The Dead Sea, the lowest-lying point on Earth and one of the world’s saltiest bodies of water, has been fascinating visitors for centuries. While it’s technically a lake rather than a sea, it spans more than 800 sq km and is noted for the health-giving properties of its waters – in fact, it was one of the world’s first health resorts, attracting the Biblical King Herod the Great!
The Dead Sea is still a popular destination with tourists today. If you’re planning a visit, you’ll find it’s well-served by private health spas and luxurious accommodation, like the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar that overlooks the water itself on the Jordanian side. Below we’ve outlined some of the best things to do while on holiday in this unique location.
Pamper yourself
As one of the most famous health resorts in the world, you can expect some fantastic treatment at the salty hands of the Dead Sea – especially if you sample the black mud wraps sourced from the lake bed. Local treatments for skin conditions and arthritis are so highly regarded that a stay by the Dead Sea is included in many European health insurance plans. Just the high-oxygen air in the area is infused with bromine, magnesium and other minerals that will help you to feel better – and if nothing else, you can be assured of a top-quality massage courtesy of the many professionals who work in the Dead Sea spas.
Visit Petra
While in Jordan, why not treat yourself to a visit to the country’s national treasure? Petra is an ancient city carved into the sandstone of the desert, believed to date back as far as 312 BC and possibly even earlier. An amazing monument to the tenacity of desert-dwelling people, the city features an ingenious system of dams and water conduits that allowed its inhabitants to survive and prosper in the harsh environment. Today, visitors can marvel at the vast treasury building and 7,000-seat Roman theatre – there are also some beautiful hikes in the surrounding area if you’re feeling energetic.
Explore the stunning Wadi Mujib
Not far from the Dead Sea is this amazing nature reserve set inside a vast gorge. While it looks like a dry, barren place at first glance, look a bit closer and you might spot some amazing wildlife: electric-blue lizards, the caracal (a long-eared feline predator) and the Syrian wolf. The reserve is a great place for adventurers, especially the Siq Trail – an exhausting two-kilometre trek through the water-filled gorge. Supporting Wadi Mujib also helps to preserve this unique area for future generations.
