Masada Travel Guide

Masada is a World Heritage ancient fortress atop an isolated rock plateau in the Judean Desert west of the Dead Sea, with near-vertical walls overlooking the desert and the sea - precipitous and spectacular. About two thousand years ago King Herod built a lavish palace-fortress on top - the three-tiered Northern Palace, luxurious baths, giant cisterns and storerooms; the ruins are still clear and grand in scale, and carry the memory of an ancient fierce siege. You can summit by cable car or hike the steep Snake Path; the classic experience is to climb before dawn and watch the sunrise over the Dead Sea and desert. Winter and spring (Nov-Mar) are cool and good for climbing, while the desert summer is scorching and an extremely early ascent is needed. Often visited together with the Dead Sea.