Leave your central Jerusalem hotel by air-conditioned coach and travel through the Judean desert, a barren wilderness in the heart of the Israel. Pass the site of the New Testament’s famous parable, the Good Samaritan, and enjoy views of the Dead Sea as you near Masada. Some 2,000 years ago, King Herod chose this remote mountain as the site of two vast fortified palaces. Take the cable car up to mountaintop ruins of the palaces, and set out on a guided tour. Hear about the site’s history as you explore and then descend to drive on to the Dead Sea. As you travel, pass the Ein Gedi oasis and aeons-old settlement of Qumran. Stop to absorb views of the Qumran caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls —around 900 ancient parchments of religious manuscripts — were discovered in the 1940s and 1950s. Continue to the Dead Sea, the salt lake located 1,312 feet (400 meters) below sea level. Enjoy around two hours to relax on a mineral beach and float in the salt-rich waters. If you wish, follow your ‘swim’ with a therapeutic mud bath and perhaps purchase some Dead Sea skin care products (own expense) at duty-free prices. Back aboard your coach, relax on your return journey. On route, trace some of the route of the old Roman road to Jerusalem and enjoy views of the ancient city of Jericho. Your tour ends with a drop-off at your Jerusalem hotel.