A Sunrise like no other

5am wake up for our morning hike up Masada to see the sunrise. After a bit of ‘Where’s the path we’re meant to be taking’ and ‘I can’t see where I’m going’ we found the snake path which consisted of about 800 or so steps. We definitely underestimated how hard it was going to be, and how hot we’d get. Certainly no need for those long sleeves! At 6am climbing all those steps for 1h was may I say quite a challenge but wow it was worth it, the sun rise was beautiful and we didn’t miss it like we thought might happen.

Last time I was here in Masada to watch the sunrise it was a cloudy day. So thankful it wasn’t this time.

I couldn’t believe how empty it was. There were only a few others with us but usually this place is packed at this time (considering it’s one of the top things to do and it’s very common to do the sunrise hike). Perks of visiting during low season! We only had about an hour to walk around the site and then head back down for our breakfast buffet – undoubtedly needed after that hike!

After breakfast I planned to go for a swim. No chance that was happening. We were exhausted which calls for one thing – post breakfast nap. Two hours later and we were on the bus to the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve to see the David Waterfall. This is one of my favourite places in all of Israel. The river from the north flows through here creating mini waterfalls and small pools of water which you can get in. This is surrounded by beautiful greenery and deer. Unexpected in the desert but where there’s water there’s life.

Once the sun from this morning started to go back down it was our cue to leave. Headed to Ein Bokek, the hotel region, to do some dead sea shopping in all the factory outlet stores. And then back to the guesthouse after waiting 1h 40mins for the bus to finally arrive.