JO
Dead Sea
The Lowest Point on Earth
The Lowest Point on Earth
The Dead Sea float (the best natural float experience in the world; the Dead Sea 33.7% salt concentration; the finest Dead Sea public beach access from 15 JOD including fresh water and shower; do not splash water in your eyes (the salt burns immediately)) is the best natural experience in the Middle East.
💡 The Dead Sea float (the best natural float experience in the world; the Dead Sea 33.7% salt concentration; the finest Dead Sea public beach access from 15 JOD including fresh water and shower; do not splash water in your eyes).
The Dead Sea mineral mud treatment (the best therapeutic mineral mud in any accessible Middle Eastern natural spa; free from the Dead Sea shoreline; the finest 15–20-min full-body mud sun-dry before the float; in-spa mineral mud wrap at the Kempinski Ishtar Dead Sea spa from 80 JOD) is the best natural wellness experience in Jordan.
💡 Dead Sea mineral mud treatment (the best therapeutic mineral mud in any accessible Middle Eastern natural spa; free from the Dead Sea shoreline; the finest 15–20-min full-body mud sun-dry before the float; in-spa mineral mud wrap at the Kempinski Ishtar spa from 80 JOD).
The Dead Sea salt formations (the finest pure white halite and aragonite salt crystal formations in any accessible Middle Eastern shoreline; the finest salt crystal photography in any Jordan natural landscape; the finest 30-min shoreline walk past the salt encrusted reeds and columns) and the Dead Sea sunset (the finest golden Dead Sea reflection over the turquoise-blue water at 6pm from the resort beach) are the finest Dead Sea visual and photographic experiences.
💡 Dead Sea salt formations (the finest pure white halite and aragonite salt crystal formations in any accessible Middle Eastern shoreline; the finest salt crystal photography in any Jordan natural landscape; the finest 30-min shoreline walk past the salt encrusted reeds and columns).
The Baptism Site of Bethany (UNESCO 2015; from 12 JOD; 10km north; the finest site of Jesus’ baptism in any Jordan River valley; the finest 1st-century AD baptism pool and 5th-century Byzantine church foundations) and Madaba (30km north; the finest Byzantine mosaic city in any Jordan highland town; the Madaba Mosaic Map free during church opening hours) are the finest Dead Sea area heritage experiences.
💡 Baptism Site Bethany (UNESCO 2015; from 12 JOD; 10km north; the finest site of Jesus’ baptism in any Jordan River valley; guided tours daily 8am–5pm) and Madaba (30km north; the finest Byzantine mosaic map in any Jordan highland church; free during church opening hours).
Dead Sea dining is entirely resort-based: the Movenpick Dead Sea restaurants (Al Saraya restaurant: the most specifically Jordanian-cuisine mid-range Dead Sea dining; the mansaf, the meze, and the Jordan Valley fresh vegetables; JOD 12–22 pp; the most specifically local produce-sourced single Dead Sea restaurant menu), the Marriott Dead Sea Oasis Pool Bar (the most casually positioned Dead Sea meal: the poolside mezze and fresh-squeezed juice while floating between courses; JOD 8–18 pp), and the Kempinski Ishtar restaurant (the most upscale Dead Sea dining: the 5-course Dead Sea tasting menu; JOD 35–55 pp; the most comprehensively curated single Dead Sea dinner). For budget Dead Sea meals: bring a picnic from Amman (the most specifically practical Dead Sea food strategy for day visitors: the Carrefour or Cozmo supermarkets in Amman sell the full range of Jordanian foods at the lowest prices; a Dead Sea picnic lunch (the hummus, the flatbread, the salad, and the olives brought from Amman) at the Dead Sea public beach (JOD 5 entry) is the most specifically Palestinian-tradition single outdoor meal in Jordan). The Jordan Valley fruit stalls (the banana plantations, the date palms, and the citrus orchards of the Jordan Valley produce the most specifically fresh and the most affordable tropical fruit in any Jordan market; the roadside stalls on the Dead Sea highway sell bananas for JOD 0.50/kg and dates for JOD 2–4/kg; the most affordable Jordan Valley single agricultural purchase).
The Dead Sea at sunset mirrors the Jerusalem Hills silhouette from the Jordanian shore. Amman Beach public resort (JOD 20 day pass) faces directly west — ideal.
The Dead Sea sits 430m below sea level with a distinct micro-climate. The January minimum is 14°C — swimwear is viable year-round, even in winter.
Salt crystal formations are most photogenic in early directional light. Amman Beach opens at 8am. Arrive first — the beach fills from 10am with day-trippers.
Day-tripping from Amman (45 minutes south on the Dead Sea Highway) costs a fraction of the resort overnight rate. Most travellers find a day pass gives everything they need.
Dead Sea float (the best natural float; the Dead Sea 33.7% salt concentration; the finest Dead Sea public beach from 15 JOD). Dead Sea mineral mud (free from the shoreline; the finest 15–20-min full-body mud sun-dry). Salt formations walk (the finest 30-min shoreline walk past the salt encrusted reeds and columns). Baptism Site Bethany (from 12 JOD; 10km north; guided tours 8am–5pm). Dead Sea sunset (the finest golden Dead Sea reflection at 6pm from the resort hotel beach).
💡 The Dead Sea float: enter the water slowly (the salt stings any open cut); do not splash (the salt burns the eyes immediately); have a fresh water bottle to hand; the best float position is on your back with arms extended horizontally (the best effortless float in any accessible Middle Eastern hypersaline lake). The best Dead Sea public beach access is from the Dead Sea Public Beach near the resort area (from 15 JOD including fresh water and shower).
The Dead Sea public beach (JOD 5 entry) gives the float + the mud treatment + the sunset for the most affordable Dead Sea experience.
The Marriott Dead Sea Resort day pass (JOD 25 pp; the most comprehensively equipped Dead Sea resort at the most affordable major resort day-use price in Jordan) gives access to the pleasant Dead Sea environment for the float, the mud.
The Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea (the most architecturally dramatic Dead Sea resort: the Hanging Gardens of Babylon-inspired terraced structure descending to the Dead Sea shore)
Jordan Pass (jordanpass.jo) — the Baptism Site of Bethany (12 JOD), Mount Nebo (3 JOD), and the Madaba entry are all covered by the from-70 JOD Jordan Pass; buy online before arrival.
Free
Official destination guide — maps, opening hours and event listings.
Free
Explore more of Jordan’s extraordinary history and landscapes.