The Dead Sea, or Yam Ha-Melakh (the Sea of Salt in Hebrew), is Earth’s lowest point. The incredible landscape of the Negev Desert surrounds it. At 434m below sea level, visiting the Dead Sea in Israel is one of the most popular things to do. At nearly ten times saltier than the ocean, nothing can live in these waters, hence the name.
The best part about visiting the Dead Sea is that it offers more things to do than you’d expect. Planning a trip to the Dead Sea is not complicated, but there are some things you should know before you go. So even though visiting the Dead Sea in Israel is not tricky, it’s better to come prepared. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the Dead Sea.
The Ultimate Guide to the Dead Sea in Israel
The Dead Sea is one of the most unique places we’ve ever visited. Found nestled between the mountains of Jordan and Israel, this area really has the most interesting landscapes and activities. Get ready to take a soothing dip in water so saline it’s slimy, spot wild ibexes, enjoy the dry desert air, and climb Masada, where ancient Jews made a dramatic last stand against the legions of Rome. Additionally and most fun, you can naturally float in the Dead Sea due to the salt.
What to Do at the Dead Sea
Visiting Spas in the Dead Sea Area, Israel
The Dead Sea in Israel is known as a natural spa escape. It is common to cover your body in the dark mineral-rich mud, lay out in the sun, and then wash the mud off in the salty water while visiting. Many hotels in the towns near the Dead Sea offer spa treatments that use the surrounding mud and salt. Additionally, the hotel pools are often filled with the same salty water.
Many people with skin conditions routinely visit the Dead Sea in Israel to heal. The dry climate, oxygen-rich atmosphere, and mineral-rich water have incredible restorative properties. The salt and mud are harvested and shipped worldwide for beauty treatments and products.
Best Places for Swimming in the Dead Sea
Ein Bokek Beach
Ein Bokek has the best public beach for swimming in the Dead Sea in Israel. It is truly set up for people to go swimming. There are changing rooms, showers, lifeguards, and restrooms to make the experience comfortable. As a resort town, Ein Bokek is very walkable, with many stores and restaurants near the beach. However, the biggest downside is that as a beach town, it is expensive, for both food and accommodations. We actually stayed in Neve Zohar, which is a little south of Ein Bokek but has cheaper accommodations.
Ein Bokek is excellent because there is a proper beach with sand and everything. The bottom of the Dead Sea in this area has lots of salt formations. They can be sharp rocks, so you might want to consider bringing water shoes. We didn’t, and we were okay, mainly because you end up floating as you get further into the lake, so you cannot touch the salt rocks anyway.
Kalia Beach
Kalia Beach is closest to Jerusalem, but it is also in the West Bank. It is a good day trip from Jerusalem as long as you can safely travel within the West Bank. Kalia Beach offers the best mud experience in the northern basin of the Dead Sea. Kalia Beach is in the Area C of the West Bank. If like us you don’t feel comfortable going to the West Bank, head to Ein Gedi or Ein Bokek.
It’s important to know that Kalia Beach is not free. The beach entrance fee is 60 NIS. Parking, changing rooms, showers, and restrooms are included in the price. The beach is open Sunday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ein Gedi Beach
Ein Gedi Beach is part of the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve. For many years, you could go swimming at the Ein Gedi beach, but this is not always the case. You need to check before going, as it gets closed due to the sinkhole problems they are having right now. I do not recommend swimming in places that are not designated beaches due to these sinkholes.
The Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, however, is a beautiful place to visit. It is a desert oasis with two spring-fed canyons, Wadi David and Wadi Arugot. There are incredible hikes in this area, which can take you to some year-round waterfalls and fresh swimming pools (yes, you can swim here!).
Must-visit Places in the Dead Sea Area
Masada
Just to the east of the Dead Sea is the incredible Masada National Park. Masada is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for the Roman siege and resistance of Jewish rebels. There are several ways to get up the mountain to see the Palace and city built on top of the plateau overlooking the Dead Sea. To get to the top, you can hike the Snake Trail, hike up the east side of the mountain for a more direct route, or take the cable car to the top.
We hiked the Snake Trail to see the sunrise from the top. It was absolutely incredible, but it was a much more challenging hike than expected. There are many switchbacks, it is about 3.5 miles, and about 700 steps of stairs to get to the top. There was a middle school group that hiked up at the same time as we did; they were running up the mountains, but we were not. Masada and the cable car both require an entrance fee. The Israel Pass can help you get a discount if you go to enough national parks. We got it for our road trip, and it was super valuable!
Timna Park
A short drive north of Eilat or south of the Dead Sea, Timna Park offers visitors a wide range of activities. The park has some incredible desert sites, including Mushroom, Solomon’s Pillars, Arches, Chariots, Spiral Hill Half Mushroom, and the Sphinx. There are cabins with parking lots, which allows for shorter walks to each location.
Additionally, Timna Park has many hiking trails, exclusive guided tours, cycling tracks, and unique sandstone rock climbing and bouldering. Finally, for less physically demanding activities, there are arts and crafts activities. There is an entrance fee for entering the park. Dogs are not allowed.
