4 / 5 - 5 reviews
How to get there
One hour from Amman by car
When to go
From May to November
Minimum stay
One day
Dead Sea (Jordan)
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David Debrincat
Practical information on Dead Sea
Reviews of Dead Sea
The favorite seaside resort of Russian oligarchs and salt water bathing fans: the Dead Sea.
My suggestion:
Dare to cover yourself in black mud for the complete experience!
My review
410 meters below the usual sea level in the rest of the world, the light is soft and subdued, the sea is mirror-smooth, and time seems to sand still: the Dead Sea is an essential part of any trip to Jordan.
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Flickr cc momo
Located 45 kilometers from Amman, the world famous Dead Sea is truly one-of-a-kind and unique anywhere on the planet. It is quite obviously impossible to visit Jordan without coming here.
My suggestion:
I recommend that you enter the sea from one of the private beaches, belonging to the hotels, where shower facilities are provided. The water is so saturated with salt that you need to rinse your skin under fresh water after swimming.
My review
Like Petra or the Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea needs no introduction. It, too, is an unmissable part of the experience of tourism in Jordan. It is like nothing else on earth. First of all, it is located beneath sea level: 420 meters below, in fact. One misconception that needs to be dealt with: the Dead Sea is not called that because it has dried up or because it is disappearing, but because its salt content is so high that marine life cannot survive there.
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David Debrincat
An immense lake with a salt concentration of 27.5%, the Dead Sea is also known as having the lowest altitude on the planet: 422m below sea level.
My suggestion:
If you're looking for some calm, don't hesitate to stray off the beaten track, but don't forget to take a bottle of fresh water to rinse yourself after bathing. And beware of mosquitos in the evening!
My review
On the road out of Jerusalem, I stopped at the military checkpoint just before Ein Gedi. I walked down to the sea and, running down my right hand side, I found a little source of fresh water. It is there that I bathed and was able to play with the funny sensation of weightlessness: you can lie vertically or horizontally, but not in between. Be careful, it's slippery! And with the patches of salt on the bottom of the sea, I was able to test how the cut on my knee disinfected itself in the hyper-salted water, which I do not wish on anyone.
As the minerals from the Dead Sea are known for their health benefits, I spread a little of the sludge on my skin whilst contemplating Jordan stretched out on the other side of the coastline, and thinking that I was in a good place there. The only negative point would be the rubbish that can be found everywhere, which somewhat spoils the wild nature of the landscape.
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Sarah Louërat
An extremely salty sea in the middle of a desert, the Dead Sea isplacedbetween Israel and Jordan and is one of the main places to visit during a trip to Israel.
My suggestion:
Take the time to read the signs explaining the dangers of the Dead Sea before entering the water: do not dive, do not splash, do not touch your eyes, do not put your head under the water and above all do not urinate in the water.
My review
Leave in good time for the Dead Sea (probably from Jerusalem) and stop somewhere to enjoy a true Israeli breakfast (very generous and balanced).
Make sure you bathe where there are facilities (for example freshwater showers). You will be glad they are there if you need to rinse your eyes after getting water in them.
It almost doesn't need to be said that you should smother yourself in sun cream, given that you will be in the middle of a desert and the sun's rays are very strong there. One time I only applied cream once, and still received second degree burns all over my body. Take a picnic with you, as well as a a towel and beach mat, so that you can really enjoy basking in the sun in peace.
Beyond the village of Ein Gedi there are some ruins of an ancient castle in the heights of the mountains next to the sea, and they are really worth a visit and a walk round .
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Ariadne Mizuno
The only sea that is below sea level and where you can swim, even if you don't know how. You really must see it!
My suggestion:
You can take a natural mud bath on some of the wild beaches that only the locals know. This beach is at Nahal Yishay. You can find it thanks to the numerous cars parked on the side of the road.
My review
Bathing in the Dead Sea is an experience that is unique and completely unforgettable. You only have to go into the water and the density of the salt makes you float on either your stomach or your back. So even people who can't swim can go for a float in the Dead Sea!
It's only a bit more than an hour from Jerusalem so you can easily add a visit to this region into your programme for your trip, even if you are only staying a short time.
On the programme there are lunar landscapes and colour changing water (from sky blue to red), and if you do an excursion to Israel, the refreshing oasis of Ein Gedi, the imposing fortress of Masada (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the bizarre resort of Ein Boqeq and beaches where you can cover yourself in the famous Dead Sea mud. In a word: unmissable!
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Rémi Manesse
56 travelers' photos
