Dead Sea
N 31°43.083', E 35°35.294'
2010-11-12
Our rating: 8.00
Overall rating: - Rate this place - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Dead Sea is a unique natural formation located between Israel and Jordan. It is 67 km long and 18 km wide, so one coast is visible from another. On the Jordanian side you can watch the beautiful sunset.
Sunset at the Dead Sea ©Yuriy Buriak
Sunset at the Dead Sea ©Yuriy Buriak
Sunset at the Dead Sea ©Yuriy Buriak
Water level is 427 m below sea level (as for December, 2012) and falls by 1 meter every year. It is easy to notice extensive shallows where water used to be 5 years ago. In 2005, Jordan, Israel and Palestine signed an agreement to build a huge canal that will connect the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, provide the countries with electricity and replenish the Dead Sea.
Dead Sea level ©Yuriy Buriak
This is one of the most saline water reservoirs on Earth. Its water is like oil, it is impossible to sink and the feelings are pretty nasty. In Jordan, there are several hotels on the Dead Sea. They are all in one place and all of them are very expensive. For example, prices in Mariott (booking.com ), where we stayed, start from $200 per room. The cheapest, at the moment (2017), is the Dead Sea Spa Hotel (booking.com ), it costs less than $100. There's no beach. It is very difficult to get to the water in many places. Hotels equip special approaches to the sea and also put special barrels with mud on the shore. There's no fish in the sea, so for sure this place is not suitable for snorkeling. Important notes: don't shave before bathing and don't go into the water with cuts on the body. No water should get into your eyes. If this happens, then immideately find a shower on the shore. For the same reason it's impossible to swim outside the equipped sites, as you need to take a shower after the sea.
Dead Sea shore ©Yuriy Buriak
Dead Sea shore ©Yuriy Buriak
Mariott hotel beach at the Dead Sea ©Yuriy Buriak
Mariott hotel beach at the Dead Sea ©Yuriy Buriak
If you're lucky, you can catch the morning sea with no wind and waves. This is awesome.
Dead Sea ©Yuriy Buriak
Dead Sea ©Yuriy Buriak
Except the hotels, there is nothing else here. The hotels set sky-high prices even for food. For example, dinner in the main restaurant (buffet) costs at least $50 per person. If it is very expensive and if you have a rented car, you can drive along the coast in the direction of Aqaba. Near the public beach (the only one) there is a buffet with reasonable prices. You can also go to the other hotels, though the prices are not much less. Another option - fast food in the sports bar. The second problem is transport. There's almost no public transport here and no taxis. Taxi from Amman will cost at least $70, and if you hire a car with a driver in the hotel, the price will be $100. Possible trips (alone or with a group):
Madaba Mount Nebo Jesus Christ's baptism siteMa'in Hot Spring Mujib Canyon It is also possible to visit Petra, though the distance is large.
Dead Sea ©Yuriy Buriak
Dead Sea ©Yuriy Buriak
Mariott hotel at the Dead Sea ©Yuriy Buriak
Mariott hotel at the Dead Sea ©Yuriy Buriak
Mariott hotel at the Dead Sea ©Yuriy Buriak
Getting there: 1. At the Muhajireen bus station ask about the bus to Dead sea. It will stop rather far from the sea and the rest of the trip to the beach or hotels is possible only by taxi. (about $8 + $20 for entrance to the beach). Be sure to take the phone number of a guy who brings you there, otherwise you might not return back. 2. Daily taxi from Amman to the sea starts from $60. 3. Day tour to the sea from Amman departures from the "Alpha" terminal on the Seventh Ring in Amman daily at 7:00.
Tags, Jordan: beach , sea Tags, all countries: beach , sea
- Rate this place -
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - A small town with a poor transport links 4 - Not far from human settlements, can be reached only by car 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - Photograph does not make sense or object in the reconstruction 2 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 3 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 4 - Interfere with foreign objects 5 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 6 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 7 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 8 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 9 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists 10 - A heavenly place, always perfect weather, no tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 8.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - A small town with a poor transport links 4 - Not far from human settlements, can be reached only by car 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - Photograph does not make sense or object in the reconstruction 2 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 3 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 4 - Interfere with foreign objects 5 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 6 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 7 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 8 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 9 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists 10 - A heavenly place, always perfect weather, no tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Visitor's rating - 0.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - A small town with a poor transport links 4 - Not far from human settlements, can be reached only by car 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - Photograph does not make sense or object in the reconstruction 2 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 3 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 4 - Interfere with foreign objects 5 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 6 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 7 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 8 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 9 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists 10 - A heavenly place, always perfect weather, no tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help