Best Time to Visit
March to May and September to November (25-35°C). Summer (June-August) can exceed 45°C. Winter is mild but water feels cold
Language
Arabic (official), English widely spoken in tourism
Currency
Jordanian Dinar (JOD)
Time Zone
AST (UTC+3)
Airport
Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), Amman — 60km from Dead Sea resorts
Population
Sparsely populated resort area — nearest city is Amman (4.5 million metro)
Climate
Desert, 15-45°C. Extremely arid — receives less than 50mm rainfall annually. UV is intense year-round
Safety Rating
Generally Safe (Level 1). Jordan is one of the safest countries in the Middle East
Elevation
-430.5 meters (-1,412 ft) — the lowest point on Earth's surface
With 34% salinity (10x the ocean), you float without any effort. Public beaches like Amman Beach (entry 20 JOD / ~$28 with pool and showers) are the most accessible. Resort beaches are included with hotel stays. Limit floating to 20 minutes max — the salt stings cuts and eyes. Don't put your face in the water. Shower immediately after.
The mineral-rich black mud from the shore is famous for skin benefits — loaded with magnesium, calcium, and potassium. Slather it on, let it dry for 15-20 minutes, then rinse in the sea. Free at any beach. Resort spas offer full mud treatments for 30-60 JOD. The mud is also sold packaged at the Dead Sea Museum shop and hotel gift shops.
A dramatic gorge entering the Dead Sea from the east — the Siq Trail involves wading and swimming through a narrow canyon with waterfalls. Entry: 21 JOD (~$30) including guide. Open April-October only, trails close in winter due to flash flood risk. Must book via the RSCN (Royal Society for Conservation of Nature). Wear water shoes and bring a waterproof bag.
The ancient fortress visible across the Dead Sea on the Israeli side is also accessible as a day trip via the King Hussein Bridge crossing (30km north). Alternatively, view it from the Jordanian shore at sunset. On the Jordan side, visit the similar hilltop fortress of Machaerus (Mukawir) — where John the Baptist was beheaded according to tradition. Free entry, 1-hour hike.
Natural thermal waterfalls 30km south of the Dead Sea, fed by underground volcanic activity. Water temperature: 45-63°C. The Ma'in Hot Springs Resort & Spa charges 25 JOD day-use (includes pool and waterfall access). Open 9AM-6PM. The drive from the Dead Sea passes dramatic desert canyon scenery. Best combined with a Dead Sea day.
A viewpoint and museum on the cliffs above the Dead Sea (Jordanian side) with exhibits on the sea's geology, ecology, history, and the alarming rate of shrinkage (1 meter/year). Entry: 3 JOD. The terrace restaurant has stunning views 400m above the water. Open 8AM-sunset. Allow 1 hour. 15 minutes by car from the resort strip.
Arrive at Queen Alia International Airport (AMM). Transfer 60km to the Dead Sea resort strip. The descent from 800m to -430m is dramatic — your ears will pop.
Airport transfer to Dead Sea(1 hour)
Rental car ($25-40/day), private taxi (~60 JOD), or pre-arranged hotel shuttle. The Dead Sea Highway drops through barren desert canyon scenery
Check into Dead Sea resort or hotel(30 minutes)
Kempinski ($250+), Movenpick ($180+), or budget Amman Beach day-use area. The Jordan Pass (jordanpass.jo, 70-80 JOD) covers visa + 40 attractions
First float in the Dead Sea(1 hour)
34% salinity — you float without effort. Limit to 20 minutes. Don't touch eyes. Float on your back only. Shower immediately after. The sensation is surreal
Sunset dinner at resort restaurant(1.5 hours)
Most resorts have restaurants overlooking the sea. Watch the Judean Desert across the water turn gold, then pink
A full morning at the sea — the classic floating-with-a-newspaper photo, mud baths, and the mineral-rich experience the Dead Sea is famous for.
Morning float and mud bath(2 hours)
Slather the black mineral mud all over, let it dry 15-20 minutes, then rinse in the sea. The mud is loaded with magnesium, calcium, and potassium. Free at any beach. Resort spas charge 30-60 JOD for full treatments
Dead Sea Panoramic Complex & Museum(1.5 hours)
Cliffs above the Dead Sea with exhibits on geology, ecology, and the alarming 1-meter/year shrinkage. Entry 3 JOD. Terrace restaurant with stunning views 400m above the water
Lunch at panoramic restaurant(1 hour)
The terrace restaurant at the complex has incredible views and decent Jordanian food. Mains 8-15 JOD
Afternoon spa treatment(2 hours)
Dead Sea mineral treatments at resort spas. Full body Dead Sea salt scrub and mud wrap from 40-80 JOD
Adventure day at Jordan's Grand Canyon — wade and swim through a narrow gorge with waterfalls entering the Dead Sea.
