Ashdod Shore Excursion: Jerusalem and Dead Sea - for cruise ship guests only
Badge of Excellence
Ashdod, Israel
- 8 to 10 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Disembark at Ashdod for a full-day shore excursion to Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, and experience Israel’s historic sites, religious landmarks and extraordinary landscape. Walk in Jesus’ footsteps at Gethsemane and say a prayer at the Western Wall; explore a bustling Arab bazaar then leave the city walls for the surreal shoreline of the Dead Sea. Walk salt-encrusted beaches, roll in mineral-rich, therapeutic mud and bob around in hyper-saline water before returning to your ship in Ashdod Port.
- Full-day shore excursion from Ashdod Port to Jerusalem and the Dead Sea
- Walk on the Mount of Olives to gaze over Old Jerusalem and see the Garden of Gethsemane
- Visit the Western Wall, Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulchre and an Arab souk
- Discover different quarters of the Old City and visit the Last Supper room on Mount Zion
- Travel to the Dead Sea and float and swim in its mineral-rich waters
What's Included
- Port pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- Viator's worry-free guarantee
- Entrance fees for the Dead Sea and Beach facilities (approx. 12 USD per person)
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
- Entrance fee - Dead Sea$12.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Port of Ashdod
We will wait for you with a sign showing your name as you disembark from the cruise ship. This tour is ONLY available for those arriving on a cruise ship.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.8:00 am
Itinerary
1
Mount of Olives
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Garden of Gethsemane
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Mount Zion
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Room of the Last Supper
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Jaffa Gate
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Jewish Quarter
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Western Wall
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
8
Christian Quarter
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
9
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
10
The Way of the Cross - Via Dolorosa
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
11
Arabic Market
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
12
Dead Sea
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Duration of the tour may vary (approx 8-11 hours depending on the ship docking times)
- Some sites may not be visited and others included subject to accessibility, security, holiday festivities, opening times, queues, traffic, time constraints, and other unforeseen circumstances
- Good walking shoes, sunglasses, hat, and clothes that covers the shoulders and knees are all recommended
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Water sandals are recommended
- Bathing suits and towels would be needed for those wanting to float in the Dead Sea
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Tracy D
Our tour guide met us with fresh dates to start our day. As it was saturday and the sabbath, she told us all about it and how it is celebrated and its significance. The entire tour she shared so many bits of wonderful information both Hebrew and Christian - it was the perfect mixture. Maralite was a beautiful person who graciously shared her country with us
Reviews
4.3
based on 104 reviews
Adlai_C, Sep 2023
This was a whirlwind of a tour lots to see in a short space of time, be warned it's a lot of walking up and down stairs narrow lanes throngs of people (so very rude) Dakel our tour guide moved at brisk pace which is understandable because there's lots to cover plus we had to do the Dead sea tour the other have of the day .However our friend has mobility issues so it was too difficult for her so Dakel got the driver Mohammed to come & get her where she spent 2 1/2 hrs at his house with his family. Having said that the tour was a wonderful experience from an historical/biblical & cultural aspect it check all the boxes. Dakel u need to get a flag so it's easy to see u. Swimming; I mean floating in the Dead sea was an amazing experience. I was also amazed at the Bedouin people living out in desert with their goat & sheep they live such simple lives.
Stephanie_H, Sep 2023
The Dead Sea is once in a lifetime experience. Everyone should do it once.
Was disappointed in Guided Tours Israel. We had to walk out of the gates of the cruise port because driver couldn’t get in. Next day the guide was 30 minutes late. No notifications to let us know what was going on. Made lots of travelers very anxious. Also, our guide had our names on his cell phone instead of a sign. So went wondering to try to find our names.
Anonymous, Jul 2023
We had a great time. Our guide, Erez, had great energy and explained everything well. Things were a bit rushed, but I think there was no way around that with trying to fit so much in, in just one day with a fair bit of driving involved between the ship and the sites. I would love to go back and spend more time and would definitely trust Erez to take us around to see more things and see the sites in a more in depth manor. He was personable and made us feel like he really cared about each of us, specifically, having a good time.
Elefteria_H, Jun 2023
This was supposed to be our one time visit to the holy land and the highlight the Christian church of the sepulcher and the Via Dolorosa. Our guide would not allow us to experience the church of the sepulcher which was a big disappointment but would also not take us two the entire Via Dolorosa because he was afraid for his life. He wasted time on on tour at the Dead Sea in my opinion. Highly disappointing and will not ever use Viator again.
