By air
Queen Alia, Amman (AMM), ~1 h
Middle East · Jordan
Dead Sea, Jordan
Floating at the lowest point on earth
Getting there
Best time to visit
March to May and September to November — mild
Don't miss
The Dead Sea
Wadi Mujib
Mount Nebo
The Baptism Site
Things to do
Floating
Mud treatments
The Wadi Mujib canyon
Where to eat
What to pack
Swimwear, water shoes; don't shave the day before
A quieter corner
Wadi Mujib's river canyon walk (seasonal)
Questions travellers ask
What should I pack for the Dead Sea?
Swimwear and water shoes — and don't shave the day before.
When should I go to the Dead Sea?
March to May or September to November, when it's mild.
What is there to do at the Dead Sea?
Float at the lowest point on earth, try the mud treatments, and visit Mount Nebo and the Baptism Site. Wadi Mujib's river canyon walk is seasonal, so check before you go.
How far is the Dead Sea from the airport?
Fly into Queen Alia, Amman (AMM), about 1 h away. Then settle in over Jordanian meze.
About Dead Sea
- Lakeside
- Desert
Where it is
The Dead Sea is a salt lake in the Jordan Rift Valley, bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west, with the mountains of Moab rising above its Jordanian shore; its surface lies more than 430 m below sea level, the lowest land on Earth.
History
The Dead Sea has drawn people since antiquity: the Nabataeans traded its bitumen, and its mud and minerals were prized as remedies. Near its northern end on the Jordanian side are Mount Nebo, where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land, and the Baptism Site of Bethany Beyond the Jordan. Since the mid-20th century the water level has fallen steadily as the flow of the Jordan River has been diverted.
People
The Jordan Valley and the southern Ghor near the Dead Sea are farming country, where Jordanian villagers grow tomatoes, bananas and dates through the mild winters. Arabic is spoken, and the hotels, spas and mineral works along the shore employ many people from the surrounding towns.
Known for
- Floating in the salty water
- Mineral-rich mud treatments
- The Wadi Mujib canyon
- Mount Nebo and the Baptism Site
- Spa resorts on the Jordanian shore
Did you know?
The Dead Sea is almost ten times as salty as the ocean, so dense that bathers float without effort, and apart from microbes almost nothing can live in it.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.