About Wadi Qelt

The road between Jerusalem and Jericho, known as the Wadi Qelt, was a major thoroughfare for trading caravans, military personnel and everyday travellers. During Jewish festivals, thousands of Jews made the trip on the Wadi Qelt to the Temple in Jerusalem. The Wadi Qelt is a narrow gorge cutting through the Judaean wilderness, a rugged mountainous area. Given the isolated terrain, people on this road faced dangers from falling, wild animals and thieves hiding in its many caves.

The Jericho-Jerusalem Road in the Bible

David and his followers fled Jerusalem along this route after his son Absalom made himself king (2 Samuel 15:23-16:14). King Zedekiah used the road when he tried to escape from Nebuchadnezzar and his army (2 Kings 25:1-6). Jesus walked it many times. Even the Tenth Roman Legion used this road on their way to besiege Jerusalem in 69 AD.

Wadi Qelt Beauty

Despite its ruggedness, this place is also one of the most beautiful locations to be found in the Judean Desert. It contains cliff-hanging monasteries and several ancient aqueducts that transported water from its three main springs all the way to Jericho. Walking through the Wadi Qelt, hikers enjoy the silence of nature and the beauty of its flora and fauna.