MASADA MESMERIZES

Masada National Park is not far from the Dead Sea and well worth a visit. Allow an entire morning or afternoon to tour the ruined fortress, which dates back to 37 BC, and is an enduring symbol of Jewish resistance against oppression.

Steeped in history and tragedy, Masada is where 987 Jews are believed to have committed mass suicide rather than be enslaved by Roman soldiers.

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there is a visitor centre, an interactive museum, and an audiovisual presentation on the lower level. But the mountaintop fortress is the main event and visitors can hike up a winding narrow pathway called “the snake” or take the cable car, which is wheelchair-accessible.

Once there, you can see the ruins of King Herod’s palace, a Roman style bath-house with a mosaic floor and other buildings, as well as an ancient water system, swimming pools and more. The sweeping views over the barren landscape and the Dead Sea are breathtaking.

Travel information

Our group of six journalists was invited to tour Israel by Air Transat. The airline recently launched direct seasonal flights from Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau airport to Tel Aviv and is eager to show off its newest destination. Airfares are competitive (but vary depending on travel dates). Transat also has guided tours and one-week vacation packages. For full details and pricing, see transat. com.

In addition to its iconic religious sites and the Dead Sea, Israel has a wealth of other attractions. Visit www.israel.travel.

Sleep over

Israel has lodging to suit most budgets — from hostels to Jerusalem’s ultra-luxurious premier King David Hotel. In Jerusalem, we stayed at the chic Inbal Hotel, which is within walking distance of many attractions. See inbalhotel.com.