“Of Rebels and Kings”- The Judean Desert: -

 Tour B: This tour will take you to the edge of the Judean Desert where you'll visit such sites as Qumran, Ein Gedi, Masada, and the Dead Sea.  Click for more details.

We travel eastwards into the Judean Desert to the region of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth!   As we travel through the magnificent JudeanDesert, we’ll learn about the Bedouins living in the area and how they follow in the footsteps of Avraham Aveinu.. From here you will view the Jordanian mountains and Jericho. We’ll review the path of the Israelites and the possible location of Moses'  burial site on Mt. Navo in Jordan.  Our first stop will be at Kaiser el Yahud, where the great miracle of God stopping the flow of the Jordan River to allow the Israelites to cross into the promised land of Canaan.  From there we'll continue to Qumran, where the Dead Sea scrolls were found.  Here, we’ll learn a little about the people who lived in this desert, separating themselves from the rest of the Jewish community, and wrote the scrolls. Our next stop is the amazing oasis of Ein Gedi where we’ll go hiking and see waterfalls and pools for swimming (bring your bathing suits and water shoes!!!).   If it looks like we have some extra time, we’ll also stop off to see the Ancient Beit Knesset of Ein Gedi, which will give us a greater appreciation of the Jews who lived in the Ein Gedi area between the 3rd and 6th centuries.  After lunch we’ll head to Masada (the last stronghold of the Jewish resistance against the Romans during the Great Revolt in the years 66-73.  Finally, get ready for an unbelievable experience - floating in the Dead Sea!  The Dead Sea is renowned for its minerals and healing remedies.  How about treating yourselves to the ultimate experience --the spa!  Here you’ll be able to bath in the natural cleansing mud and the sulfur pools.  It’s a fun experience for all ages and you’ll remember it for years to come!    Return to Jerusalem.