Qumran
Qumran National Park is a really cool park at the foot of a cliff in the Judean Desert. It rises from the shores of the Dead Sea, where the writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls lived. The site has a museum illustrating the way of life and a route that follows the aqueduct that collected floodwater from Nachal Qumran.
The archaeological site has many uncovered buildings, meeting rooms, pottery shops, and stables. Hundreds of pottery lamps and inkwells were found in these rooms.
One of the coolest things to do is a nighttime lamplight tour. The tour dramatizes the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the operation involved in purchasing them. If you get the Israel Pass, this one is definitely worth a visit.
Bedouin Experience
Near Masada National Park there is an awesome Bedouin Experience. Kfar HaNokdim is a great overnight stay while you’re in the Dead Sea area. They have camel rides, scorpion night tours, and delicious food!
It is a great resort to learn about the nomadic people of Israel. You get to meet all sorts of new people and you get to experience delicious food. There is just so much to do and it is also a great place to relax and reset.
Things to Know About Swimming in the Dead Sea
Swimming in the Dead Sea in Israel is very easy! Even non-swimmers will enjoy it. You cannot sink in the Dead Sea. As you get deeper, touching the ground becomes harder because you’re so buoyant. If this is your first time at this salty lake, check out some dos and don’ts!
- Don’t splash around too much. You don’t want the water in your eyes; It’ll burn. Keep your head above the water (easy since you’ll float!)
- Do NOT drink the water; if you do, go to the lifeguard stands immediately.
- Avoid shaving 24-48 hours before swimming.
- Wear a swimsuit that you don’t care about too much because it could get discolored with the minerals.
- Take time to rinse off at the showers before leaving the beach.
- Bring along water shoes because the salt deposits along the shore may be sharp.
- Ensure to stay hydrated.
How to Get There
Car
Renting a car is the easiest and most convenient way to visit the Dead Sea in Israel. That is how we got there during our road trip. We traveled from the Dead Sea to Tiberias, avoiding the West Bank’s Route 90. Instead, we went through Route 6 through Be’er Sheva and Dimona. Luckily, it is straightforward to rent a car in Israel.
Jerusalem to Ein Bokek is about 170 km via Route 6, and it is also 170 km from Tel Aviv. You can also take a quick detour south to Eilat down Route 90, where you can swim in the Red Sea.
Bus
Israel has plenty of public transportation readily available. Getting to the Dead Sea by bus is entirely doable. The Egged buses will take you from Jerusalem to Kalia Beach, Ein Gedi, Masada, Ein Bokek, and Neve Zohar. Egged will also take you to those places from Tel Aviv. It is, however, important to pre-book these bus seats if you want to take them.
Dead Sea Tours
From Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and many other places there are tons of tours to the Dead Sea. Many also go to Masada. There are some tours that visit Masada, Ein Gedi, Dead Sea, & More. Taking a tour is an excellent way of getting around to these areas that may be harder to reach if you don’t feel comfortable renting a car.
There are so many things to do in Jerusalem! Check them out before heading out on your tour to the Dead Sea.
When to Go
The Dead Sea is one of the hottest areas to visit in Israel. The sea itself quickly warms up as the temperature rises and the sun comes out. We visited at the end of February, and it was perfect. The sun was out, and it was getting warm (think high 70s), so a refreshing swim was needed! The perk of winter is the lower price for accommodations and fewer crowds, even if the water is slightly colder.
In summer, the temperatures of the Dead Sea get so hot it feels like you’re taking a hot, slimy bath. Additionally, it is super busy. So, indeed, a double whammy! The other thing to keep in mind is not to travel during Jewish Holidays, especially Passover. This makes it even more crowded.
Where to Stay
When visiting the Dead Sea in Israel, you might want to consider staying overnight. Ein Bokek is a tourist beach town with many resorts and hotels. Unfortunately, it is not set up for budget travelers. We stayed in Neve Zohar, which does have some great budget options. Ein Gedi also has many budget options.
Ein Bokek- Vert Dead Sea Hotel– Located in the northern part of Ein Bokek, this hotel has a private beach, beautiful rooms, amazing spa treatments, and a swimming pool with water from the Dead Sea.
Ein Bokek- Nevo by Isrotel– Another beautiful private beach with outdoor swimming pool, the hotel also has dinner buffet, a sun deck, sauna, and steam bath!
Neve Zohar- Gil’s Guest Rooms– An excellent budget option. These guest rooms have a shared kitchen facility, clean rooms, a garden plaza to hang out, and even allows pets.
Is the Dead Sea in Israel Worth Visiting?
ABSOLUTELY! It is such a unique place to visit. Everything from the surrounding landscape, the salt in the air, to the unique salty lake there is nowhere like it in the world. We were so happy to get to float around in this sea and check this item off our bucket list. Israel is a small country which means you can easily visit Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and the Dead Sea all in one trip. We highly recommend adding this one to your list!
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