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I love the Judean Desert for so many reasons: It’s full of history with amazing archaeology of cities and fortresses. It’s also full of people living there nowadays: dusty desert cities, Bedouin settlements. Then there’s the awesome nature of it all: the cliffs and dry waterfalls hanging above the dead sea, the occasional winter flash flood that brings so much water to the desert that flowers are in bloom everywhere you look. The Judean Desert plateau sits right on the ridge between civilization and complete and total abyss. It’s truly incredible. This trek has it all and holds in it everything that the Judean desert has to offer us: archaeology, desert cities, Bedouin settlements, views of the dead sea, flowers in bloom, serenity and so much more.
The trek begins in Arad and ends at the gates to Masada National Park, where you can enjoy the stunning fortress that Herod the Great left us. Between these two cities, one modern and one ancient, you’ll meet Bedouin settlements in the Yaelim Wadi (dry river) in the Judean desert plateau, pools of water in the Ta’abia stream (if you’re here fresh after a flash flood), great fauna and flora, and towards the end- the Dead Sea in all its glory. The trek is completely accessible by public transportation and is easily marked. The incredible thing is that you’ll be ascending a total of 1,240 metres (in no more than 25 km!), from Arad to the lowest place on earth!
Trek Summary
Days: 2
Kilometres: 25
Best Season: Autumn to Spring
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Geographical Area in Israel: Judean Desert
The important details you need to know in order to hike this trek:
Detailed map link
Arad to Masada – A trek through the Judean desert plateau
Seasons for Trekking
The perfect time to hike this trek is during December-March, by then the pools will usually be full of water, the weather will be great and you’ll enjoy green scenery in the desert. If these months aren’t an option, the trek is suitable (weather wise) from October to April. Be aware that flash floods do occur in this area during this seasonso make sure to check the weather report before you head out. Do not attempt to hike this trek during heavy rain. Make sure to check seasons in Israel for more information.
Transportation
This trek is easily accessible by bus (and by car)! The trek begins in the desert city called Arad, and ends at the eastern entrance to Masada National Park. You can park your car in the city and come back to the car by bus or taxi at the end of your trek in Masada. If you’d rather use public transportation, you can take a bus from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv to Arad and walk to the beginning of the trek. At the end of the trek, just take a bus from Masada to Jerusalem. For the bus schedule. To get to Arad, just enter Arad, CBS Shopping centre (it’s the central bus station). For the end of the trek enter Jerusalem central bus station for the destination and Masada Centre (not junction) for your starting point. Keep in mind that public transportation does not operate from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening, check out my post how to trek using public transportation in Israel for more!
Water Supply
You may find some pools along the trek in different river beds, but it is not advisable in Israel to drink from springs and pools. This is due to the fact that people swim in them, they may be contaminated by different animals and sometimes by factories that are far from the eye but can contaminate the springs and pools. When you trek in the desert, first of all use your water wisely. You should be carrying at least 4.5 litres per person per full day of trekking (6 if the weather is hot). Keep in mind that you need water for the campsites, for cooking and drinking during the night. On this trek you’ll need to carry 4.5-6 litres, depending on where you’ll sleep during the night (either wild camping near Masada or an organized camp site, right outside of the gates to Masada).
Food
You’ll need to carry your food with you for the two-day trek.
Precautions and Dangers
1. Flash floods - The desert area in Israel is prone to flash floods. The lack of vegetation in the desert and the type of soil makes it hard for water to seep down. When there is enough rain in the desert, it flows on top of the surfaces to the lowest places- river beds. Most of the riverbeds in the desert are dry all year round, except for a few days when it rains. The rivers then come to life, and it is very dangerous to be hiking in a riverbed during a flash flood. In some areas it can be raining even a few kilometres upriver from where you are and the flash flood will come out of nowhere, splashing down the riverbed and taking everything it can with it. The tricky part about flash foods is that the riverbed does not flood gradually, it comes at you at lightning speed. Precautions for flash floods:
a. Check the weather in the destinated hiking area before you leave.
b. Do not attempt to hike if there is a rainy weather report.
c. If you do find yourself in the desert during heavy rain, make sure to get out of any riverbed near you, climb to the highest, safest point you can get to and contact someone for help. If there are flash floods around you, it can keep flowing for hours and even days, contact someone to get you out of there safely.
3. Heat stroke- It can get hot during the day in the desert, even in freezing January. The days are hot and the nights are cold. Make sure to always wear a sun hat, take long breaks in the shade and refreshen yourself in pools and springs along the way.
4. Dehydration- The desert can get really hot, and it is usually very dry. Even during the winter season, remember to drink a lot. Do not take less than 4.5 litres of water with you per day per person. You should wear sunglasses, a hat and a long-sleeved shirt. If you’re feeling dizzy, nauseous or/and have a headache, you’re probably dehydrated. Find a shade to rest and drink your water slowly and gradually.
5. Animals- There aren’t any big dangerous animals in the desert. Beware of snakes and scorpions, especially during the spring time and around your campsite. In the morning shake your boots before you put them on and beware when you pick up rocks.
6. Cell phone reception- About half the trek has cell phone reception, you’ll be coming in and out of cell phone reception areas and sometimes it really depends where you’re standing. If there’s an emergency, just hike up to the highest hill beside you, you’ll probably find reception there.
