Whether you’re using Tel Aviv or Jerusalem as a base, there are a lot of places you should discover in Israel outside of these two cities. When I was in Tel Aviv I went for a day trip with Abraham Tours. I participated in the Masada, Ein Gedi and Dead Sea tour which was amazing! I’m not a big tour person but I had no complaints about this one!
If you’re planning a trip to Israel and you’re thinking about organizing tours while you’re there, you should check out the several options offered by Abraham Tours. They have many tours from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as well as short trips to Jordan. Check out their website for more information!
My alarm was set for 5 am. This would be quite an early morning especially since I wouldn’t be able to get a coffee that morning. I was pretty excited about the Dead Sea. I’m pretty sure every single person on Earth has heard of it. I had Googled quickly Masada as well as Ein Gedi. It looked pretty. I was excited as I wasn’t well prepared for my trip to Israel. This day trip sounded exciting and as I’m not a huge planner, it was going to be great!
Day Trip from Tel Aviv: Masada
Masada Day Trip
During our day tour from Tel Aviv, we did a few stops! Our first stop was Masada. As we drove down from Jerusalem we could see the landscapes change. Suddenly we were in the middle of the desert. It took a while for us to be able to see the Dead Sea. The views were surely promising.
I’ve seen the Grand Canyon before but this was totally different. (Yes, I just did compare Israel to the Grand Canyon – sorry!) The desert in the Middle East does sound a lot more appealing, interesting and probably more exotic!
There are two ways to get to Masada National Park when you reach the parking lot. You can climb up the hill (which should be done in the morning as the heat will surely burn you alive) or you can take the cable car (which isn’t very impressive considering the number of people that will share the cable car with you). Of course, the cable car option is a bit more pricey.
Sunrises seem to be pretty popular in the area and so is camping. You can check out the sunrise option as Abraham Tours does offer this tour too. As I was on a tour, we opted for the cable car. The views up there were absolutely breathtaking.
Masada National Park, Israel
You can easily spend 1-2 hours up there.
Price: Entrance and cable car round-trip: NIS 74, entrance only: NIS 20.
Tips: Bring a bottle of water and put a lot of sunscreen on. You can fill up your bottle up there and buy a snack on your way out.
Day Trip from Tel Aviv: Ein Gedi
Day trip to Ein Gedi from Tel Aviv
Our second stop was Ein Gedi. The heat was killing me already and I was looking forward to freshening up. We got welcomed by the goats climbing trees at the entrance. It was lovely to watch them. Then, we climbed up for a bit until we took a break to relax in the natural pools created by the waterfalls. Being surrounded by this kind of scenery made me feel so privileged.
It was truly beautiful!
It’s a great area to enjoy a picnic or lunch outside. There’s also a little shop at the entrance where you can buy a snack or an ice cream. Other than that, if you have more time, you should consider going for a hike as the area is worth the walk!
Ein Gedi Tour
You can easily spend 1-2 hours over there or even more if you’re not in a rush!
Price: the entrance costs NIS 28.
Tips: Bring your swimsuit, water and a snack. You can also fill up your bottle over there or directly from the source.
Day Trip from Tel Aviv: The Dead Sea
Dead Sea Trip from Tel Aviv
I had high expectations for the Dead Sea. It was absolutely different from what I expected. From the bus I truly enjoyed the views and it looked pretty amazing. I was even able to spot some natural pools with blue-ish water!
Although, once we got to Kalia Beach it was totally surprising. I didn’t expect a proper beach, sun chairs and ropes to limit the perimeter of the swimming section. Even though it was different from my expectations, I went into the water anyway – I had to!
I started laying back and I floated instantly. It was a weird feeling and it was fun!
The water felt oily, salty and weird. It was super slippery. It was even burning my skin but it was worth it!
Travel from Tel Aviv to Dead Sea | Photo by Or Kaplan
Rate: the entrance costs NIS 35.
Tips: Bring your lunch and water. Bring your flip-flops, the ground will be burning hot. Ladies, do not shave your legs in the morning if you want to avoid pain later!
Day trips from Tel Aviv to Dead Sea | Photo by Or Kaplan
If you are planning on renting a car to drive around Israel then you should look out for Ein Bokek (close to Crowne Plaza Dead Sea Hotel) and check out this cute little island in the middle of the Dead Sea. This spot was pretty unique although the water felt even saltier and harsh! Be careful out there! Bonus: this spot is free!
Photo by Or Kaplan
Check out these cool things to do in Israel!
Disclaimer: I was invited to Israel by Vibe Israel and I partnered up with Abraham Tours. As always, all opinions are my own! Happy travels!
