Judean Desert Jeep Adventure From Jerusalem

Journey across the rocky Judean Desert from Jerusalem. Apart from an adventure, you will see the cave where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered by a Bedouin shepherd boy. Apart from the numerous caves, there are many ancient monastic ruins dating back to the early Christian period.

A great half a day getting to places that I would not have been able to get to on my own. Our guide, Ami, was very knowledgeable, friendly and professional (not to mention a great driver) and really made the trip interesting whilst giving us all the information we needed. Would highly recommend this trip.

Our tour operator was very knowledgeable, fun, and brought us fresh watermelon. I’d recommend using them directly. This trip was excellent and we LOVED our guide, but it was not what was advertised, what we expected, or for what we paid. We expected a full day tour including the following: What To Expect (1) Mount Azazel; (2) Judean Desert; (3) Mar Saba Monastery, (4) Nabi Musa (5) swimming in Ein Prat Nature Reserve (Wadi Qelt) We ended up on a 4 hour tour that only included 1-3. The tour service contracts through a third party that contracts with Viator, and so the tour guide was told to curate a 4 hour tour with none of the above details. He did his job very well, but Viator screwed it up. We also expected to go inside of the monastery, but instead viewed it from across the canyon because women are not allowed inside. This should all be spelled out in the description and properly planned with the tour operators.

This was AN OVER THE TOP EXPERIENCE, our trek to the desert had a tremendous visual and educational impact on us. Our knowledgable guide Nir brought thousand of years of history alive to us.

Our driver was an excellent guide with a hilarious personality and much personal experience doing this trip. With his 4x4 jeep, he had just the ride mix of safe yet white - knuckle driving. =)

Excellent experience. We really enjoy this tour. From start to finish we had a very professional service.

Excellent driver,felt safe would recommend .Our driver was very knowledgeable of the landscape. Spectacular views

The guides were very knowledgeable and brought us to beautiful sites. Went to Mar Saba monastery and Wadi Qelt.

This Jeep Tour was fascinating, the tour guide very friendly (he made mint tea for all in the middle of mountains), and the historic sites were breathtaking.

Okay I'd like to say that every Abraham Tour is terrific, but they're actually very varied though always reasonable. However this one, we loved. It would be hard to do this tour yourself and might not even be safe depending on the condition of the terrain. Besides you'd miss the real insight into the Bedouins that Sacheed provided. He's great. As for Mar Saba...what an unexpected marvel in a spectacular setting! Truly one of the most fabulous sights I saw in Israel...up there with some of the world's more well-known landmarks. Set in an isolated hillside in the Negev desert this ancient Greek Orthodox monastery is a wonderful to behold. The color blends in with the curved landscape... part cave-dwelling part ancient ruins and part magnificent multi-layer structure climbing the hillside. Its presence seems positively mystical. The best view is from the israeli-controlled West Bank (I believe it's area C) if you off road into the desert, past Bedouin lean-to houses and long floppy-eared goats and young herders on their donkeys. But if you want to enter the monastery, and women can't, you have to do that from the palestinian-controlled side. Don't miss it! Wadi Qelt was also lovely although it was a little cold for a swim, you can put your feet in and then have the small fish peck at the dead skin. You can also watch local rock climbers scale the canyon. I do wish we had a little more time the climb up to the small monastery and hike. I think they could have added an hour to the tour and gotten us back at 4.

It was truly a wonderful tour. Ami, guide and driver was very knowledgeable. We were not rushed which helped in letting us feel the surrounding. It was a worthy experience.

it was fantastic! we went through the mountains met some tribe people who lives in the desert. One of them offered us tea and it was really good. Visit the Mar Saba Monastery and it was beautiful. Awesome trip.

