Masada and the Dead Sea
Description:
On the Dead Sea you can relax in different ways.
You can spend the whole day on the free beach of Ein Gedi Oasis. The beach is equipped with the most necessary. Toilets are paid. The whole day is hot and boring.
You can go to the conditionally paid and probably the most convenient beach "Mineral". Visiting the Guest Center of the factory-store "AHAVA", you can get a coupon for a free visit to the beach. The beach is equipped with free showers and toilets. On the territory of "Mineral" there are diners and pools with thermal springs.
You can also go to the Ein Gedi SPA Center. Here you will be offered swimming in various pools: fresh and sulfur, massages and various skin care procedures and, finally, a chic lunch. All of this besides swimming in the Dead Sea, of course. Here, you won't miss it, even if you spend all day at Ein Gedi's SPA. The complex is open on all days of the week from 08:00 to 17:00. On Friday and on the eve of the holiday, the SPA closes an hour earlier.
However, the most interesting, in my opinion, option of a trip to the Dead Sea is a swim after an excursion to the fortress of Masada. We will start with a small museum, the amazing exposition of which tells the tragic fate of the fortress.
Climbing the funicular to the top of the mountain, we will visit the residence of the commandant of the fortress, at the “customs” and in warehouses destroyed by an earthquake in the fourth century. We will see what remains of the palace of the Great King and the Roman baths, where he probably visited. We will definitely discuss the ingenious water supply system with its tanks, canals and even specially trained donkeys. Finally, let’s talk about something that still haunts many today: the collective suicide of Masada’s defenders.
Going down, we will proceed to one of the beaches and, dipping into the waters of the Dead Sea, go back.
In the winter months, a photo tour with a trip to the salt marshes is possible.
Photos of salt marshes are kindly provided by the wonderful Moscow photographer Svetlana Horbatykh, who did me the honor of being her guide through the Land of Israel.