Let’s face it- Not everyone in this world enjoys hiking. Not everyone’s idea of fun includes blisters, trails, and hours of walking. But that doesn’t mean us non-hikers always pass up on great experiences! And hiking the Masada Snake Path in Israel was one of those experiences that I just couldn’t say no to.
To any hiking enthusiast, this uphill trek is an enjoyable, rewarding hike that comes highly recommended for visitors to Israel. For non-hikers, the uphill trek is an exhausting, yet rewarding hike- One of those things where you just have to put on your adventure pants and go for it. If you consider yourself a non-hiker and you’re thinking about hiking the Masada Snake Path, here’s what you’ll need to know to get through and make it to the top!
Yes, aaaall the way up there!
Consider Hiking Masada at Sunrise
If you want to make the hike a little easier on yourself, I highly recommend going at sunrise. First, the temperature is much cooler at this time, so you don’t have to battle the Israeli heat while you ascend Masada. In addition, you can watch the surrounding landscape change in color as the sun rises. This works as a great distraction from how much your legs hurt from all the steps. There are also fewer people at sunrise to judge you and your hiking struggles.
Beautiful views while hiking Masada at sunrise!
Join a Tour
Hiking Masada at Sunrise does mean you’re in for a pretty early wake-up call. To be honest, if I wasn’t already signed up for a tour I would have just kept hitting snooze and skipped the hike altogether. But joining a tour with Tourist Israel held me accountable and made me get up and get ready to hike Masada. Joining a tour is also really helpful because you don’t have to sort out your transportation to Masada in the early morning. You can just hop on the bus and take a nap while the driver does his thing.
Getting up before sunrise is hard work
Don’t Weigh Yourself Down
Before doing the hike, I asked others who had done it, what their experience hiking the Masada Snake Path was like. One guy told me he really struggled, but it was because he was carrying several pounds worth of camera gear up the 700+ steps to the top. If you are a non-hiker, and you’re insistent on bringing all your camera gear for that perfect sunrise silhouette shot, I’m going to recommend suckering your hiker friends into carrying it all for you. Puppy-dog eyes and/or tears are most effective here. Otherwise, my best advice is to pack very lightly for this hike.
There are a lot of steps to take on the Masada Snake Path!
Take Breaks While Hiking Masada
Now is the time to truly accept yourself for the non-hiker you are. Odds are, you’re going to need to take some breaks on the way up to Masada. Don’t fuss about staying with your hiker friends. You’ll make it to the top in your own time. Use these breaks to rehydrate, let your body rest, or take some photos!
Take a breather and take in views like this!
Wear Good Shoes
When hiking Masada, it’s important to wear the right shoes. This is not the kind of hike you want to do in flip-flops. Even the Merrels I wear every day when traveling were barely cutting it. A shoe with a little more foot and ankle support will really help your body while hiking. You’ll also want to make sure they’re well broken in. This is not the time to try out new hiking shoes.
This is what your shoes are up against
Bring Snacks and Water
Having extra water is always a good idea when hiking. The best part is, the more you drink, the less weight you have to carry! And if you’re anything like me, nothing is more motivating than snacks. Bring some tempting snacks to reward yourself with when you finally reach the top! Or, if you need an extra energy boost on the way up, it’s great to have these snacks handy.
Non-hiker eats chocolate croissant to curb her hiking-hanger
Stretch before hiking the Masada Snake Path
This is one I did not do, and I really really regretted it. As a non-hiker, your muscles are probably not used to what Masada is going to do to them. You’ll want to stretch out before AND after your Masada hike. I say this from experience- if you don’t stretch, going back down the steps is going to be arguably more painful than going up. By the end of the hike, my legs were painful, rigid sticks of sadness.
So. Many. Steps.
