Jericho & Dead Sea Day Trip from Tel Aviv: Float below sea level

Stand at the lowest point on Earth, then float in salt water that holds you up

You travel from Tel Aviv through the Judean Desert to Jericho's archaeological layers and Zaccheus' Tree, ride a cable car to Mount Temptation monastery, wade in the Jordan River at the baptismal site, and float in the Dead Sea for an hour. Hotel pickup, guide, and all entry fees are included. The full day runs 10–12 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Jericho and Dead Sea region

• Travel through the Judean Desert
• Visit the Biblical city of Jericho
• Stop at Zaccheus' Tree in Jericho
• Visit the archaeological site Tel Jericho
• Arrive to the top of Mount of Temptation
• Visit Qasr al-Yahud Baptismal Site
• Visit the Jordan River
• Relax and float in the Dead Sea

Stops and time spent at each 5 stops

1. Jericho 1h
2. Zaccheus' Tree 20m
3. Mount of Temptation Monastery Entry included 30m
4. The Baptismal Site on the Jordan River - Kasr El Yahud 40m
5. Dead Sea Region 2h

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Tel Aviv, a professional guide, entrance fees to Tel Jericho, Mount Temptation, Qasr al-Yahud, and the Dead Sea beach, plus air-conditioned transport throughout. You travel through the Judean Desert, visit the archaeological site and Zaccheus' Tree in Jericho, ride a cable car to Mount Temptation monastery, wade in the Jordan River at the baptismal site, and float in the Dead Sea.

Times

Looking for another day or time? ›

• Thursday 07:15

Last departure this season: 30 Nov

Information

Full-day tour from Tel Aviv to Jericho, Mount of Temptation, Jordan River and Dead Sea. Includes hotel pickup, guide, entrance fees and floating time.

Group Up to 40

Live guide English Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. You can choose from 11 pickup points. See the pickup points

Book up to the start time

Ages Adult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Public transport nearby

More information The pickup points, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

4.71 ★★★★★ Excellent 17 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

The experience

The vehicle picks you up at your Tel Aviv hotel and heads east into the Judean Desert, dropping elevation steadily until the landscape turns dry and sculptural. Within a couple of hours you're at Tel Jericho, the archaeological site where the original settlement sits layered under centuries of habitation: your guide walks you through what the excavations have revealed, and you stand where people lived eight thousand years ago. From there it's a short stop at Zaccheus' Tree, the sycamore mentioned in the Bible, gnarled and still rooted in the town center.

Mount Temptation comes next, and you ride a cable car up the cliff face to a monastery perched on the slope, with views that stretch across the Jordan Valley toward the Dead Sea. The air thins and the scale of the desert becomes real. After that, the tour moves to Qasr al-Yahud, the baptismal site on the Jordan River itself. The water is narrow and slow here, nothing like the postcards suggest, but the weight of the place is immediate. You can wade in if you want. Bring a bathing suit and a towel because the next stop is the Dead Sea, where you float on your back without effort, the salt holding you up while the sun beats down and the lowest point on Earth settles around you. Most people spend an hour here, drifting and adjusting to the strangeness of it.

The drive back to Tel Aviv takes the same route in reverse, and by evening you're back at your hotel. The whole day is structured around the geography (you go down, you visit, you float, you come back up), and the guide handles the pacing so you're not checking your phone to figure out what's next. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, as are all entrance fees and the air-conditioned transport, so logistics don't pull your attention away from the landscape itself.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

Do I need a passport for this tour?

Yes, a current valid passport is required on the day of travel.

What should I bring?

A bathing suit, towel, hat, and sun protection. The Dead Sea time is the main reason for the swimwear.

Is the baptism organized by the tour company?

No. The tour visits the baptismal site, but the company does not arrange a baptism with a priest. You can wade in the Jordan River on your own.

How long do we spend floating in the Dead Sea?

Around one hour, though the exact time depends on the day's schedule and group pace.

What is the fitness level required?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. The cable car takes you up Mount Temptation, so no strenuous climbing is needed.

Does the price include lunch?

The inclusions listed are hotel pickup and drop-off, professional guide, entrance fees, and air-conditioned vehicle. Lunch is not mentioned. Confirm with the operator.

Operated by Bein Harim Ltd. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated yesterday