Masada (Horvot Mezada)

Perched high on a sheer-sided plateau, Masada is famous for being the site of a mass suicide by a group of Jewish people who put their religous beliefs and cultural pride before their own lives. Located in the Negev desert on the southern coast of Israel, the fortress was originally built in around 35 BC as a luxurious refuge for King Herod. But it was seized by the Jewish people following a Jewish revolt in AD 66. In AD 72, the Roman army lay siege to Masada and seeing that the Romans would soon breach their defences, the Jewish people chose to take their own lives rather than being captured alive and becoming slaves. The site was excavated between 1963-65 and today many visitors climb the steep, winding ’snake path’ to the fortress to enjoy the beautiful views. A gentler climb from the other side is possible or visitors can opt to take a cable car to the summit. Sunrise ascents are particularly popular.
Air: Ovda Airport (Eilat) or Ben-Gurion International Airport. Rail: Cable Car: A cable car runs from the Masada Cable Car Station at the bottom of the mountain to the summit. Road: Bus: Services run from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Bersheva. Car: Route 3199 (from Arad).