Dead Sea
02-5953591
old.parks.org.il
mh.deadsea@npa.org.il
Details
Recommended by:
Kara Wurtzel
‘Herodium (Herodion) National ParkIt was amazing! The Herodian National Park. You can get in with your parks card if you have one. There’s a small visitor’s center/gift shop with a ten minute video about Herod and the park. The walk up the mountain takes less than ten minutes but is all steps and uphill. The view is STUNNING. At the top is the fortress/castle in ruins, but it’s very cool; great signage telling you what everything was. Herod is buried up there apparently on the side of the mountain that is closed to the public. You exit through these well lit caves (again lots of steps) that were used during the time of the Bar Kochva revolt. Excellent for all ages, but you wouldn’t be able to use a stroller. Drinks/ice cream in the visitor’s center, filtered water and clean bathrooms. A+ in my book’
Description:
Tiyul – Hiking Site
Herodium, located south of Jerusalem and east of Bethlehem, on the edge of the Judean Desert, is one of the most fascinating antiquities sites in the country, it was built by King Herod the Great between 23 and 15 BCE, as a combined palace and powerful fortress. The complex was surrounded by a double wall 63 meters in diameter and seven stories high, within which Herod built a palace that included halls, courtyards and opulent bathhouses.
Location:
From Jerusalem: before the entrance to the neighborhood of Har Homa, take the second exit from the traffic circle to the right, and drive approximately 7 km on the Har Homa-Teko’a-Nokdim road (no. 356). Turn left approximately 2 km before the Teko’a junction, following the signs to Herodium and its parking lot.
From central Israel, via the Elah Valley junction: Take road 375 to Betar Ilit and continue on road 60 to the Efrat junction. From there, take road 3157 and road 356 toward Teko’a-Nokdim. Another option from the Ela Valley junction: Take road 367 to the Gush Etsion junction, turn north to Efrat and continue east on road 3157 to a T-junction. From there continue northeast to road 356 to the Herodium junction, located about 2 km after the Teko’a junction.
Your Comments in our Facebook Group (April 2014):
Kara Wurtzel-Wanted to try Herodian today, never been there. Is it safe? What’s the safest way to get there? Thanks!
Aaron Hyman -Where are you coming from ?
Kara Wurtzel -Bet Shemesh
Aaron Hyman -Drive towards Efrat and keep heading past it onto Tekoa area. It’s well signposted
Cheryl Illos -We always go via tunnels to go to nokdim (which passes herodian). It’s a bit longer but seems a bit safer than driving through the gush
Steven Newman -Its fine. Go drive in your land!!! Although, hot!
Kara Wurtzel -I’m with you, Steven Newman! We’re usually not nervous to go anywhere, but my husband has in his head that this one might be a little more risky
Zecie Maltz -what tunnels, Cheryl Illos? Isn’t Herodian that right turn near Efrat?
Cheryl Illos- Sorry haha that didn’t make much sense. We go via the tunnels and then via Jerusalem to get there as opposed to going via the gush.
Zecie Maltz -Oh, via Har Homa? That seems awfully out of the way…
Kara Wurtzel -Right. Those are the two options. I guess my real question is can we go past Efrat or should we go via Har Choma…
Zecie Maltz- we went via the Gush, but it was years ago and we caravaned…
Naftali Deutsch -Via hat homa is much closer. The road is fine.
Aaron Hyman- I have never gone any other way other than via the gush, mainly cos i live here… never caravaned, never had problems.
Shaina Tanenbaum Abraham- We drive to Tekoa from time to time and since they opened the road via har choma (years already) we always go that way.
Kara Wurtzel -Thanks all! We went through the Gush (past Efrat) and had no problems at all. Great trip!
Ellie Fein -We went by tekoa, it’s a bit unsettling but that’s what done. It’s beautiful at the top, worth the trip. Enjoy
Deborah Dickson -Is this the Herodian National Park? What is there? How long do you need there/
Kara Wurtzel -It was amazing! Yes, it’s the Herodian National Park. You can get in with your parks card if you have one. There’s a small visitor’s center/gift shop with a ten minute video about Herod and the park. The walk up the mountain takes less than ten minutes but is all steps and uphill. The view is STUNNING. At the top is the fortress/castle in ruins, but it’s very cool; great signage telling you what everything was. Herod is buried up there apparently on the side of the mountain that is closed to the public. You exit through these well lit caves (again lots of steps) that were used during the time of the Bar Kochva revolt. Excellent for all ages, but you wouldn’t be able to use a stroller. Drinks/ice cream in the visitor’s center, filtered water and clean bathrooms. A+ in my book
Kara Wurtzel- We were there a little over an hour, but we rushed bec. it was Friday. I don’t think you could spend more than 2 hours there though…
Naftali Deutsch -Yes, it is also one of our favorites!