This was one of the best tours (if not the best) that I did during my three weeks in Israel. We were around 12 people in 2 jeeps and not only had a lot of fun but also learnd a lot about Israel, the (so called) Westbank and the not always easy living together between Palestinians and (Jewish) Israelis. Wadi Quelt was not quite as spectacular as I had hoped, but the monastery was absolutely worth seeing - and the trip to get there was very, very interesting and a lot of fun at the same time. My suggestion: It would be nice if the tour started earlier in the morning. When we arrived at the monastery at noon, the light for taking pictures was unfortunately very unfavourable.

Everything has been simply perfect. The desert views are beautiful, I still have those unique moments in my mind. Nir, our guide, was amazing. He is a very expert guide, with wide knowledge in history, geography and geology. I warmly recommend this tour.

Great jeep tour with Nir and sakshi (I totally spelled this wrong, but they ate partners on this tour). They were knowledgeable, entertaining, we saw the best sites and swam in a natural spring! They brought watermelon which was a great treat in the desert! They also made great coffee when we got done swimming. They keep the groups small so you get to know each other and have individual attention, Highly recommend this tour! It was a great day!!

We had two jeeps as there weren't many participants. In which case it's not too tight to fit in the car. I think the morning section in the desert is very interesting as guide will provide you with sufficient information regarding the area, the history and life of Bedouin. But the afternoon section to the Ein Prat nature preserve is not interesting because there's anything special there. You can't really swim in the river as the water is low. You can only get a dip.

Myself (21), my sister (20), and our friend (22) decided to book this trip on a whim while staying at Abraham hostel. The tour sets off from Abraham hostel and goes into the Judean desert where we hear about the history and landscape of Israel from our tour guide Nir. He was super great and knowledgeable about answering questions on anything and everything. Our group actually took two jeeps and our other drive Boaz was also super fun and willing to answer any and all questions. The desert was really cool and beautiful to see. We also saw a monastery and learned about the monasteries in the region. Then we cooled off in the En Prat Springs which was super refreshing after the hot day. I would absolutely recommend the tour it was only about $98 and was a super fun, off the beaten path activity to do as a group.

We went with 3 jeeps, it was a bit busy because of passover holiday. Besides of the amazing views and incredible off road track, our guide Nir made the experience complete with his geographical and political knowledge combined with an eye for religion in relationship with the desert. Also our driver Boaz was very nice, knowladgeable and entertaining. Thanks again guys for the nice tour, greetz Hester and Elizabeth

If you are looking for something very different , exciting and fun , this is it. . Guide, nil was amazing. A great day

The tour was very well organized. The drivers/guides were the people with passion who love what they do, love the desert and nature. The tour was an excellent mix of historical knowledge (on ancient Judaism and Christianity, Beduin life on the desert), experiencing nature and time for fun in the waters of the springs of Ein Prat National Park.

Overall the Jeep tour was ok. Driver was very careful on some dangerous turns and hills. Morning part of tour was very interesting. Biggest problem on this tour was the very poor quality of the jeep. I realize that we go over difficult terrain and that the jeeps can get very dusty. Our Jeep was old, had torn seats, my seatbelt in the middle of 2nd row did not work and driver could not fix it. There was no air conditioning in the hot desert. This could be a very good tour if Abraham Tours invested in some new or at least decent jeeps. This one was falling apart and was probably at least 20 yrs old. Try wiping it around and cleaning the floors (empty pop bottles) before your guests board. The hour at the gas station having a lousy lunch was also a waste of time. Just my honest opinion.

Not only did our small group get to experience stunning views of the desert and the Mar Saba monastery, the off-road jeep ride was also quite fun and we were very lucky with our guide Nir Friedman: He told us a lot about the origin of the desert and explained the importance of certain places there for christianity, islam and judaism. He is also clearly very talented in entertaining a very diverse group of people who don't know each other - at the end of the trip we parted as friends. His skills as a DJ should be mentioned as well - I still can't stop listening to the Neil Young-songs he introduced us to! All in all it was by far the best tour I've taken in Israel and I would gladly do it a second time whenever I come back! It was well-organized and Nir is just an amazing person, guide and driver.

