About Jordan Valley & Judean Desert

The Jordan Valley is a beautiful part of Israel that stretches from the Sea of Galilee in the north to the Dead Sea in the south.

It is the valley where the Jordan River flows through. It is about 105km long and reaches about 400m below sea level and it only receives rains from October to March.

The Old Testament refers to the Jordan Valley several times mentioning its fertile lands and miracles that took place in the valley.

When the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River into the Promised Land, they arrived in the Jordan Valley at Bethabara.

The Judean Desert has been an important place in Israel.

It was the main route to Jerusalem from the east. It is home to some of the world’s most spectacular monasteries in the cliff faces of the desert, to the ancient fortress of Masada, and to the Dead Sea, the lowest place on land in the world.

Many biblical stories took place in the Judean Desert.

David and his men fled to the desert to hide from Saul. King David once again fled with his army to the mountains to escape from his son Absalom. Jesus encountered Satan for forty days and nights in the Judaean Wilderness.