Experience Dead Sea

Overview

The impressive buoyant waters of the Dead Sea Lake sit 1,387 feet below sea level, making it the lowest point on Earth. The salt-filled shores boast an exceptional location bordering Jordan and Israel it measures 41 miles long, and 11 miles wide along the Jordan Rift Valley. It is one of the only salt lakes in the world and along with its surrounding landscapes is a surreal sight to see. The Dead Sea is landlocked and that is what causes the water to quickly evaporate, leaving tons of salt so dense that humans can float on top of it. It has 10 times more salt than ordinary seawater which is what it's famous for, it offers amazing health benefits associated with the high salt and mineral content. The Dead Sea earned its name because animals and plants cannot survive in it. 

The Dead Sea is an ideal destination for a peaceful and relaxing vacation. Renowned for its natural beauty the area boasts some beautiful beaches and luxurious resorts, the perfect getaway for couples. It is a fascinating place to visit and there are plenty of tourist-friendly things to see and do the area boasts many restaurants, cafes, and bars. The Dead Sea is a great place for snorkeling, diving, and bathing activities and a great alternative to the bustling cities. 

Things to See and Do

Visit the Dead Sea beaches that line the coast like Amman Touristic Beach just south of the Dead Sea resorts. This casual beach offers visitors freshwater pools, Dead Sea mud, dressing rooms, and freshwater showers. The popular Ein Bokek Beach is another public beach in the main hotel area with plenty of the famous natural black Dead Sea mud and all its health benefits. 0 Beach is a pristine beach lined with plush spas and luxury poolside bars. 

Spend the afternoon at one of the many spas in the area for an invigorating spa treatment. The Dead Sea spas use the natural salts, scrubs, and lotions made from the Dead Sea. Enjoy soaking in the hot sulfur pools, coat yourself in mud, and enjoy relaxing beauty treatments like a relaxing massage.

Visit the Qumran National Park where visitors can see a fascinating archeology collection and the remains of the ancient village of Qumran, the caves situated on the mountainous desert land. Here the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, one of the greatest religious discoveries of modern times. A Bedouin shepherd came across a cache of parchment and papyrus documents dating back to the 1st Century BC, they are the oldest surviving manuscripts of the Bible. 

Check out the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve in the Judean Desert, this beautiful reserve is filled with waterfalls, walking trails, wildlife, and breathtaking scenery decorated with flora and fauna. There are five walking trails to choose from in the reserve, and options to paddle in the streams. 

See the vibrant alluring Ein Gedi Botanical Gardens decorated with pretty plants, colorful flowers, and vibrant gardens as well as walking trails. There is an African Sycamore Fig tree here that is one of the oldest trees in the Desert. 

Head to the Dead Sea Panoramic Complex perched at the edge of the Zara Mountains to enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the entire Kingdom from a lookout point.  There is a museum here that is dedicated to the Dead Sea, a beautiful hiking trail, and a restaurant.

Check out Ma`in Hot Springs which translates to `Hammamat ma`in` in Arabic. This series of natural hot mineral springs and cascading waterfalls flow into hot pools, some reaching a scorching 145 F. The pools sit 393 feet below sea level and feature over 63 different springs heated by the hot water from the top of the basaltic mountain. Walking and hiking trails maze through the area and the pools here provide treatment for chronic ailments and circulatory issues and provide healing properties.

Visit Lot`s Cave, the ruins here are found at the top of 300 steps aligned with a Byzantine Church and a cave dating back to the early Bronze Ages.

Check out Mount Sodom, a salt-rock mountain standing 742 feet above the Dead Sea, it continues to grow at 3.5 millimeters a year. A popular landmark for hiking and mountain biking and to explore the longest salt cave in the entire world.

The Nahal David stream is filled with caves and a deep history; this is the location where King David hid from the pursuing King Saul over 3,000 years ago. A popular place for hiking, swimming, and cascading falls.

Shopping

The most popular items to purchase in the Dead Sea area are Dead Sea beauty products such as face creams, eye serums, scrubs, muds, and mineral-rich soaps. Packets of the Dead Sea salt crystals and tubs of mud to take home are found all over the area and can also be purchased at the Queen Alia International Airport and the Dead Sea Fortune Factory as well as hotels.

Dead Sea skincare products are bottled up by brands like AHAVA (Hebrew for “love”) offering nutrient skincare products for men and women like eye cream, face masks, body lotions, and hand cream. 

There are three main shopping areas in the beach and hotel area of Ein Bokek, all of which are relatively small. The Ein Bokek Mall is right in the middle of the hotel zone where Dead Sea products along with beach items can be purchased. The Ein Tchelet Mall offers some good shopping options with beauty product stores and some spas on site. 

Cuisine

Jordanian food consists of a few basic groups which include meat dishes featuring lamb, chicken, or beef, never pork. A popular local tasty dish is `Shwarma` which is cooked lamb in a special sauce that is rolled in a piece of flatbread along with falafel, hummus and ful, cucumbers tomatoes, and the zingy tzatziki sauce. The food in Amman offers a lot of diversity due to its strategic position at the crossroads between the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and North Africa, and positioned with the Levant. Generally, Arabic food consists of several general basic groups.

There are not too many restaurants in the Dead Sea area. Some restaurants can be found along the main beach zone of the Ein Bokek. There are chain restaurants such as McDonald's along with buffet-style restaurants found along the boardwalk, many serving fresh fish and seafood. There are some cafes in the area and a popular Middle Eastern restaurant. Many of the hotels and resorts in the area offer excellent dining options with a wide variety of international and local cuisines. The Movenpick Resort and Spa Dead Sea has a selection of nine restaurants on-site to cater to all taste buds. The town of Madaba is filled with restaurants, shops, and Shisha bars. 

As evening time approaches, wander around the main tourist area which features numerous restaurants and bars along the waterfront and a promenade. Here you will find traditional restaurants serving unique Israeli dishes and snacks such as grilled meats, hummus, shakshuka, and baklava. Live entertainment at some of the eateries includes traditional belly dancing. 

Nightlife

There is not much nightlife in the area but watching spectacular sunsets is something unique to enjoy as well as seeing the night sky light up with stars at the lowest point on earth, another fantastic experience. There are a few popular bars in the area, some with a dance club at night and others with karaoke and belly dancing shows. A huge party scene in the Dead Sea Area is the -424 Dead Sea Rave a massive EDM festival that takes place once a year in Masada.