10 Days in Dead Sea

What You Should Know Before Going On A Dead Sea Tour

Where is the Dead Sea?

As a lake that remains unmatched by its low elevation and lack of life, the Dead Sea is a landlocked body of water in southwestern Asia. Its eastern shore is part of Jordan, while the western side is part of Israel and the West Bank. It lies directly in the Jordan Rift Valley at a significant 430 meters (1411 feet) below sea level.

Can you stay at the Dead Sea?

Travelers are welcome to visit the many hotels that line the Dead Sea throughout the year. Many offer exclusive beach access to sandy shorelines that differ greatly from the public access points with stones at the waterline.

Similarly, travelers can also enjoy hot springs and spa treatments that use the Dead Sea’s natural mud and water, which is well-known for its minerals and special properties. It is important for travelers at the Dead Sea in Israel to consider that prices for hotels will be much higher during Passover, which usually occurs at the beginning of April. 

Best time to visit the Dead Sea

The extremely high salt content of the Dead Sea is just as unique as its weather patterns, which can differ greatly from surrounding cities. Therefore, the best time to visit the Dead Sea is during the spring months of March through May. This is because temperatures are not as high as they are in the summer, making the heat comfortable for travelers who are walking along or are in the sea.

Chances of rain are also the slimmest during this season, even as nature preserves such as Ein Gedi and the Mujib Reserve of Wadi Mujib are in full bloom. Similarly, tourism is not at its peak during this time, which means that the marketplaces and hotels will be less crowded with other travelers. 

For those looking to immerse themselves in the cultures around the Dead Sea, the fall months of September through November may be considered. While hotel prices are at their highest and will need to be booked far in advance along with excursions, travelers will be able to participate in the Tamar music festival that is brought on by the Jewish “high holidays” of Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur.

At the same time, bird migrations can be observed at the various nature preserves, which the cooler weather allows longer tours of. 

Weather around the Dead Sea

Given the unique location of the Dead Sea, travelers can enjoy visiting it at any point in the year since it rarely experiences inclement weather conditions. Outside of certain high temperatures or humidity levels during the summer, the weather around the Dead Sea is usually the opposite of the water. In the winter, the sea is typically warmer than the land around it while the opposite happens during the summer.

This makes it an ideal holiday location that travelers can capitalize on without fear of precipitation altering other travel plans. Another benefit of the Dead Sea is the fact that its low elevation allows fewer UV rays to reach travelers, giving them the chance to enjoy the year-round sun that the area is known for, for as long as they choose. 

Do most Jordan tours visit the Dead Sea?

Since the Dead Sea is a critical point of interest for international travelers and locals alike, most Jordan tours will visit the Dead Sea. Typically, these tours will take place over the course of a day (unless travelers choose to stay at one of the many sea-side hotels) and begin in either Amman or Aqaba.

From Amman, there is a 1.5 drive that can be done by bus or car to reach the sea. This makes the city a prime location to stay at for those on budget excursions. From Aqaba, the Desert Highway will get travelers to the Dead Sea in about 4 hours. Aqaba is also a great city to take a tour of Wadi Rum or Petra before heading out to the sea.

Is it safe?

Travelers to the Dead Sea may believe that the name of the lake is associated with some sort of toxicity. However, this could not be further from the truth, as the Dead Sea is well-known as a safe, therapeutic location for travelers and locals to indulge in mineral water and mud treatments for various ailments.

Countless photos depict travelers relaxing with books in their hands as they float in the Dead Sea, another indication of how peaceful the location is. Travelers are still cautioned to monitor political developments in the West Bank side of the sea, as this area was claimed by Israel in 1967. This has led to greater scrutiny of Muslim or Arab passports by Israel border patrol.

In the same way, passport stamps from Israel may cause travelers to be barred from visiting other surrounding countries. Fortunately, Jordan still allows travelers from Israel to visit the Dead Sea, a fact which travelers may consider as they review their excursion itineraries.