Response from Host, Jun 2023
We put our guests' safety and security as our top priority and we believe people actually appreciate that. The situation in Jerusalem can be dangerous at times, and during these periods we change the itinerary to reflect the risks. We are sorry that you could not see what you had expected, but we are disappointed that you did not fully understand the situation you were in. Glad everything ended up well and you get to write about it though. Take care.
Sophie_A, Jun 2023
The Dead Sea was a waste. We went mid week and there was one cantina open at top of the hill. The facilities on the actual beach were abandoned. Facilities to wash up are completely muddy and hard to walk up. Joseph our tour guide hung out with his buddies and wasted an extra 20 minutes there taking away time in the old city. Keep in mind there are warning signs that if you have high blood pressure you should not go in or if you get any of the water in your mouth you must go to hospital. Also, he did not use audio system so we could not hear him in the busy streets of via de la rosa. He takes you to his friend’s place for lunch, shopping and dates purchases. You feel hustled the entire time. Lastly, he said it was “unsafe” for him to go to station one and two of the cross but that we could if we wanted. Found out the next day from another guide that this was untrue and that he was just lazy. He left little to no time to explore the church of the sepulcher which in my opinion was the highlight. The your may be ok but not with this guide.
Response from Host, Jun 2023
This is the same review as above. Again, safety is and always will be our top priority for our guests. For those guests wishing to partake in a more adventurous Middle-East Conflict experience, we are certainly not willing to accommodate this type of tour. Thank you.
Hmorteo_A, Apr 2023
Great guide and chauffeur. Unfortunately we waited one hour in the bus for late customers. That was uncomfortable and made us run everywhere. There should be a wait notice. Lunch was terrible, I would prefer eating in Jerusalem something less crowded and more regional.
lesleywellings, Mar 2023
Our guide was wonderful and very knowledgeable. She made our experience. A long day. I would highly recommend guided tours Israel.
M
Maureen_V, Mar 2023
I was so looking forward to this tour but was so let down. Listening to the long drawn out talk on the way to the sites rather than at sites. My biggest issue was the filtered information given about the sites history.
we walked down one street in the bazaar but was told we could not stop to look or buy anything, there would be time later which brings me to
Lunch. It was horrendous. Packed out with people from by other busses, no directions or information. Buffet style which you don’t realise until after you have lined up, been served then find out you pay a set ‘ overinflated’ fee even if the food looks so unappetising that you just grab the sandwich. Then , you get to walk around, unable to sit as half of the seats are reserved. This is where she said we could buy souvenirs but they have rubbish. Assuming this is all for the benefit of the tour company as it’s definitely NOT tithe benefit to the guests.
the Dead Sea. ‘Walk salt encrusted beaches’ we were taken to a small fenced of area to swim. The shore was just mud so you slipped into the Dead Sea. There were so many people in such a small area that the water also was so muddy that you could not see the deep holes or massive rocks under the surface. The change areas are not maintained, water everywhere, crowded and nowhere to put or hang anything to keep your cloths dry. I know the later part is not the tours issue but it’s part of the experience.
Last thing, back to the bias of the tour, I asked what was being done by the government regarding the Dead Sea, before it disappears. It slowly being emptied and the water being pumped out to a Desalinations plant for drinking water. She clearly didn’t like the question, danced around it a bit giving no answer.
I would not recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Mar 2023
Sorry you were disappointed. It sounds like you were not happy with Israel rather than the tour... We suggest people bring their own food, and as for the conditions of the beach and the dead sea - we clearly have no control over these things. Israel is not fully developed like Western Europe or the USA, and clearly we have some ways to go, but with the right attitude we think you could have had a great time. Thank you.
Eric_K, Jan 2023
What a fabulous tour. Jerusalem and Dead Sea. So much history. Dikla our tour guide was phenomenal. We packed all we could in this tour! Can’t say enough about Our driver and Dikla our guide. One of the best tours we’ve ever been on! Sept 8, 2022.
Kerri_R, Nov 2022
My husband was really excited for this tour, and he chose it specifically for the itinerary. First of all, we were traveling with an infant, so we chose this tour in particular because it said it was accessible for strollers which wasn’t entirely true.
Our tour guide was hard to hear, and many of our fellow travelers kept complaining about it. I don’t recall much of what he said because he mumbled into the microphone. The first part of the tour was fine despite not understanding much. The guide suggested that I bring the stroller on our walk through the second part of the tour because “there were no stairs” (read: there were many stairs). Jerusalem is already a stressful place to be because it is very crowded with much to see. Our stroller was not needed and just made it more difficult to see everything.
When we got to the West Wall, I did not even have a chance to look around because our guide only gave us 20 minutes there.
