Dead Sea travel guide (Jordan)

Why visit the Dead Sea

Floating in the Dead Sea is one of those travel experiences that is better than the photos. The water carries you like an inflatable, the air is heavy and warm, and the mountains of the West Bank shimmer on the far shore. The black mud along the beaches has been used for skin treatments for centuries, and the high air pressure and filtered sunlight at this depth are why so many spas line the Jordanian shore.

The sea is fed by the Jordan River, but because so much of that water is now diverted for farming and drinking, its level falls by around a metre a year and the shoreline retreats. Sinkholes have opened in places along the shore, which is one reason to swim only at managed beaches.

The Dead Sea area is also rich in faith history: the Baptism Site (Al-Maghtas) on the Jordan River is a 15-minute drive north of the resorts, and Mount Nebo and Madaba are just above them on the plateau.

How to float safely

1. Wade in until the water reaches your waist, then sit back gently as if into a chair and let your legs rise.
2. Stay on your back and keep your face out of the water. Do not swim on your front or dive.
3. Keep your hands away from your eyes; if water gets in, rinse immediately with fresh water at the beach shower.
4. Stay in for 10–20 minutes at a time and drink plenty of water — the salt dehydrates.
5. Wear water shoes: salt crystals on the shore are sharp and the sand can be hot.
6. Do not shave or wax the day before; small cuts sting badly.

Beaches and day passes

Most of the shore is lined by resorts, and the simplest way to visit is to stay in one. Day visitors have two options. Resort day passes give you pools, showers, towels and a private beach; prices vary widely by resort and season, and some include lunch. Public beaches, such as Amman Beach (Amman Tourist Beach) and O Beach, charge an entry fee and have showers, changing rooms and food; they are busy on Fridays and holidays.

Wherever you go, rinse off fully in fresh water after each float, then try the mud: apply, let it dry for 10–15 minutes, float it off and shower.

Nearby: Baptism Site, Ma'in and the Panorama

• Baptism Site (Bethany Beyond the Jordan / Al-Maghtas): UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015, where many Christians believe John baptised Jesus. Visits are by shuttle and guided walk from the visitor centre; see our Madaba and Mount Nebo guide.
• Dead Sea Panorama: a viewpoint and small museum on the escarpment road up towards Ma'in, with trails and wide views over the sea.
• Ma'in hot springs (Hammamat Ma'in): waterfalls of hot mineral water in a canyon about 30–40 minutes' drive into the hills.
• Wadi Mujib: the famous wet Siq Trail starts on the Dead Sea Highway about 30 minutes south of the resorts (April–October).

Where to stay

The big international resorts are side by side at Sweimeh; all have private beaches, pools and spas. Smaller hotels further inland cost less but you will need transport to the beach. See where to stay at the Dead Sea.

The lowest point on Earth, explained

The Dead Sea is a salt lake at the bottom of the Jordan Rift Valley, its surface roughly 430 m below sea level and still dropping by around a metre a year as water from the Jordan River is diverted upstream. Its water is about ten times saltier than the ocean, so dense that you float without effort and nothing larger than microbes can live in it. The mineral mud on the shore, rich in magnesium and other salts, is what the spa resorts sell, and the hazy, oxygen-rich air at this depth is part of the experience.

The shrinking shoreline is visible: some beaches now need a walk or a path down to the water, and sinkholes affect parts of the shore. Stay on marked beaches and paths.

Day trip or overnight?

From Amman, a half-day float is easy — but the Dead Sea is at its best at sunset and in the early morning, when the light is soft and the heat bearable. A night in a resort also lets you combine it with the Baptism Site, Mount Nebo and Madaba, or the Wadi Mujib Siq Trail, without rushing. Many travellers use it as the first or last night of a trip: Queen Alia airport is about an hour away.

• Half day from Amman: 3–4 hours on a public beach or resort day pass.
• Full day: Mount Nebo and the Baptism Site in the morning, floating in the afternoon, sunset on the beach.
• One night: float at sunset, spa next morning, then Wadi Mujib or the drive south along the shore.
• Two nights: a true rest stop with Ma'in hot springs and the Panorama trail.

Health and safety at the Dead Sea

The water stings cuts and eyes and is harmful if swallowed, so float on your back and never put your head under. Lifeguards watch resort and public beaches; swim only where they are present. The heat, the salt and the low altitude can be tiring — drink fresh water often and keep sessions to 10–20 minutes. Travellers with heart conditions, high blood pressure or other health concerns should ask their doctor before a long soak. Children can float under close supervision, but keep the water out of their eyes and mouths.

Getting there and tours

The resorts are 45–60 minutes from Amman and about an hour from Queen Alia Airport, so the Dead Sea makes a good first or last night of a trip. There is no regular public bus to the resorts; taxis, private drivers and tours are the practical options. See getting to the Dead Sea.

See all on GetYourGuide

Half day

Half-day tour to the Dead Sea from Amman

≈ 5–6 h

Simple return trip from Amman to a Dead Sea beach with time to float and wash off the mud.

Check availabilityBook via GetYourGuide

4 sights

Amman day trip: Madaba, Mount Nebo, Baptism Site and Dead Sea

≈ 9–10 h

Four stops in one day from Amman, finishing with a float at a Dead Sea beach. 4.9/5 from about 115 reviews (as of November 2026).

Check availabilityBook via GetYourGuide

Private

Private tour to the Dead Sea and Baptism Site

≈ 6–7 h

Half-day style private trip from Amman: the Baptism Site at Bethany beyond the Jordan, then a Dead Sea beach.

Check availabilityBook via GetYourGuide

Tour listings are on GetYourGuide. Prices, times and cancellation terms are shown live on each listing and can change; JordanTravel.com may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Plan your visit to Dead Sea

• Things to doFloating and mud, spa treatments, sunset at the shore, the Panorama viewpoint, Ma'in…
• ToursHalf-day floats, Dead Sea + Baptism Site, the four-stop Madaba–Nebo–Baptism–Dead Sea…
• Getting thereTaxis, private drivers, tours and self-drive from Amman and Queen Alia Airport to the…
• Where to stayThe Sweimeh resort strip compared: big spa resorts, family pools, value options and how…
• When to goDead Sea weather by month, water temperature, summer heat and the most pleasant seasons…