Ein Gedi and the Golan Heights

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highandlow
highandlow

One and all, I wondered if I could draw on collective wisdom to get some advice on two aspects of a forthcoming trip to Israel.

Ein Gedi. I'd like to see the Ein Gedi spa and float around the Dead Sea. I will be using public transport, rather than hiring a car. I had intended to visit from Tel Aviv, but bus availability from Jerusalem seems far superior (and I understand bus frequencies will be cut back by early October). It seems I can get the bus, stay at Ein Gedi Youth Hostel for a night and see the local area. While in the neighbourhood, it would seem logical to visit Masada too. Does the hostel organise trips to Masada? Is it better to spend a night at Ein Gedi, head to the local Masada hostel the next morning, or instead give up and book a day tour from Tel Aviv?

Golan Heights. I previously volunteered on kibbutz in the Golan Heights and wanted to return. It is evident that the bus services in the Golan are limited. From Tiberias or Haifa I can reach Rosh Pina, go as far north as Kiryat Shmona, and possibly stop at Tsfat as I head back south. By bus, is this itinerary going to be hideously painful? Is it worthwhile (more than anything else I just want to get a sense of the ambience of the Golan Heights, and am not desperately interested in hiking etc., so would probably spend a day at each location).

Thanks enormously for any tips or information you may have. And while here, I intend to go from Haifa to Akko. A day trip, or worth staying overnight?

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shuffaluff
shuffaluff

There are far more buses to Ein Gedi from Jerusalem than from Tel Aviv. There is one morning bus from TA (that goes via Jerusalem, and doesn’t leave from the central bus station but from the North Tel Aviv terminal, I can give you more details if you’re interested), but otherwise you need to change in Jerusalem.

There are buses from Ein Gedi to Masada. You don’t need a guided tour; everything at Masada is labelled in English and you can buy as many guidebooks as you like, or can carry!

Bus services in the Golan are very sparse, and they are geared more to residents working in Kiryat Shmona or Tiberias than to tourists, so the times are not really of much use to you. Here’s an idea though: You can take a bus from Hatzor Haglilit (just north of Rosh Pina) to Katzrin (route 57) at 09:30, and back from Katzrin to Hatzor Haglilit (route 57) at 16:20, or (route 58) at 18:05. Journey time is less than half an hour. Alternatively you can go from Katzrin to Tiberias (route 19) at 14:00, journey time 1 hr 48 mins. I can’t find much else that is of use to you, at any reasonable times (4:50 a.m. from Katzrin to Tel Aviv, anyone?!). (Obviously you can't do this on a Friday or Saturday.)

Akko is perfect for a day trip from Haifa. There are buses and trains.

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highandlow
highandlow

Those pointers are very helpful indeed, thanks. I suppose my dilemma now is whether to base myself solely at Masada on day one, head out to Ein Gedi for the day, return to Masada accommodation for an early start on day 2, or stay a night at each place. Although they are 20km apart, reading your email it seems there should be little difficulty getting transport between the two.

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shuffaluff
shuffaluff

Buses between the two are fairly frequent. Since the Egged web site doesn't show times more than a week in advance (today is Tuesday, but if I want to go next Tuesday I just have to hope that the times will be the same as today), I can't give you the exact times for October. However, there are no religious holidays to cause disruption (there are some in October but they fall on Shabbat this year, and there are no buses anyway on Shabbat), we can assume. There should actually be more buses in early October, because of the intermediate days of Succot, a time when schools are closed and many work places close for the whole week (October 4-9 this year). Consequently it's a popular time for Israelis to travel.

I just did a search in an "umbrella" public transport web site (in Hebrew), for today, and it shows buses from Ein Gedi to Masada roughly every 30 to 60 minutes. Definitely possible.

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highandlow
highandlow

That is ridiculously helpful. Thank you so much.

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missfugazi
missfugazi

You should use this Trip Planner from Egged

http://mslworld.egged.co.il/eggedtimetable/WebForms/wfrmMain.aspx?width=1024&company=1&language=en&state=

I am planning a trip to Ein Gedi/Masada. My plans are to stay in Ein Gedi overnight and do a day excursion to Masada using Egged. Seems like a pretty easy thing to do.

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