The Judean Desert (also known as the Judaean Desert or Midbar Yehuda in Hebrew) is an amazing desert region in Israel that really should be on your bucket list when making a trip to the Holy Land!
For many of us visiting from more cooler regions, the desert always fascinates – and the Judean Desert is no exception. Actually one of the world’s smallest (about 85km long and 25km wide) but most unique desert regions, the Judean Desert is located to the east of Jerusalem as it heads down into the Dead Sea region, as shown in this map.
Many visitors often just drive through this area on their way to the Dead Sea. But it really is an amazing place to stop in and explore. So amazing that we’ve written up this ESSENTIAL guide to help you get out and about in the Judean Desert! Just as a teaser, expect a stunning rocky desert, with many landscape vistas as in the pics below, plus a whole ton of wadis (or valleys) slicing their way through the desert…in short, breathtaking!
Judean Desert: a little history
The Judean Desert has had an important role throughout history. It was once the main entry route to the Holy City of Jerusalem, and even Moses famously looked out across this stunning landscape from the nearby Moab Mountains of Jordan, just across the Dead Sea from Israel (yes, the very mountains you can see from the top of Masada).
For those of you who love the solitude and serenity of the desert, it might not surprise you to learn that the Judean Desert has also provided an oasis of calm in an area of the world that has never really remained peaceful for a serious length of time.
Those seeking its peaceful serenity have included monks over hundreds of years; they have, in turn, created some stunning cliff-hugging monasteries in the region, including the Monastery of St George and Mar Saba, which can still be seen today. When you see these amazing monasteries, don’t be surprised if you feel tempted to stay and join the present-day monks residing there!
And there are, of course, some biblical stories to ponder; in the Old Testament the Judean Desert was a haven for David during his flight from Saul and when his son Absalom rebelled against him (Psalm 63:1), while in the New Testament, Jesus wandered in the wilderness of the Judean Desert for 40 days and 40 nights. And don’t forget the legendary Mount of Temptation, where the devil tried to tempt Jesus away from God. Yep, that’s a lot of history wrapped up in this amazing little desert!
What to see & do in the Judean Desert
The Judean Desert is seriously a treasure trove of amazing vistas, ancient fortresses and monasteries, and some quite awesome desert fun!
Be prepared for the desert scenery as you exit Jerusalem (without doubt, the most likely route for those of you wanting to explore the Judean Desert will be via Jerusalem), as the difference is quite stark and immediate. We were seriously wowed by the local Bedouins tending their goat herds amid some truly breathtaking desert vistas, only a few minutes drive from the hustle and bustle of Jerusalem city center.
Some of the things we highly recommend you check out in the Judean Desert include (and no, we didn’t include Jerusalem or the Dead Sea, which border either side of the desert):
| 1 | Top of any Judean Desert checklist has to be the magnificent Masada fortress. This mountain top icon is definitely one of the must-see places in Israel, let alone the Judean Desert. And our hottest tip: do the climb at sunrise to get a stunning view of the sun rising over the Moab mountains in Jordan! |
| 2 | The cliff-hugging monasteries of St George and Mar Saba are definite desert wonders that might just leave you speechless. They are fairly easy to get to nowadays, with Mar Saba part of this great Judean Desert Jeep Tour, and St George’s monastery part of the Wadi Qelt hike route (see En Prat below). |
| 3 | The stunning Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, complete with some oasis-like water hikes – including some very special waterfalls – will keep you nice and cool in the stifling desert heat. One for all the family that has long been a personal favorite of ours. |
| 4 | The caves of Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered by a lost Bedouin shepherd boy back in 1946. Without a doubt, one of the most impressive archaeological discoveries of recent times! |
| 5 | The ancient site of Herodium, a hugely impressive tomb that was built back in the first century BCE for King Herod. Definitely worth checking out for the history lovers of you out there! |
| 6 | En Prat, also known as Wadi Qelt, is an amazing place to hike. Once an important source of water for nearby Jericho, this delightful desert canyon is perfect throughout the hot desert months, with cool pools, a flowing spring, and desert fauna to enjoy! |
| 7 | Ein Feshka (or Enot Tzukim), quite probably the world’s lowest nature reserve, is just a few steps away from the waters of the Dead Sea. Well worth a look. |
Judean Desert: where to stay
As the Judean Desert is, well, a desert, you’re not going to have a plethora of boutique Tel Aviv-style hotels to choose from! But, if you love your nature, there are some truly excellent desert accommodation options to base yourselves while exploring the area. We’ve come up with just a few below:
| The National Parks Authority has some great budget-friendly options to stay in these days. If you’re heading to one of the sites listed above, some will have a camping spot available. Your best bet in our opinion: the Masada night camp on the Roman Rampart side (accessible from the town of Arad only). |
| Head to Khan Ein Gedi for some excellent budget-friendly tent accommodation (or head into the kibbutz itself for the more luxury Ein Gedi Hotel). |
| The town of Arad is located on the very edge of the desert and is the alternative route to the western side of Masada (where you can climb up via the Roman Rampart); head there for some finer comforts if you’re not keen on the tenting! There are some decent options here. |
Our recommendations for exploring the Judean Desert
One of the very best ways to explore the Judean Desert is to take this Judean Desert Jeep Tour. It will take you to parts of the desert you can’t normally reach by regular vehicles, and will include some stunning sites like Mar Saba monastery (see the pic below) and even a taste of the Wadi Qelt (En Prat) nature reserve! Definitely recommended, and great value!
If you’re looking to do things solo, try basing yourself in a town like Arad, which is at the very edge of the desert and not too far from the Dead Sea. From here, you can easily head to Masada (the Roman Rampart climb, on the western side of Masada), book yourself a trip to explore the local hiking areas, or just save yourself a lot of hassle and book one of these great little Dead Sea tours.
I’d highly recommend taking one of the tours we’ve included above, as the desert, despite its serenity and peacefulness, is still a place full of mystery and hidden unknowns that even many of the locals have yet to discover. Get yourself an expert alongside you and the Judean Desert will come alive before your very eyes!
