- Created: February 7, 2019 9:52 am
- Updated: March 18, 2020 11:30 am
- Distance 7.82 km
- Time 4 h 24 min
- Speed 2.0 km/h
- Min Altitude 52 m
- Peak 331 m
- Climb 400 m
- Descent 212 m
- Distance Instructions
- Travel Mode:
- Walking
- Bicycling
- Driving
- Straight-line
WARNING: It's highly recommended to make this hike with a local person due to robbery incidents near Hyrcania Fortress by some bandits.
1. Hyrcania Fortress
Hyrcania was an ancient fortress in the Jerusalem Wilderness. The site was rebuilt during the Byzantine period as a monastery called Kastellion. The site is located on an isolated hill about 200 m above the Hyrcania valley, on its western edge. It is about 5 km west of Qumran, and 16 km east of Jerusalem.
2. Mar Saba Monastery
A 5th Century AD monastery, the largest in the Jerusalem Wilderness. The complex is built on the southern cliffs of the Kidron creek, and is protected inside a walled area with dozens of structures. It was established by Saint Sabas (Arabic: Mar Saba), and named after him. The monastery started as a place of seclusion of few monks in the caves, led by Sabas. Over the years it was built, expanded, and fortified. During the peak times it housed about 500 monks.
WARNING: It’s highly recommended to make this hike with a local person due to robbery incidents near Hyrcania Fortress by some bandits.