The Dead Sea.

AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST/JORDAN · ISRAEL/31.5000° N, 35.5000° E

Thick, super-heated air hits you dropping down Highway 90 or Jordan's Dead Sea Highway into the rift valley, four hundred metres below sea level. The water feels oily and dense, supporting you without effort while stinging every forgotten scratch. To the east rise the rust-coloured cliffs of Moab; to the west, the Judean Desert rolls toward Masada. Days here revolve around therapeutic mud, thermal springs, and desert silence.

Last updated 5 Sept 2026

Field notes

Photographs · Wikimedia Commons
Africa & Middle East / Jordan31.50°N 35.50°E
The Dead Sea — Dead Sea 1426 (509724585)
Dead Sea 1426 (509724585) · Wikimedia Commons
The Dead Sea — Dead Sea from Jordan
Dead Sea from Jordan · Wikimedia Commons
The Dead Sea — village
village · Wikimedia Commons

What The Dead Sea is about

Twelve ways to read the region. Pick a town below and you can turn any of these into a timed 1, 2 or 3 day plan.

DESERT FORTRESSES

Climb the ramparts of Herod's Masada at dawn or explore Machaerus where Salome danced, looking over deep limestone ravines.

THERMAL SPRINGS

Soak in hot sulfur cascades at Ma'in Hot Springs or wade through the mineral pools tucked along the Ein Gedi oasis.

CANYON HIKING

Wade through chest-deep sandstone slots in Wadi Mujib or follow freshwater stream trails through Wadi David.

ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS

Visit the desert caves of Qumran where Essene scribes hid the Dead Sea Scrolls in clay jars over two thousand years ago.

SALT FORMATIONS

Walk the crystallised salt shelves near Ein Bokek or kayak past bright white salt pillars along the Jordan shoreline.

BEDOUIN HOSPITALITY

Sit for cardamom-scented coffee, fresh shrak bread, and slow-cooked zarb roasted beneath the desert sands.

BIBLICAL HISTORY

Stand on Mount Nebo where Moses viewed Canaan, or visit Bethany Beyond the Jordan along the reed-lined riverbank.

DESERT PRODUCE

Sample sweet Medjool dates from Jericho groves, farm-fresh pomegranates, and locally pressed olive oils.

SPA & MINERALS

Coat your skin in black alluvial mud rich in magnesium before floating weightlessly on the hypersaline surface.

OASIS WILDLIFE

Spot Nubian ibex balancing on canyon ledges and rock hyraxes darting through acacia groves around Ein Gedi.

MOSAIC ART

Study the sixth-century mosaic map of the Holy Land on the floor of Saint George's Church in nearby Madaba.

DESERT ASTRONOMY

Watch clear night skies over the hyper-arid Jordan Rift Valley, far from major city glare and coastal humidity.

Where to go in The Dead Sea

The bases worth booking. Each one has its own field guide with 1, 2 and 3 day itineraries.

  1. 01
    Ein Bokek

    SOUTHERN DISTRICT / ISRAEL

    The main resort cluster on the southern basin with groomed public beaches and boardwalk access.

  2. 02
    Sweimeh

    BALQA GOVERNORATE / JORDAN

    Jordan's northern hotel strip offering terraced mud baths and direct drops to the shoreline.

  3. 03
    Ein Gedi

    SOUTHERN DISTRICT / ISRAEL

    A botanical kibbutz and nature reserve where freshwater springs cascade into desert gorges.

  4. 04
    Madaba

    MADABA GOVERNORATE / JORDAN

    A pleasant base in the Moab plateau famous for Byzantine floor mosaics and generous grills.

  5. 05
    Jericho

    WEST BANK / STATE OF PALESTINE

    An ancient oasis city known for sweet Medjool date farms, sycamore trees, and desert monasteries.

  6. 06
    Masada

    SOUTHERN DISTRICT / ISRAEL

    Herod's dramatic plateau fortress reached by the Snake Path or cable car for dawn views.

  7. 07
    Ma'in

    MADABA GOVERNORATE / JORDAN

    Steep volcanic hills hiding natural thermal hot springs and mineral waterfalls.

  8. 08
    Qumran

    WEST BANK / STATE OF PALESTINE

    Arid limestone cliffs riddled with caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.

  9. 09
    Wadi Mujib

    KARAK GOVERNORATE / JORDAN

    A dramatic river canyon where you scramble through waterfalls into the saline sea.

  10. 10
    Neve Zohar

    SOUTHERN DISTRICT / ISRAEL

    A quiet desert hamlet just south of the hotel zone with low-key guesthouses and open views.

  11. 11
    Metzoke Dragot

    WEST BANK / STATE OF PALESTINE

    A cliff-edge outpost above the northern basin popular for desert stargazing and canyon trailheads.

  12. 12
    Ghor Al-Mazra'a

    KARAK GOVERNORATE / JORDAN

    A rural southern agricultural town offering raw access to dramatic Lisan Peninsula salt flats.

What to do in The Dead Sea

Wedged into the Great Rift Valley between Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan, the Dead Sea is a hypersaline lake 430 metres below sea level. Days follow the rhythm of the sun: morning float sessions before the heat builds, afternoons in shaded canyon streams like Wadi Mujib or Ein Gedi, and evenings over grilled meats, mansaf, and Bedouin tea. It suits geological enthusiasts, restorative spa seekers, and hikers.

When to go to The Dead Sea

Visit from November to April when afternoon temperatures hover between 20°C and 26°C. Summer brings relentless heat often exceeding 40°C, making midday hiking hazardous. Winter brings occasional flash flood risks to dry wadis, but clear skies and warm waters make it ideal for desert exploration and floating.

Getting around The Dead Sea

Renting a car is essential on either side of the border. Route 90 runs the length of the western shore, while the Dead Sea Highway covers Jordan's eastern edge. Driving from Amman to the northern resort shore takes one hour; Jerusalem to Ein Bokek takes roughly two hours. Public buses are sparse, making self-driving the smoothest option.