Rejuvenate in the Dead Sea
But really, the best way to rejuvenate and reward yourself for hiking up Masada is to spend the rest of the morning relaxing at the Dead Sea. Masada is a quick drive away from the Dead Sea and is on the way back to both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, so it only makes sense to stop here. Tourist Israel has a great tour that combines hiking Masada at sunrise and enjoying the Dead Sea. Haven’t enjoyed the wonders of the Dead Sea yet? Here’s what you’ll want to know!
Feeling much more relaxed floating in the Dead Sea!
Hiking the Masada Snake Path in Israel is just one of those things you have to experience. As a non-hiker, the trek may be exhausting and a true test of your limits, but I have to say the view from the top as the sun is taking its position in the sky is one you can’t get anywhere else. When you make your plans to visit Israel, make sure to add a Masada hike to your itinerary!
Note: Thanks to Tourist Israel for hosting me on their Masada Sunrise and Dead Sea tour. As always, all opinions expressed are 100% my own.
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48 Comments
This absolutely is a bucket list item for me. I have wanted to go and hike there since I saw the mini-series about the siege there back as a child. AS someone that loves to hike, good job on this. Good info here.
This looks like cool experience. The tour really looks like the way to go. Not only do you get the bonus of visiting the Dead Sea, since they do the driving, you can take a nice nap on the ride back. Thanks for all of the great info and advice.
I’m definitely a hiker, but I usually travel with people who aren’t! So I have lots of people who will find this helpful haha. Great post, thank you!
…So you can carry all the camera gear, then right? 😛
Beautiful article, i love hikes and this one seems great.
Well explained and the sunrise picture is fabulous
Great tips! I am definitely not a hiker, so these totally come in handy! (Plus, oh my gosh, floating in the Dead Sea? Let’s go right now!)
Yaaaass! Let’s go!
We did the snake path as well! Except we should have left a little earlier because we got to the top right at sunrise and we were hoping to get there a bit earlier for photos. Oh well! But the Masada/Dead Sea day trip was one of the most memorable days of our travels in Israel!
Same here. We started the hike at 5:30, which was about when the sun was beginning to rise. You kind of watch the sunrise as you hike. It would help if the park opened a little earlier!
Great article with a lot of good advice! I’m an early riser so I wouldn’t have a problem starting out early…but leaving behind all the camera gear??? Ugh, that would be a challenge. 🙂
Pretty cool experience! Dead sea is on my bucket list since I was a child. Seems like you had a great time! 🙂
It’s a really cool experience! Check out my article for tips!
This made me smile. We like to hike, but I would not consider myself a “hiker,” so this rang very true for me. The payoff looks outstanding! You earned that view, girl. 🙂
Another reason to put Israel on my wishlist.
I just wonder – why is it called the snake path?
Only because of the curves, or there are actual snakes you could encounter? 🙂
Haha! Well, I didn’t see any snakes so I’m going to go with the fact that the path is all twisty like a snake. That, and that it tries to kill you. 😛
Haha I love hiking but this sounds like a challenging one. That sunrise is glorious! You gave some wonderful tips. Thanks for sharing!
I love hiking so this is perfect on a future trip to Israel. I have a feeling that I will have a love-hate relationship with the windy trail and the steepness. However, the views look amazing!
Oh, definitely on that love/hate relationship!!
beautiful hike. So funny, sucker your friend in to carrying your camera gear! lol, thats what my instagram bf is for! <3
Lucky me, I’ve advanced to obtaining an Instagram hubby! 😉
Hi Brianna,
I am wondering how much time takes to reach the top of Masada on average?
Relaxing at the Dead Sea after hiking Masada is a wonderful idea! Love it.
xoxo Milijana
PS: I am looking for a good travel shoes. So, I clicked on your link to see your Merrels but i didn’t find them there. Please let me know if you have recos for good travel shoes.
Hi Milijana!
People will tell you that it takes 30 minutes to get to the top of Masada, but those people are superhuman. I think it took me just over an hour.
