The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is one of the most extraordinary places on earth, a landlocked salt lake on the border of Jordan and Israel that sits at the lowest point on the planet, over 400 metres below sea level. So saturated with salt and minerals that no life survives in it, its dense waters make swimmers float effortlessly on the surface, and visitors famously bathe, coat themselves in the mineral-rich black mud, and relax at the shore resorts beneath desert hills.

What you actually see

• Floating in the sea - the effortless buoyancy of the dense salt water.
• The black mud - the mineral mud people coat themselves in.
• The desert setting - the lake beneath the barren hills.
• The spa resorts - the shoreline resorts and their treatments.

When to go

Year-round, thanks to the warm, low-altitude climate; spring and autumn are the most comfortable, while summer is extremely hot. It makes an easy trip from Amman or a relaxing break after the exertions of Petra.

Honest expectations

The salt stings any cut or sensitive area intensely, so shave or wax well beforehand, avoid getting the water in your eyes, and never dive or swim face-down. It is best accessed via a resort or public beach with fresh-water showers, as there is nowhere to rinse otherwise. The sea is shrinking dramatically, a real environmental concern.

Nearby

Amman, the baptism site of Bethany and Mount Nebo are within reach.