We did not get a lunch break until 1:30. The tour started at 8.
At the Dead Sea, we were given one hour. We spent 20 minutes waiting in line to buy tickets and pay for parking for the guide. This misunderstanding was actually quite frustrating because half of our group only had to pay 5 shekels to get in, and the other half paid 13. It just wasn’t fair, and the hold up cost us precious time. We had like 10 minutes to swim before it was time to go, and then the guide hovered over us and didn’t let us shop.
On the way back to our ship, the guide didn’t tour at all. This tour was expensive and not worth the money. We spent the day being herded around like cattle by a guide who we couldn’t even hear.
0/10 do not recommend. I would pay more for a better rated private tour or just go out on my own next time.
Neil_S, Nov 2022
The guide did what she wanted. She spent almost an hour at the first stop going through the 5000 year history of Israel. The group was not interested and she kept repeating herself. She said she would go through it here and not later. Which sounded fine. But later some sights were cut from the itinerary: Last Supper, Mount Zion, amongst time in the various quarters. The guide said these places are not in itinerary. 🤷🏽♂️ but they are clearly stated.
The most cunning part was when she said she had an amazing recommendation for lunch. 🙄 it was a generic cafeteria near the Dead Sea where all the tour groups go. Likely a kick back for the company. We should have put our foot down and said we wanted to eat and get some water in one of the quarters. So many wonderful local places to eat.
Wailing wall and Dead Sea visit were nice.
Response from Host, Nov 2022
Sorry that you didnt like the guide and her style. We will let her know. There is always room for improvement and we will take it as constructive criticism.
As for the lunch cafeteria - we absolutely do not have any affiliation with this place. In fact, we write to everyone in advance to bring a packed lunch if they prefer.
John_B, Sep 2022
Diqua and Mahoneid were excelent Diqua was very educational excelent service There was a delay getting off the ship They waited for us Did the full day excursion and made it back to the ship on time
Rosemarie_W, Sep 2022
Going to Jerusalem and taking in the sights was amazing and the dead sea was fantastic everything involve a lot of walking and climbing but I did wear comfortable shoes and the cobblestone roads were amazing. The guide was very knowledgeable and fun very good driver and the group were the best ever everyone cooperate we always leave on schedule.
Brian_G, May 2022
Absolutely fantastic tour guide Ryan very knowledgeable friendly and looked after all the groups bags at the dead Sea, got a nice gift as well as a local treat as well. Very highly recommended and on top of that Great value for money as it was half the price as cruise ship.
Hong_L, Apr 2022
The tour guide Annas talked about religious too much and spent too much time in one place, ran out of time for dead sea. She even asked us to pay for dead sea entrance fee but that was not part of the package deal. She didn't even pay for the entrance fee why asked us to pay her?? Also her mouth breath was so bad that it was suffocating to sit near her.
Jeff L, Nov 2019
We enjoyed the various sights of Jerusalem and our visit and swim in the dead sea. The depth of history and significance of the attractions from a religious perspective was incredible to behold. Our tour was made up of cruisers and departed from the Haifa cruise port. It was supposed to leave from Ashdod cruise port. Because of renewed conflict in the Giza strip, the ship was diverted to Haifa. Consequently we had to travel an additional hour to arrive to the Jerusalem area. Our tour was scheduled to leave at 8am, but did not leave until 9am as we were waiting for some no-shows. Jerusalem was incredibly busy with people and traffic so we did take a different walking route than usual, which was fine. Our guide mentioned giving him $12 US dollars apiece prior to arrival at the Dead Sea if we wanted discounted entry as a group. With the lateness and the hustle and bustle, he never did mention it again or collect the money. When we arrived at the Dead sea, he said it would be too late to get the special group deal and we would pay $17. After a couple complaints, he said he would see if he could make it happen as he had a friend there. A number of us paid the $12 to be able to swim. I believe he likely pocketed the money. We also had lunch at a place he recommended in a restaurant/store near the dead sea. There were other tour groups there as well. There was only a buffet lunch offered, that was alright, but it was almost $20 each. We arrived back at our cruise ship at around 7pm, so it was a full day. Overall, I would say it was a good tour in that we saw everything we expected to.
Nancy A, Nov 2019
This was a great tour and we had a good guide and driver. We booked this instead of the cruise ship option because it was a small group (14-16) vs. a bus of 40-50. The descriptions were virtually the same. I believe we saw all the sights except the Last Supper Room on Mt. Zion. The Wailing Wall, Garden of Gethsemane, and Church of the Holy Sepulchre were amazing. The swim in the Dead Sea is interesting and a once in a lifetime experience. This is a WALKING tour. Be prepared. Also there are a couple things that aren't explained in the description. You need to pay for a couple things, can't remember what they were now. Shekels are not required, American dollars are acceptable. Lunch options weren't good. I'd recommend bringing snack food or something from the ship or your hotel. Overall, very good tour. You see amazing sights, which is what we came for.
