Dead Sea Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
The Dead Sea (Hebrew: ים המלח, Hebrew transliteration:Yam HaMelach; Arabic: البحر الميت, Arabic transliteration: al-Bahir al-Mayyit), on the border between Israel and Jordan, is the lowest point in the world at 394.6 m (1269 ft) below sea level.
Contents |
Get in
From Israel
On the Israeli side, the main access points are the oases of Ein Gedi and Ein Bokek, both accessible via Egged bus from Jerusalem (lines 486 and 487), Tel Aviv (421), Eilat (444), Beersheva and Arad (384). Both Ein Gedi and Ein Bokek have public access beaches, but Ein Bokek's beach is the better of the two. Population services are infrequent, so check schedules before heading out.
From Jordan
On the Jordanian side, the Dead Sea is possible as a day trip from Amman. Tourist areas are accessible from a main road that runs along the eastern side of the body of water and connects to Jordan's Desert Highway running to Amman. Highways leading to the Dead Sea are clearly marked by brown tourist signs. It is an ambitious 3-hour drive from Aqaba in southern Jordan.
Taxi services for travel to the Dead Sea can be purchased for the day. Many of the local hotels and resorts have shuttles that travel from Amman to the Dead Sea for a small fee. There are a handful of bus lines that also run from Amman on a daily basis.
The cost to enter the public beach varies from 10 Jordanian Dinar (JD) in the summer months to 5 JD in off peak months. Many hotels also sell day passes that include full use of hotel facilities as well as their Dead Sea beachfronts; at the Mövenpick Resort, day passes cost 20 JD per person.
Understand
The water in the Dead Sea is extremely salty, and has been estimated to be the saltiest major body of water in the world. Its name is derived from the fact that the water is far too salinated for marine inhabitation.
The Dead Sea is naturally endorheic (no outlet streams) with the Jordan River being its only major source. The northern part of the Dead Sea receives scarcely 100 mm (4 inches) of rain a year; the southern section receives barely 50 mm (2 inches). Due to the man-made reduction of the Jordan River (the river waters are 70-90 % used for human purposes) and the high evaporation rate of the Dead Sea, the sea is shrinking. All the shallow waters of the southern end of the sea have been drained and are now salt flats.
Although the Dead Sea would never entirely disappear (because evaporation slows down as surface area decreases and saltiness increases), measures are currently being proposed to siphon water from the Red Sea through a series of tunnels or canals in order to replentish the rapidly shrinking waters and provide water and electrical solutions to the surrounding countries.
Climate
The climate at the Dead Sea varies depending on the season. Temperatures during the tourist season can become extremely warm, ranging from 30°C (86°F) in the spring to upwards of 40°C (104°F) in the summer. The area receives an average of 330 days of sunshine per year, with rainy days occurring (if at all) only during winter.
See
The hypersalinated water of the Dead Sea itself is its own attraction. There are several nearby attractions that are worth attention:
Israel
- The ruins of Masada overlook the Dead Sea.
Jordan
- Historic Mount Nebo provides a panorama of the Holy Land, and to the north, a more limited one of the Jordan River valley. The excavated remains of a church and a monument commemorating the biblical story of Moses and the bronze serpent stand atop the mountain. Mount Nebo is a short 15 minute drive from the Dead Sea. Visitors can plan to spend around an hour at the site at a cost of 2 JD per person.
- The nearby town of Madaba contains some famous mosaics, including an ancient mosaic map of the Holy Land at St. George Church. The town of Madaba is not very organized and can be extremely difficult to navigate. Small streets and plenty of local foot traffic impede motor traffic.
- The Baptism Site at the Jordan River, the location archiologists are claiming is the baptism site of Jesus by John the Baptist, is a short 10 minute drive from the Dead Sea resort area. The cost to enter the Baptism Site is 5 JD per person. Buses transport visitors down to the river basin, and guided tours include visits to a Jordan River overlook, the excavated remains of the Baptismal Site, John the Baptist Church, and down to the River bank.
Do
- Due to the hypersalination of the water, one can float with ease in the Dead Sea; in fact, it is nearly impossible to sink! A popular fad by visitors is to have their picture taken while read a newspaper and floating on the surface of the water.
- The mud at the shore of the Dead Sea contains many minerals and is believe to have medicinal and theraputic benefits. It is not uncommon for visitors to cover their bodies with the dark mud.
- There are many salt deposits and chrystals scattered along the shoreline. Many visitors walk the beach in search of large pieces as souveniers.
- The water of the Dead Sea has a greasy feel to it. Beware! The water stings cuts, and causes pain if it comes in contact with the eyes.
- Wear waterproof sandals. The salt is very jagged and can easily cut your feet.
Buy
Visitors can purchase packets of the famous mud, as well as other cultural artifacts and handicrafts, from local gift shops.
Eat & Drink
The restaurant options near the Dead Sea are sparse. The Jordanian public beach contains an over-priced buffet-style restaurant and a small beach-side snack bar. It is recommended that visitors planning to visit the public beaches bring their own food and drinks.
The town of Ein Bokek on the Israeli side has a small shopping center with a McDonald's, a liquor store, and a few other stores selling everyday items and souvenirs. The shopping center has a large McDonald's sign on the roof. From the outside, it looks very out of place (and funny in a way) against the majestic background of desert mountains. Many people working there and in nearby hotels can speak Russian.
Sleep
Budget
Israel
- The Ein Gedi Youth Hostel is pretty much the sole budget accommodation option in the area.
Jordan
- The Dead Sea Resthouse is a 2-star hotel (phone: 962 5 3560110).
Splurge
Israel
In Ein Bokek, there are many health resorts catering to those wishing to take advantage of the reputed curative properties of the sea.
- Movenpick Hotel
- Marriot Hotel
- Tzel Harim Hotel (3 stars)
- Crowne Plaza Dead Sea
At the lowest place on Earth, right on the water’s edge with its own private beach, the Dead Sea Crowne Plaza is waiting to pamper you at the highest level possible. The Dead Sea Crowne Plaza is an elegant vacation spot, offering an ideal vacation in the heart of the desert. At the center of the wild ancient landscape, nature has created a rare, soothing blend of sea and desert. The hotel fits ideally into its unique natural surrounding, rewarding guests with all the essentials required for a healthy body and soul including a spa that will spoil you with dozens of various treatments, yoga and shiatsu classes, a mud festival on the beach and workshops on breathing, stretching and Reiki for parents. Tel: 972-3-5390808, Reservations
Jordan
- The Dead Sea Spa is a 4-star hotel with many ammenities (phone: 962 5 3561000).
- The Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa is a 5-star luxery hotel (phone: 962 5 3560400).
- The Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea is a 5-star luxery hotel (phone: 962 5 3561111, email).
| This article is still a stub and needs your attention. It does not have a template and contains minimal information. Please plunge forward and help it grow! |