Wadi Mujib Siq Trail(4 hours)
Dramatic gorge hike involving wading, swimming, and scrambling through a narrow canyon with waterfalls. Entry 21 JOD including guide. Open April-October only. Must book via RSCN. Wear water shoes, bring waterproof bag. Start early to avoid afternoon heat
Afternoon float and relaxation(2 hours)
The salty water feels amazing on sore muscles after the canyon hike
Dinner at Movenpick Resort(1.5 hours)
Multiple restaurants. Jordanian mezze and grills. 15-25 JOD per person
Natural thermal waterfalls 30km south, then the hilltop fortress where John the Baptist was beheaded according to tradition.
Ma'in Hot Springs(3 hours)
Natural hot waterfalls (45-63°C) fed by volcanic activity. Day-use at Ma'in Hot Springs Resort: 25 JOD (pool and waterfall access). The drive through the desert canyon is dramatic. Open 9AM-6PM
Drive to Machaerus (Mukawir)(1 hour)
Hilltop fortress ruins with Dead Sea views. Free entry. 1-hour hike to the top. The biblical site where Herod had John the Baptist beheaded. Fewer tourists than Petra, equally dramatic setting
Picnic lunch with a view(45 minutes)
Bring supplies from the resort — the hilltop views are perfect for a picnic
Drive 30 minutes uphill to Madaba — the 'City of Mosaics' — and Mount Nebo where Moses saw the Promised Land.
Madaba — Map of the Holy Land(1.5 hours)
St. George's Church houses a 6th-century floor mosaic map of the Holy Land — the oldest surviving map of Jerusalem and Palestine. Entry 1 JOD. The town has many other mosaic sites. Allow 1.5 hours
Mount Nebo(1 hour)
Where Moses saw the Promised Land before dying. On a clear day, you can see Jerusalem, Jericho, and the Jordan Valley from 817m. Entry 3 JOD (covered by Jordan Pass). The Brazen Serpent sculpture is iconic
Lunch at Haret Jdoudna, Madaba(1 hour)
Restored Ottoman house with courtyard dining. Jordanian mezze and mansaf. 8-15 JOD. On the main street
A full rest day. Morning float, afternoon spa, sunset from the resort. The Dead Sea's healing properties deserve at least one unhurried day.
Morning float(1 hour)
The morning sea is calmest and least crowded. Bring a newspaper for the classic photo
Full spa treatment(2 hours)
Dead Sea salt body scrub, mud wrap, and massage. 50-100 JOD at resort spas
Final morning float, then transfer to Amman airport.
Sunrise float(45 minutes)
Sunrise over the Judean Desert across the water — worth the early alarm
Transfer to Queen Alia Airport(1 hour)
60km uphill. Taxi ~50 JOD. Arrive 3 hours before international flights
Buy the Jordan Pass online (jordanpass.jo) before arrival — it includes the visa fee (40 JOD) and entry to 40+ attractions including Petra. Costs 70-80 JOD depending on how many days at Petra. Must stay at least 3 nights in Jordan. Without it, the visa alone is 40 JOD on arrival. US, EU, UK citizens eligible for visa on arrival.
The Dead Sea's 34% salt content will cause extreme pain if it contacts your eyes, open cuts, or recently shaved skin. Do not splash, dive, or put your face in. Float on your back only. If salt gets in your eyes, rinse immediately with fresh water (bring a bottle). Avoid shaving 24 hours before floating. Wear sunglasses to prevent splashing.
Temperatures reach 45°C+ in summer, and the low elevation means thicker atmosphere but still intense UV. Drink 3-4 liters of water per day minimum. Wear SPF 50+ (the salt reflects sunlight). Sunburn happens in 15 minutes. Avoid midday floating (11AM-3PM) in summer. Hotels provide shade but public beaches have limited cover.
The Dead Sea is 60km from Amman with no reliable public transport. Options: rental car ($25-40/day from Amman), organized day tour from Amman (25-40 JOD), or private taxi (~50-70 JOD round trip with waiting time). The Dead Sea Highway (Route 65) runs along the shore and connects to Wadi Mujib, Ma'in, and eventually Aqaba.
Dead Sea resort hotels (Kempinski, Movenpick, Hilton) charge $150-400+/night. For budget access, use Amman Beach or O Beach — day-use fees of 15-20 JOD include showers, pool, and beach access. Bring your own food and water. The Jordanian Dinar is one of the world's strongest currencies (1 JOD = ~$1.41).
The Dead Sea drops ~1 meter per year due to water diversion from the Jordan River. Sinkholes are forming along the retreating shoreline. Some beach areas from 10 years ago are now 1km from the water. Stick to marked beaches and resort access points. The environmental crisis is real — the sea may disappear within 50 years without intervention.
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