Dead Sea Holidays & Tours
TAILOR-MADE DEAD SEA HOLIDAYS & SMALL GROUP TOURS
Evocative and biblical are the words that come to mind when describing the Dead Sea valley, divided down the middle between Jordan and the West Bank and accessible from Amman on one side and Jerusalem on the other. Sites here include Christ’s baptismal near Jericho, Mount Nebo where Moses first saw the Promised Land, and Herod’s castle at Mukawir where Salome danced and John the Baptist was beheaded. And few sounds evoke the Middle East like standing on the Citadel in Amman at noon ...
Evocative and biblical are the words that come to mind when describing the Dead Sea valley, divided down the middle between Jordan and the West Bank and accessible from Amman on one side and Jerusalem on the other. Sites here include Christ’s baptismal near Jericho, Mount Nebo where Moses first saw the Promised Land, and Herod’s castle at Mukawir where Salome danced and John the Baptist was beheaded. And few sounds evoke the Middle East like standing on the Citadel in Amman at noon as the call to prayer emanates from the mosques on the surrounding hills.
The Dead Sea itself is the lowest point of land on the planet, 409 metres below sea level and a natural spa, formed by the hot springs, mud and minerals that occur naturally. Visitors to the Dead Sea can float in the salty waters and cover themselves in black, mineral-rich mud on a private beach that, if it doesn’t cure one of the many ailments it’s claimed to, will at the very least leave you with soft skin. A visit to the hot springs at Ma’in will wash the last of the mud out of any places it shouldn’t be.
Guided tours to historic sites in the valley include the mosaics in the city of Madaba which include a mosaic map of the holy land, set into the floor of the early Byzantine church of St George, and the Qumran Caves in the Judean Desert where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered in 1946. Written in ancient Hebrew, the scrolls shed new light on early Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism. Salome and Herod may be long gone from Mukawir but a huge ramp of stones built by the besieging Roman army remains - as if the legionnaires are merely on a lunch break.
Ein Gedi Nature Reserve offers oasis and wadi trails, waterfalls, streams and springs - a welcome break from the salt, mud and dust. The reserve has lush pockets of Mediterranean and desert plants and is home to Nubian ibex and rock hyrax, a species of desert groundhog.
A tailor-made, private tour of the Dead Sea and the surrounding areas are a must for any visitor wishing to experience the Middle East where Arabia meets the Mediterranean and the history and culture that has sprung from that meeting.
Best experiences
Visit the mosaic city of Madaba
Drive up into the hills above the Dead Sea to the mosaic-filled city of Madaba. The most important mosaic is in the Greek Orthodox Church of St George, showing a map of the holy land including the entire region from Jordan and Palestine to Egypt.
Relax in the Ma'in hot springs
There’s no better way to recover from a walk then in the thermally heated, mineral rich falls at Ma'in. The hot springs are heated to 63 degrees Celsius by underground lava fissures, providing an ideal spot for an afternoon bathe.
Float in the Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is the lowest exposed point on the Earth's surface and lies 409m below sea level. The water is rich in mineral salts and contains so much sodium that plant and animal life cannot live here, but you can float on the surface and have a mud bath!OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO STAY
Holiday Inn Resort, Dead Sea
On the edge of the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea lies the Arabesque- style, four star Holiday Inn Resort. Here you can relax in the trio of palm-fringed swimming pools, in the health and fitness…
Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea, Dead Sea
Set in the shore of the Dead Sea, amidst bamboo and olive trees gardens, the five star Kempinski Hotel Ishtar boasts 318 luxurious rooms and suites segregated between two enclaves. The Arabesque main…