7. Nature reserves- a lot of the trek passes through some amazing nature reserves. Check out the basic guidelines for nature reserves in my post: how to trek in nature reserves.
If you find yourself in an emergency situation, you can call for help. Call 100 for the police and they can connect you with the regional rescue team. You can also call 101 for medical assistance. The direct number for the rescue team in the Judean Desert region is 054-7431302.
Trail Description
Day 1
From Arad central bus station take a right (east) on Yehuda Street. After 500 metres, you’ll meet Achva street, on your right (there will be a roundabout). Take a right into Achva street, after about 200 metres you’ll meet the Ta’abia stream bed, marked blue (for more on trail marks in Israel).
The trail won’t be properly marked in the beginning, you’ll be walking in between houses, just keep walking downriver, the markings will become clearer as you put more distance between you and Arad.
The Ta’abia stream is really a charming trail. You’ll meet rocky surfaces, a lot of green scenery in the desert (if you’re hiking here after the first flash flood of the season), some small waterfalls and the twists and turns of the small river.
You’ll meet junctions with first a green trail and then a black trial mark, keep following the blue trail leading you downriver. After 5 km, you’ll meet a green trail mark that very quickly becomes red (still taking you downriver). From here on out you’ll be following the red trail mark until you reach Masada (in about 16 km). Once you’re on the red trail mark, you’ll meet the Bedouin settlements of the Yaelim river. You’ll meet camels, goats, hear chickens, maybe some kids running around and waving at you and their dogs. Bedouin dogs can sometimes be a bit aggressive, usually it ends with a lot of barking on their part, but nothing more. If they come to close, pick up a rock and make as if you are going to throw the rock at them, that usually chases them away far enough. It’s fascinating observing from your trail how they live, they may even invite you in for a Turkish coffee or (very) sweet tea!
After about 3 km (from the beginning of the red trail marks) you’ll be entering the nature reserve, and so the Bedouin settlements end there. The Yaelim river will become a bit wider, and after 6 km the trail will lead you out of the river bed (make sure not to miss it! I easily missed it while hiking and immersed in conversation).
For the next 10 km you’ll be hiking on the Judean Desert flat highlands, right before the big drop of the E’etekim ridge overlooking the dead sea. After 8 km on the red trail, you’ll meet a green trail mark that merge with your trail for about 100 metres, take a left – north – on the green trail and after 100 metres a right, back to the red trail marks. During these 10 km the view will be open and beautiful, you’ll see a lot of great flora, maybe some roaming camels and views of the dead sea. These 10 km will be a fairly easy hike, some small ascends and descends.
The trail will lead you to a beautiful view of Masada fortress from the south side, a rare sight! Then the red trail will lead you down an ascent to the river that runs parallel to the fortress. After a 90 metre drop down, you’ll be hiking up river, parallel to the fortress, ascending 50 metres, until you reach the very foothills of the Masada fortress. This is the western entrance to the fortress.
From here, you have a few options.
1. If you got here early enough to enter the fortress, you can finish the trek in one day. Just enter the fortress, enjoy its sites and gems and hike down the snake path to the bus stop near the eastern entrance to Masada.
2. You can wild camp at the campsite that is about 1 km west of the entrance to the fortress (it’s marked on the map as unofficial campsite, in Hebrew only). If this is your choice, you should fill up your water bottles at the entrance to the national park. The next day you’ll have to walk back to the entrance.
3. Camp at the Masada West night camp. This campsite sits on the entrance to the national park and is an official campsite, so you’ll find restrooms, showers, electricity, water taps, and a kitchen. You can sleep here in your own tent for 55 nis, a person. You can also camp inside their tents or rooms. For more information check out Masada National Park.
Day 2
Day 2 is all about enjoying Masada. It’s a beautiful fortress that was built by Herod the Great, who was said to be super paranoid and he built himself a fortress in the middle of the Judean desert if he ever needed to flee from enemies. It was also a great winter home! Later on in history, during the Great Revolt, the place was inhabited by the last of the Jewish rebels who revolted against the Roman Regime, in 67 AD. They lived here in the fortress for 3 years, in the year 70 AD Roman soldiers besieged the fortress and most of the rebels committed suicide. The amazing thing about the fortress is that because it’s situated in a very dry desert, so many artifacts survived beautifully and even after 2,000 years you can find mosaics, standing walls and painted plaster on the walls. It’s incredible, archaeologists even found 2,000-year-old date seeds! After you visited all they very known places: the synagogue, mosaics, water cisterns and the Mikveh (ritual bath), I recommend making the effort and going down the northern steps that will lead you to the unbelievable Herod Palace. It has amazing views and it sits right on the very cliffs of Masada!
After you’ve enjoyed the site, you can either hike down the snake path or pay to take the cable car down. Both will lead you to the eastern entrance to Masada.
From here you can walk to the bus station at the roundabout.
Make sure you get to Masada early, so you have time to roam around and enjoy the popular fortress. For opening hours, fees and more information check out Masada National Park.
Hope you enjoyed the trek, I would love to hear your thoughts about it! Contact me here! or comment below.
*Disclaimer*
It is the responsibility of the users of this website to be prepared for all possible conditions while trekking in Israel. Beware that conditions of trails may change day to day and season to season. All users of this website and its information assume full responsibility for their actions and judgments while trekking. The owner and authors of this site disclaims all liability including that of accident, loss, injury, or any other damage that may be sustained by anyone using the information contained on this website.