Greatest guide ever! Small group! Cool car - and so much to see, so much to learn in the amazing desert. We had an amazing day out there.

Took this trip the day before a longer tour of Israel. It added a dimension to my Israel experience by getting immersed in the arid sun baked areas just outside the relative lushness of Jerusalem. Five of us in one jeep, well air conditioned, Ami was an instructive guide as we learned how water was harvested by nomads, some exciting moments on steep declines and rough tracks put us in touch with the raw countryside. The vistas of the monastery were stunning and the landscapes well worth it. A good value trip - strongly recommend.

One of the best tours I've taken in Israel. The guides were amazing and the scenery spectacular. It was so nice to get out of the city and spend time in the desert to learn more about the land of Israel.

The Judean Desert tour was wonderful. Our eyes were opened to the wonder of the desert and insight into the country of Israel. Thanks to our guide Nir Friedman who made this a once in a life time experience.

Our guide was great and gave some really good background to some of the places we visited. The scenery was beautiful and we really enjoyed Wadi Qelt.

<p>We didn't go to the monastery at all, camping on the other side of the creek. The guide wasn't a Christian, so he had nothing much to say about the Monastery.</p>

It was wonderful to see the desert after being in the city. Our driver was fabulous and answered any question to the best of his ability. Some of the roads are very rough. Be warned!

<p>we see the monastery from far away, a lot of road for nothing</p>

<p>This was a most Outstanding Tour !!! Our Guide, Nir, conducted a most enjoyable Trip....he is very passionate about the Israeli Desert and showcased it very well blending historical sights as well as contemporary issues...we covered a lot of ground in tricky Terrain but his driving was Fantastic...we would love to do this Tour again !!!</p>

<p>This tour is a nice break from busy Jerusalem and visits many sites of historical and geological significance. Being a small group tour there is a better sense of intimacy which suits the setting.</p>

<p>An outstanding experience. Words can't express how amazing this experience was. Imagine going off road, interacting with bedouins. Finding a hidden spring in the desert and having a sheep and goats wander up. Highly recommended.</p>

<p>The best experience of our whole trip according to our three teenage boys. Zaki, our driver, made it really fun!!</p>

<p>I think that on the whole it was a positive tour experience, as you do get off the beaten tourist path and get to see some great views of the desert and the monastery. The tour guide's ability to drive a Landrover and navigate through the desert was definitely commendable - a lot of tricky and sharp twists and turns. However, Wadi Qelt fell way short of my expectations - we were taken to a very small stream which was hardly big enough for anyone to jump in and swim. Also, the tour guide mentioned at the start of the tour that we were due for a long day and a very long drive to the desert - but the tour ended at about 3.10 pm that day and the drive to the desert was less than half an hour, which left me wondering if his representation was simply due to language issues or otherwise. That said, I did appreciate the tour ending at the time it did because it gives you a couple of hours in Jerusalem before the start of Shabbat note that the tour takes place on Fridays.</p>

<p>I was in Israel for just a few days with my brother to celebrate our nephew's wedding. It was my second visit to Israel, my brother's first. We tried to fit in as much as possible in the short time that we had. This trip is right up there as of of our favorite highlights. The off-roading was exhilarating, the sights unimaginably spectacular and our guide Mir was the perfect guide to lead us on this adventure. He is charming, funny, fascinating and insightful. His knowledge of history, culture as well as current events made all that we saw come alive and filled with meaning. Do not think twice. Go on this tour. It is fabulous.</p>

<p>We needed to find something to do in Jerusalem before our group tour started and found this. Great tour! I wish I had done this when we just got back so I would remember the guide's names but they were great! The lead guide was so informative about the areas we saw and also life in Israel and a kibbutz. One of our jeeps got a flat tire but the extra time was not wasted as we learned still more about the area and the country. We had two jeeps for 11 people so it was a bit cozy but we got out of the jeeps often enough so it wasn't too bad.</p> <p>Highly recommended!</p>

