While there are many things to do and see within Jerusalem, taking the journey out to see more of Israel can easily be done. Qumran, Masada and the Dead Sea can all be seen and enjoyed in one day.

With a private taxi hired for the day – the first stop was Qumran. This is an area where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered, being thousands of years old, these are the earliest existing copies of the Hebrew Bible. The Dead Sea scroll tour starts with a short screening about its history. Afterwards, there's a short stroll, following through to the displays of ceramic pottery and pieces of the scrolls, before heading outside to continue on a trail around the ruins. The area is not excessively large and the tour will take all of about 30 minutes in total, it’s not an overly appealing place to visit, but if you have the time why not make the brief stop.

 

Read about other sights close by to make the most of your day trip - The Dead Sea and Masada