Masada cableway

The Masada cableway transports passengers up a steep vertical rise from the desert floor to the summit of an isolated plateau using two cabins that run simultaneously. The journey covers more than 330 meters of elevation gain and takes only a few minutes to complete.

The first cableway was built in 1971 using Swiss technology, but it was replaced in 1998 with a modern system designed without support pillars. This technical change allowed cleaner access to the archaeological site without additional structures interrupting the mountain.

The cableway provides access to the remains of an ancient Jewish fortress where visitors can see old walls, living quarters, and fortifications still standing on the mountain. The site carries deep spiritual and historical meaning for many people today.

The ride takes just a few minutes, and cabins depart regularly so wait times are short. The system makes accessing the summit straightforward by replacing the steep walk up the mountain with a quick cable car journey.

This system operates at one of the lowest points on Earth, connecting two stations at radically different elevations in a setting few other cable cars can match. The pillar-free design was a remarkable engineering achievement when it was introduced.