Floating in the Dead Sea: Everything you need to know!
On Wednesday morning, we were thrilled to be driving through the sand dunes of the Jordan desert. After all, in less than 3 hours, we would be transported from the dry dunes of the desert to the sunny and salty beaches of the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is one of the most magical places I have ever been and one of things to do in Jordan that you won’t want to miss!
Dead Sea Location
An hour drive from Queen Alia International Airport (Amman airport) will bring you right to there as well. You could also stop by Mount Nebo or the Baptismal Site of Jesus Christ before reaching the Dead Sea.
From Aqaba (the closest larger city to Jordan tourist sites like Petra & Wadi Rum) to the Dead Sea requires a 3 1/4 hour road trip. It might sound like too long of a drive, but the time flew by as we gazed out over the desert mountains and took in the innumerable camels and nomadic people.
Along the way we passed through the Wadi Arabah Desert, flanked by high mountains and incredible canyons. As we continued down the unique desert roads towards the sea, we descended in elevation and found ourselves in the Karak Governorate. Suddenly, we were surrounded by palm-tree and banana plantations, with beautiful yellow sunflower fields on either side.
A few minutes off the highway, a sign announcing Lot’s Cave: The Lowest Point on Earth Museum and the biblical cave welcomes visitors to stop in.
The site is the perfect place to immerse yourself in a bit of biblical history, enjoy some Dead Sea views, and make really good memories in a very unique area. There is literally no lower point on the planet!
The Palace-Fortress of Machaerus is another of the Jordan tourist attractions worth checking along the way. It’s believed to be the actual site where John Baptist was beheaded. If you don’t want another stop, just head directly towards…
Dead Sea Jordan
For me, the most breathtaking sight from all of the must see places in Jordan was the Dead Sea. We’ve all seen the pictures, but no words can describe what you feel when you first glimpse the Dead Sea while driving at the edge of those magnificent desert cliffs.
As we drove along, Israel visible on the horizon and the water far below, there was a sense of peace all around us, like we were entering some kind of paradise. I had set out hoping to find another tropical beach, and instead I discovered a unique oasis that was much better than my expectations could have imagined!
Where to go Floating in the Dead Sea?
There are tons of places to stay and go floating in the Dead Sea, most of which offer magnificent views of the sea (of course!).
We stayed at the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar in the Dead Sea Jordan which was the perfect end for our trip. The Kempinski is an amazing place to relax and unwind after all those long desert days. The ocean-view villas are nothing less than luxurious, and the service is first class!
My favorite part besides the sea: the two infinity pools! Pro-tip: order the burger for lunch poolside.
Most Dead Sea hotels are 4 and 5 star. If you are traveling on a budget or simply want to spend an afternoon floating in the Dead Sea, the Dead Sea Spa Resort and the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea offer cheap day passes to visit their beaches. Check out JETT Travel and Tourism to find day passes and transportation options.
There is also a public beach! A day pass at Amman Tourist Beach (south of the hotels area) with access to showers and changing rooms costs about 25JD. The area gets really crowded, especially on the weekends, so be prepared for lots of people! The hotel day passes are pricier, but worth it if you value privacy.
Dead Sea Floating
The next day you might be tired from all that driving, so enjoy a morning massage and an afternoon relaxing by the pool and drinking good cocktails! Even if you aren’t the best swimmer, you can also head down to the beach: you literally can’t sink in the Dead Sea! The high salt content makes you incredibly buoyant, so you just float at the top with zero effort.
Don’t forget to grab a prime spot on the beach to get a Dead Sea mud mask or treatment! The Dead Sea mud is famous for a reason, and you’ll feel the changes in your skin immediately.
Important Floating Tips
Definitely bring bathing suits, a nice beach cover up, and some towels. Don’t forget a high SPF sunscreen and a moisturizer: your skin will be DRY after the salty water! While Jordan is a religious/conservative country, the high end hotels by the Dead Sea don’t have that same pressure to cover up, so don’t worry about bringing a bikini and shorts/tank top!
Bring a book to take the classic picture (reading and floating in the Dead Sea!)
Due to the high levels of salt in the sea, make sure you close your eyes tightly when immersing your head in the Dead Sea. Even so, be careful opening your eyes after coming back up! You might want to bring a bottle of water to rinse your eyes.
Try to splash as little water as possible around you. If some of the extremely salty water gets into your eyes by accident it will take a while for the sting sensation to go away.
Be mindful of how long you spend floating at the Dead Sea, your skin could get irritated.
You should also wear your least favorite swimsuit that day. It will almost certainly get stained by the mud, especially lighter colors!
Don’t forget to rinse the salt at the end!
It’s also important to mention that while floating in the Dead Sea will be enjoyable and fun for many, other won’t have the same experience. Due to the high levels of salt in the water, your skin could get irritated. My skin was very sensitive. I only stayed for 5 or 10 minutes at a time. Try it for yourself and tell me how it felt for you.
What to do after Floating on the Dead Sea?
For those looking for other adventures in the area, seek out Wadi Mujib canyon, one of the fun places to visit in Jordan. Here you’ll find all kinds of cool activities, from hiking and climbing to zip-lining! There is a welcome center right off the highway that organizes all activities. Access to the canyon begins in April.
For those seeking a religious and spiritual experience, The Baptismal Site of Jesus Christ is only half an hour’s drive from the major hotels in the area. Visit the site between 8am and 3pm, as closing hours vary depending on the time and day and you might not get in later in the afternoon. Drive to the visitor center and hop on the shuttle bus to the Jordan River. Expect around a 2km walk from there to the baptism site. Once you arrive, it’s a great place for a quiet prayer and some meditation!
If you are traveling to other parts of Jordan, we have some more specific travel articles and recommendations of things to do in Jordan . Amman Jordan Travel Guide and all you Need to Know.
Traveling to the Dead Sea? Things you need to know:
I think the best way to travel to the Dead Sea in Jordan is to rent a car! If driving is not your cup of tea, a taxi from Amman Airport is around 30-60JD one way. Driving can be a little crazy around the city, but once outside it’s definitely way more easy. The roads are easy to access, and the signs are in both English and Arabic.
You can access the Dead Sea by public bus as well, but you’ll have to transfer and get a taxi for the last bit of the journey.
We visited the Dead Sea, Jordan. The locals were very friendly and we felt very safe! If you are visiting the Israeli side, the logistics will be different but you can still use these Dead Sea floating tips. Have you been on the Dead Sea? Did you enjoy the experience? Please let me know! I’d love to know about your travel adventures as well!
Besitos from the Dead Sea,
Laura