FLESHERS, Nov 2019
Very informative tour guide did a good job , just wished we would spend more time shopping.the dead sea was a nice experience , don’t forget your swimming shorts they are $30 a piece , entrance was a little steep $20 per person.but well worth the experience .
Tracy D, Oct 2019
Our tour guide met us with fresh dates to start our day. As it was saturday and the sabbath, she told us all about it and how it is celebrated and its significance. The entire tour she shared so many bits of wonderful information both Hebrew and Christian - it was the perfect mixture. Maralite was a beautiful person who graciously shared her country with us
Yan_S, Oct 2019
Guide try to finish tour early because of holiday, cut some time at Dead see(we spend only 1.30 min at Dead sea
Explanation was so-so, tour was not very enjoyable and boring
janet p, Nov 2017
it was a long day, but well worth it. Sharon took us to all the historic sights in Jerusalem and was very informative, We were only a group of 15 so we could all hear the information easily. The history of all the different ages of Jerusalem is fascinating. After a traditional lunch we went to swim/float in the dead sea. Not for the faint hearted as the facilities are basic, but the experience is not to be forgotten. We enjoyed the day very much.
trevor s, Oct 2017
Excellent coverage of many important sites in Jerusalem and not to be missed,the Dead Sea.
Karin M, May 2017
We hade a wonderful time. The guide even showed us his home. Great tour. We totally recommend it if you want to see a lot of Israel.
Mary T, May 2017
This was a phenomenal tour, our guide Jerry, was fantastic. It is amazing what we saw and how quickly he adapted to the crowds. Although due to traffic, Passover, and road closures we did not miss anything. He was quick to reroute us to ensure we saw everything.The Souk, Wailing wall, Church and our winding tour through the alleys of old Jerusalem. We spent 2 hours at the Dead Sea in the afternoon, which was a relief from the heat and the crowds.
Highly recommend this tour and the Guide.
Gordon V, May 2017
We had a fantastic tour of Jerusalem we enjoyed it immensely. The only thing was that it was Easter and the passover so it was absolutely heaving and we could not view the oldest church in Jerusalem as there was a Greek sevice taking place, we were very disappointed but it did not spoil the occasion. After lunch we went to the Dead Sea for which we did not enjoy, it was positively dangerous for older people to enter the Dead Sea, there were huge boulders on entering the water with nothing to hold onto, so it made it so difficult to make your way into the water. Not impressed at all.
On a more positive note our tour guide Ryan was an absolute gem he was amazing. He explained everything in detail gave us an amazing tour of Jerusalem learned so much from him. On the way back to the ship he made a point of speaking individually to each of us on the coach asking us if we had any question about the day, which we thought was excellent. We throughly recommend Ryan. We rate tour 10 put of 10
Billy_W, Nov 2016
Excellent arrangement to see so many things in one day, great tour guide and a very enjoyable journey!
Juliet L, Nov 2016
Jerusalem was very interesting. Going through the market to hear about the religious stories that happened there was interesting but not getting even 10 minutes to shop was very frustrating. We left Israel with most of out money. The Dead Sea was fun to swim in. Good tour but too much packed into one day.
Rachael P, Oct 2016
The Dead Sea was well worth a visit. The Old city of Jerusalem was interesting, however I think we would have enjoyed it more if our guide had took us to the garden tomb instead of the church of the Sepulchre, were the Jews believe Jesus was buried. We were very interested in the biblical aspect of Jerusalem so were a little disappointed there. If you are Christian and looking for a Christian tour either state that as a request when you book, or find an agency that specialises in Christian tours. We had a Jewish tour guide in Haifa and her knowledge of the bible was fantastic, so it's a chance you take.
Eric_S, Oct 2016
Amazing tour. Saw so much in one day. The guide was very informative, friendly and flexible. The small group and mini van were a real plus because we moved along in a way that everyone could agree with and we were able to fully enjoy each location. Because of our van size, we were able to park closer to the sites as well. We took plenty of pictures and enjoyed our Dead Sea swim! We also avoided the long lines!
Henry_C, Oct 2016
Jerusalem was amazing from all aspects, and worth visiting in greater depth. Guide Sandy imparted a lot of info, and was truly professional. Highly recommended!
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