stops… especially on the solomon pillars and for us personally we would love if the tabernacle tour was included in the trip - or have it as a option. Because of not having time to go to the tabernacle, we visited the park day after on our own.

What an amazing experience!! Our tour guide Yonathan was knowledgeable about any and every topic we could come up with - we learned so much about history, archeology, religion, culture, and general social topics of the area. He was extremely accommodating and helped us tailor our day based on our interests and our needs with our young toddler. We had an incredible day and visit thanks to this private, personalized tour and our wonderful guide! I highly recommend doing a private tour to get the most of your trip

it was very nice dive in the place with many fish and nice corals. The instructor was nice. I payed also for the pictures… the quality wasn’t as was showed me… probably not took with the same camera (and even same place) and I would prepare more pics with fish and corals then only me in the water, but it can be just me. And I understand it is not easy to be taking pictures and videos and to manage non licensed divers :-). All together I have enjoyed it and can recommend the experience.

it was about an hour on the camel and then time to relax while the guide made for us tea and bread on the fire and brought very tasty cheese and vegetables. We really enjoyed it!

Perfect organisation, enough time to enjoy both sites. Short commercial visits, nice to buy small gifts. Don't forget to bring towels and sandals for the beach.