<p>Brilliant tour. Nir was fantastic, very informative and a great sense of humour. The scenery was breathtaking and the sweet tea at our Mar Saba stop was delicious. The gentleman in the second jeep my apologies but I can't remember your name was also a wealth of information with a fun sense of humour. I highly recommend this tour if you wish to get off the beaten track.</p>

<p>This was a really great tour and the off road experience was wonderful. The guide was very informative. However I had booked this tour because part of the itinerary was a stop at Ein Prat nature reserve. It was very disappointing that this never happened.</p>

<p>The Desert Jeep Tour conducted by Nir was outstanding in every way. Nir and his assistant have encyclopedic knowledge of the area, superb skills in sharing their knowledge, and a convivial attitude which help make this unusual adventure extraordinary.</p>

Would definitely do the tour again! It was very exciting and beautiful! The duration was perfect.

Nice tour through the Judean desert. The guide who accompanied this tour was super. He knew how to tell a lot about the area and the history.

Merece la pena hacer este tour para conocer el desierto de la zona, el guía espectacular, además nos sentimos muy seguros con su conducción por caminos difíciles, tuvimos suerte con él.

A lot of information received from a sensational guide and jeep driver. Rides and stops were balanced.

If you are a desert fan, this jeep tour is for you. On board the jeep all the paths of the Judean desert are allowed. The life of the Bedouins is understood as closely as possible without disturbing them. Our guide, an expert in the region, provides us throughout the day with explanations that allow us to better understand life in the desert and connects the old history to the new. Thanks also for the songs chosen (Neil Young and Cat Stevens) by our guide according to each corner discovered. A passion that we had the pleasure to share. Hidden monasteries are not visited but are beautiful! A very nice day that allowed us to understand the geographical location of Jerusalem!

The tour was really very good. Just drive off road and enjoy the desert. Big thanks to Nir, our great tour guide!

A great change after the crowds of tourists in Jerusalem - traveling in the desert, as it would never be possible with a bus or rental car. We were a very harmonious group of 9 people of different ages and nationalities. The two tour guides explained a lot and also patiently answered all questions about life in Israel. Lunch was at a rest stop, but the food was good and you sat nice and shaded.

We booked this tour through Abraham Hostel in Jerusalem. The tour is run by the local Enterprise Hidden Valley Jeep & Trekking Tours, led by Nir Friedmann. Nir was also our guide that day and drove one of the jeeps, a friend of his the other, in total it was a small group of 8 people. A varied and particularly informative day awaited us, because Nir has excellent knowledge of geology, nature, history, religious sites and contemporary desert life. This day has taught us so much about Israel and brought us to beautiful places like the Wadi Quilt or the gorge of Mar Saba Monastery, it could not have been better. We were also able to learn a lot about the life of the Bedouins on the approximately 4-hour off-road tour. We can highly recommend this varied tour. You can tell Nir how connected he is to the country and how happy he is to pass this on to visitors. On another trip to Israel we would book again one of the other tours offered by this provider. It's worth it!

At 8 am the guide, Nir, picked us up with his 4x4 at the Abraham Hostel in Jerusalem: a few minutes and we were already offroad in the middle of the desert. Nir is very nice and easygoing, a kind of Indiana Jones: he explained a bit about the history of the place and several very interesting anecdotes, combined with personal stories that intertwine with the recent history of the state of Israel, all with a background music that I really enjoyed (Neil Young, Cat Stevens,...). Seeing Mar Saba Monastery alone is worth the tour (a breathtaking view), but we also saw Bedouin villages (Nir showed us how they collect water in cisterns, how they cultivate the land and generally how they live in the desert), King Herod Aqueduct, an oasis in the desert, St. George Monastery, Mount Azazel and drank a great tea in the desert surrounded by incredible views. This tour was an unforgettable experience, I highly recommend it to everyone!