EXCURSIONS

Jerusalem Excursions

Masada

Situated in the Judean Desert and overlooking the Dead Sea is one of Israel's most popular tourist attractions, the mountaintop fortress of Masada (sometimes spelled Massada). This enduring symbol of Jewish history is the site of the heroic defiance by 967 Jewish Zealots who rose against the Roman Empire in 66 AD and took their own lives when defeat seemed inevitable. A cable car ride or hike up the Snake Path takes one to the top where breathtaking views can be enjoyed over the Dead Sea and the surrounding desert. The Masada Sound and Light Show recounts this dramatic history with special pyrotechnic effects, and takes place in a natural amphitheatre on the west side of the mountain reachable only from Arad.

Website: www.parks.org.il; Telephone: (07) 658 4207/8; Transport: Bus 444 or 486 from west Jerusalem; Opening time: Daily 8am to 5pm (until 4pm from October to March), first cable car at 8am; Admission: Adults: NIS23 (NIS61 including cable car). Children: NIS12 (NIS 34 including cable car)

Jerusalem Excursions

Bethlehem

Bethlehem is just six miles (10km) south of Jerusalem and a major tourist attraction for pilgrims and visitors alike. The birthplace of Jesus, this is a charming town despite its tourist-centred commercialism. The Church of the Nativity is the focal point for a visit to the town, erected over the site of Jesus' birthplace. Bethlehem is also a wonderful place to experience the variety of Christian monastics that represent every permutation of Christianity. Christmas is celebrated on three separate dates in accordance with the Catholic and Western Churches calendars, the Eastern calendar followed by the Armenians and the Julian calendar followed by the Greek Orthodox and Eastern churches. For further exploration of the town's cultural diversity, visit the Bethlehem Museum, established by the Arab Women's Union to celebrate the Palestinian cultural heritage. The exhibits include displays from traditional households to clothing, jewellery and old photographs. (Open Monday to Wednesday and Friday and Saturday between 8am and 5pm, Thursdays between 8am and 12pm).

Website: www.bethlehem-city.org

Jerusalem Excursions

The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea and its immediate environment is a landscape abundant with natural wonders. Most notable of these is the high salt and mineral concentration found in the waters that enable visitors to float effortlessly on its salty surface. The therapeutic properties of the black mud found in the region are formed by a mixture of sea minerals and organic elements. For a completely rejuvenating experience several Dead Sea spa resorts offer a range of health and beauty treatments, and the opportunity to float in the saltiest body of water in the world, and the lowest place on earth. The Ein Gedi Spa is on the western shore. Equally fascinating are the archaeological sites of the Dead Sea region with traces remaining of Persian, Greek, Roman and other civilisations. Notable historical locations include the notorious biblical city of Sodom that was destroyed along with Gomorra. Salt pillars emerge from this eight-mile (12km) geological ridge in the southern part of the Dead Sea.

Website: www.ngedi.com; Telephone: (08) 659 4760 (Ein Gedi Spa); Transport: Bus 444 or 486 from west Jerusalem; Opening time: Ein Gedi Spa open daily 7am to 6pm (Fridays until 5pm); Admission: Ein Gedi Spa: NIS50