I purchased my Merrels at an outlet store, so they don’t actually carry my exact ones online. These are pretty close, but your feet have to be used to the barefoot style of shoe. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076CRJ357/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B076CRJ357&linkCode=as2&tag=archiveso-20&linkId=a578116843c164e769ae5d607f93191e
Great tips from someone who has done it!! Excellent article about a beautiful place!
Hiking on sunrise is rewarding! 🙂 But also need you to wake up. For me, it is easier probably not to sleep.
But yea, the only thing that can make me go so early is photos, those will get nice according to your images. How about sunset?
Great post! I love to hike and I just added this one to my list. Thanks!
Bringing snacks and wearing good shoes are so important. I’m not a huge hiker, but when I do those are the two things I always keep in mind. I agree that sunrise is the best time to hike 🙂
The spot looks really beautiful!
Thank you for these very useful hints. I’m sure they’ll be of great use to anyone attempting hikes for the first ever time.
I consider myself a hiker and still would follow all of these tips. Great post – now I’m intrigued with Israel’s hiking scene. And YES to chilling out in the Dead Sea.
“Painful, rigid sticks of sadness” made me laugh out loud! What an awesome experience.
That phrase literally came to me in a dream while I was writing this!! So glad you liked it XD
Could almost literally feel your pain and suffering! I missed Masada on my last trip to Israel, and have regret. Next time for sure!!
I’d probably have to join a group as well if I were to take this hike because waking up before the sunrise and going on a gruelling trek like this is NOT something I will do alone, for sure! The sunrise views are worth it and thanks for the tip on not carrying heavy camera gear, I’d probably just take my iPhone for the pictures anyway. Rejuvenating in the Dead Sea after sounds like a great plan 😉
Yes! I am so team iPhone for pics! Especially since it so much more lightweight and simple!
Hahaha! I love this as a fellow hiking hater. Give me the Dead Sea any day though! Isn’t it surreal?
Oh my gossshhhh, I *wish* I’d found this post before I went to Israel! My husband found some dodgy website that said the hike at Masada was “all fitness levels”, we showed up in jeans with half a bunch of grapes and a tiny bottle of water between us! It was insane! We *did* recuperate in the Dead Sea afterwards, so I suppose we took on board one of your suggestions entirely unknowingly… ah well, live and learn! 😉
Oh my goodness! You are a true champion for making it up there!
You have some great tips for the non-hiker, especially to stretch before and after the hike. The scenery from Masada Snake Path look amazing. I would love to take the hike and see the beauty of Israel. Those steps would be exhausting. I agree with you that it is not going up the steps that hurt, it is the descent that can be painful.
This absolutely is a bucket list item for me. I suffer from vertigo but I try everyday to improve and win my fear. Perhaps hiking could be very useful 🙂
Doesn’t hurt to just give it a shot!
I really like hiring. This route really remind me of hiking around Mallorca and Ibiza. Have you ever hike there?
I’ve never been to Mallorca or Ibiza!
In October, I was just at the other side of the Dead Sea – in Jordan, Wadi Mujib/Madaba, The Lowest Place on Earth Museum. I know That Masada in Israel was just on the other side from where I was standing. It is great that the Snake Path takes you so high and you can have incredible views of the landscape. I guess that there’s no problem to hike it on your own, it doesn’t seem a difficult route.
I love how you say that for hikers it will be an enjoyable climb and for non-hikers it’s exhausting haha! Im sure its worth it for the views and getting to have a dip in the Dead sea later is a bonus too!
This looks like an incredible hike! I can’t imagine would wear flip flops to do this hike, but I guess some may wear them. I love Israel, and would like to swim in the Dead Sea after.
Those are some beautiful landscapes! Would definitely want to catch it at sunrise
It’s really the best time to go!
Cooling off in the Dead Sea sound pretty damn cool! There are lots of great hikes in Israel, I really wanna check them out.
What a coincidence . I had just published an article on my hiking of Tongariro crossing as an inexperineced hiker last week. I totally understand your points 🙂 . Can relate to … I think it is assumed that travelers are hikers though that is not the case always 😀