Dead Sea (Jordan)
A salt-lake resort area at the lowest point on Earth: float and mud-bathe at Sweimeh's beachfront hotels, with easy trips to the Jordan River baptism site, Ma'in Hot Springs and canyoneering in Wadi Mujib.
Jordan's Dead Sea lies at the southern end of the Jordan Valley, its surface about 430 m below sea level — the lowest point on land on Earth. With a salinity of around 34%, the water lets you float effortlessly, and the black mud along the shore is rich in minerals. Resorts are concentrated around Sweimeh on the northern shore, about 45–60 minutes' drive from Amman and about 1 hour from Amman's airport, with Marriott, Kempinski, Mövenpick, Hilton and other resorts lining the shore, most offering private beaches, freshwater pools and spas; if you're not staying at a hotel, you can use public beaches such as Amman Beach. Nearby excursions: about 20 minutes' drive north is the World Heritage–listed Baptism Site on the Jordan River; about 30 km south along the Dead Sea Highway is canyoneering in Wadi Mujib (open Apr–Oct); in the hills above are the Ma'in Hot Springs waterfalls, the Dead Sea Panorama viewpoint, and Machaerus, where John the Baptist was martyred; farther south are the hot-spring canyon of Wadi Bin Hammad and the Lowest Point on Earth Museum. The best seasons are March–May and October–November; winters are warm, making it a good escape from the cold, while June–September often tops 40°C. Allow 1–2 nights; it's often combined with Amman, Petra and Wadi Rum. Don't dive under or let the salt water get in your eyes, and don't shave before going in; carry your passport near the Jordan–Israel border in case of checks.
Top sights
- Dead Sea – The lowest point on Earth's land surface, about 430 m below sea level, with a salt content of about 34%. You can float effortlessly and enj…
- Baptism Site "Bethany Beyond the Jordan" (Al-Maghtas) – A UNESCO World Heritage Site believed to be where John the Baptist baptised Jesus, with access to the Jordan River banks, where Israel is v…
- Ma'in Hot Springs – Hot springs and waterfalls in a canyon on the Dead Sea’s east side, where 40–60°C spring water pours down the cliff and you can soak beneat…
- Wadi Mujib Siq Trail – A red sandstone canyon on the Dead Sea’s east shore, where you wade and climb ropes up the Siq Trail to a waterfall deep in the gorge, Jord…
- Machaerus – The hilltop fortress ruins of Herod, where tradition says John the Baptist was beheaded, with views over the Dead Sea and the far shore fro…
- Dead Sea Panorama Complex – A viewpoint complex on the cliffs above the hotel strip, overlooking the entire Dead Sea, with a small museum, a restaurant and sunsets as…
- Amman Beach (Dead Sea Public Beach) – A budget public Dead Sea beach beside the hotel strip with showers, changing rooms and a pool, where you can float and apply mud without st…
- Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth & Lot's Cave – An archaeology museum in Safi at the Dead Sea’s southern end, displaying Byzantine monastery finds linked to the Bible story of Lot, with L…
- Wadi Bin Hammad – A subtropical canyon west of Karak, with hot spring water dripping down the cliffs amid ferns and palms, where you can hike along the strea…
Where to eat
- Burj Al Hamam Restaurant – A Lebanese restaurant inside the Crowne Plaza Dead Sea Resort, known for its generous mezze and grilled meats, with sun…
- Dead Sea Panorama Restaurant – A cliffside restaurant in the Dead Sea Panorama complex, with a terrace overlooking the Dead Sea, popular mainly for th…
Itineraries
- Classic Jordan: North to South – Travel south from Amman to the Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Red Sea—the standard route for first-time visitors.
- Easy Amman Heritage & Dead Sea – Starting from Amman to explore Jerash, Ajloun, and Madaba, and ending with a relaxing float in the Dead Sea.
- In-Depth Jordan Self-Drive Grand Loop – Rent a car to explore northern ancient cities, desert castles, the King's Highway, Dana, Petra, and the Red Sea.