Discover the healing wonders of the Dead Sea in Jordan: a complete guide

Floating and salt flats: The dead sea in Jordan, A complete Guide

Jordan is a country that offers visitors an array of natural wonders and cultural experiences. One of its most unique and awe-inspiring attractions is the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is a saltwater lake that sits on the border between Jordan and Israel. It is known for its high salt content, which makes it impossible for marine life to survive, and for its therapeutic properties. During our 12-day trip through Jordan, we visited the Dead Sea in Jordan. This article tells you everything you need to know about visiting the Dead Sea in Jordan, from floating covered in mud to admiring the beautiful salt flats.

When and how long to visit the dead sea?

The best time to visit the Dead Sea in Jordan is during the shoulder seasons of spring (March-May) and fall (September-November). The weather is pleasant during these times, with average temperatures ranging from 20°C to 30°C. I wouldn’t recommend visiting during the summer months as temperatures can reach up to 45°C. 

We stayed near the Dead Sea for 3 nights, to also enjoy some final time in a resort (we stayed in the Ramada resort, find all the best places to stay at the end of this article). However, I wouldn’t recommend spending more time here than 2 nights, as there is not much to do except for visiting the Dead Sea and restaurant options are very limited. I feel that you would be fine with 1 night or visiting during the day from for example Amman. 

How to get to the dead sea?

The Dead Sea is relatively close and easily accessible from Jordan’s capital city, Amman. The most common way to get there is by renting a car, which I would highly recommend for your full trip through Jordan. The other option is taking a taxi. The drive takes around an hour and a half. Alternatively, you can take a minibus (service) from Amman to the Dead Sea. They do depart from the Abdali Bus Station and the journey will on average cost you 2 hours and 5 JOD. Lastly, you can take the public bus from Amman to Aqaba and get off at the Dead Sea. In this case, you might have to take a taxi to your hotel and it will be more difficult to visit the Salt Flats. Alternatively, you can book a private tour from Amman or visit with a Dead Sea group tour from Amman, which guides you to the Dead Sea to experience Jordan’s healing wonder.

Explore the Salt Flats at the Dead Sea, Jordan
Salt formations at the "Coral Reef"

What makes the dead sea in jordan so special?

There are a couple of reasons why visiting the healing wonder of Jordan, the Dead Sea, should be on your bucket list and can’t be missed when travelling to Jordan. First of all, The Dead Sea is one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth, with a salt concentration of about 34%. This makes it almost ten times saltier than the ocean. The high salt content is because the Dead Sea has no outlet, so the water is evaporated leaving the minerals behind. Secondly, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth, at 429 meters below sea level. Lastly, the Dead Sea is known for its many health benefits, caused by the high concentration of minerals, such as magnesium and calcium.

Dead Sea Instagram Picture Spot, Jordan
Dead Sea Instagram Picture Spot, Jordan

To see at the dead sea: Explore the Salt Flats

There are two main activities when heading to the Dead Sea: floating in the Dead Sea, preferably covered in mud, and admiring the beautiful salt flats. Even though Jordan and the Dead Sea area are not known for the salt flats, it is still an amazing experience to admire the Dead Sea and see the salt crystals along the shore. When driving along the Dead Sea, you can find multiple salt formations, however, the best one we have found was very close to the Mujib Adventure Center. You can find the exact location where we stopped here, or by looking for “Coral Reefs” on Google Maps. 

A complete guide to the Dead Sea, Jordan
Explore the Salt Flats at the Dead Sea, Jordan
A complete guide to the Dead Sea, Jordan
The healing salt of Jordan's Dead Sea
10 things to know when floating the Dead Sea, Jordan
10 things to know when floating the Dead Sea, Jordan
The most beautiful salt flats in Jordan
Viewing the Dead Sea Salt Flats in Jordan
10-day Jordan Itinerary, Dead Sea Instagram Picture Spot, Jordan
Dead Sea Photography Details

What to know before floating in the dead sea?

One of the main activities when at the Dead Sea in Jordan is of course floating. Floating in the Dead Sea can generally be done at private beaches linked to resorts, for example at the Dead Sea Spa Hotel or Holiday Inn. When at the beach, there is a bucket of mud available, that they take from the ground. I liked how warm it was! As the salt concentrations are that high, there are a couple of things to take into account when floating in the dead sea. 

  1. Don’t shave or was before entering as this can cause irritation
  2. Be careful with cuts or wounds and protect them well
  3. Avoid getting the water in your eyes and nose, as this can cause serious irritation
  4. Do not drink the water, as it is extremely salty and can harm your health
  5. Don’t stay in the water longer dan 20 minutes to avoid dehydration
  6. Gently lower yourself into the water
  7. Rinse off with fresh water to remove salt after your floating session
  8. If you have them, take your water shoes to protect yourself from potential sharp salt crystals
  9. And, as always, wear sunscreen as you will be floating on the water, the perfect recipe for a sunburn
Fun fact: You don’t have to take a book for the standard Dead Sea images. They had them available for pictures at the shore of the Dead Sea, and we were kind of forced to make this well-known picture.
Floating in the Dead Sea, Jordan

Visit the Wadi Mujib Nature Reserve

When visiting the Dead Sea, definitely stop at Wadi Mujib on your way, where you can do a short hike / swim through the Nature Reserve. It seems to be an amazing experience, however, due to the high water during our visit in mid-April, we have not been able to hike, swim and climb through the Wadi. 

The best hotels around the Dead Sea in Jordan (including the perfect day trip from the dead sea!)

Generally, hotels around the Dead Sea are quite expensive. If you are solely looking for a resort experience, I would recommend you to do this at the Red Sea in Aqaba. However, the resorts at the Dead Sea provide you with the opportunity to do some floating. We decided to stay around the Dead Sea a bit longer, as we didn’t want to change accommodations more often. It is key to finding a good resort, as other restaurant or bar options can barely be found in the area. We ended up in a restaurant in the mall during one evening, as we didn’t want to spend another night in the buffet restaurant. 

Ramada Resort Dead Sea – During our trip we stayed at the Ramada Resort Dead Sea, as this was for us offering the best value for money. Rooms are decent, there is a decent pool and there is a small shuttle driving to the private beach area. Rooms are around €90 for 2 people.

Dead Sea Spa Hotel – The Dead Sea Spa Hotel offers good value for money with rooms starting at €150. There is an indoor as well as an outdoor pool the latter overlooking the Dead Sea. 

Samarah Dead Sea Resort StudioThis place offers full apartments and is therefore the most advised option when travelling with a larger group. Apartments for 4 persons will cost around €110, making it an option with the perfect value for money. There is a pool available and also this place offers a private beach.

Holiday Inn Dead Sea – As you already see, many hotel chains are present at the Dead Sea, where the Holiday Inn offers you one of the, relatively, cheaper options. The hotel has multiple restaurants and a private beach area. Prices start at €170 for a night.

Ma’in Hot Springs – Another perfect day trip from the Dead Sea is visiting the Ma’in Hot Springs. However, there is quite an entrance fee to visit the hot springs. If you like to do so, I would indulge in spending the night here, as you also have access to the hot springs only accessible to visitors of the hotel. Prices for a night in the Ma’in Hot Springs start at approximately €150. 

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Explore the healing wonders of the Dead Sea in Jordan, a complete guide

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Explore the healing wonders of the Dead Sea in Jordan, a complete guide