Jordan Travel Guide – Dead Sea

Jordan, bordered by Syria to the north, Israel to the west, Iraq to the east, and Saudi Arabia to the south, is situated at the crossroads of Asia and Africa. With its millennia-long history and having witnessed numerous different empires, these lands are a dream for anyone who loves history and ancient structures. We spent a total of four nights in Jordan and had a wonderfully enjoyable time. We started our Jordan trip with the Dead Sea; let’s dive into the details of our journey. 🙂

Jordan Travel Guide: When to Visit

Jordan, a Middle Eastern country, experiences scorching desert summers and genuinely cold winters. Therefore, the best times to visit Jordan are during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to October) periods. During these times, the temperatures are ideal for spending hours walking outside and enjoying the cities.

We made our trip to Jordan at the end of September, and the weather was excellent.

Jordan Travel Guide: Transportation

We flew from Abu Dhabi to Aqaba, Jordan, with Wizz Air. The direct flight to Aqaba made things much easier for us because Amman was not a city we were particularly eager to explore. This flight allowed us to skip it and plan our entire trip accordingly.

If you want to see multiple cities/places in Jordan, I definitely recommend renting a car. We rented our car in advance to be picked up at Aqaba airport. Having a car allowed us to go wherever we wanted, whenever we wanted, and gave us complete freedom in planning our itinerary. We were only stopped by the police once while driving. They asked where we were from, and then we continued on our way.

I recommend this site to check all car rental options and prices. You can also arrange for your car to be ready at the airport upon your arrival.

Jordan Travel Guide: Travel Itinerary

We arranged our travel itinerary as Aqaba -> Dead Sea -> Petra -> Wadi Rum -> Aqaba. We did not stay in Aqaba and only used the airport. If your first and last stop is Amman, I recommend doing Amman -> Dead Sea -> Petra -> Wadi Rum -> Aqaba -> Amman.

If you don’t want to rent a car and wish to visit places like the Dead Sea, Petra, and Wadi Rum, I suggest arranging a tour. You can customise your tour to start and end at the airport using the platform below. Additionally, you can compare tour options and prices via this link.

Jordan Travel Guide: Visa

Jordan requires a visa, e-visa from some countries while it’s not required from some countries. You can check if you need a visa here and apply for it.

Jordan Travel Guide: Internet

If you plan to rent a car, you must have internet access. In order not to face internet issues while travelling, you can get an e-sim from Airalo here. If you use the code IAMONT3974 when purchasing an e-sim for the first time, you will receive a $3 discount. 🙂

Jordan Travel Guide: Currency

The country’s currency is the Jordanian dinar, which is more valuable than the dollar. One Jordanian dinar equals 1.4 dollars. Credit card usage in the country is limited, so carrying cash with you is advisable.

Jordan Travel Guide: Accommodation

Choosing accommodation for the Dead Sea is quite important. Hotels with private beaches are generally preferred for swimming in the Dead Sea and enjoying the mud activities. We stayed at the Dead Sea Spa Hotel for one night. This hotel has direct access to the lake and a private beach. The open buffet breakfast and the Lebanese restaurant inside met our expectations.

A large part of the Dead Sea is public. Therefore, some people rent houses in the area and access the lake from public beaches. However, I do not recommend this. I don’t think you will be comfortable or enjoy the public beaches. If you cannot stay at the hotels around the lake, these hotels offer day passes. You can buy one of these passes and use the hotel’s beach and pool facilities. However, considering the price-performance ratio, staying at the hotel might be more sensible than getting a day pass.

Jordan Travel Guide: Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is divided vertically down the middle, shared between Israel and Jordan. These two countries are so close that you can see the settlements on the other side of the lake with the naked eye. This is the lowest point on Earth. The salt content in this lake is so high that no living organisms can survive in it, hence the name Dead Sea. The water level in the lake decreases every year. We realised how serious this situation was when we saw this board at our hotel.

The salt content in this lake is so high that you cannot sink even if you try. Even though I knew this before going and had read about it numerous times, I was incredibly surprised when I experienced it myself. All my efforts to sink were in vain. 🙂 The high salt content of the water creates a slippery texture on your skin, making it difficult to stay in the water for long periods. At least we couldn’t bear it after a while and got out.

One of the most important features of the Dead Sea is the mud extracted from it. This mud is believed to be beneficial for the skin, tightening pores, and even curing some diseases. Since my skin is sensitive, I did not use the mud. However, almost everyone on the beach covered their bodies with mud. Thanks to the large mud area in front of our hotel, everyone could use the mud and shower whenever they wanted.

Jordan Travel Guide: Dead Sea Region

One of the most important activities in this region, besides swimming in the lake, could be visiting Wadi Majid. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do this activity due to time constraints. However, if you enjoy hiking, you might want to see this beautiful canyon, half an hour away from the Dead Sea, with a river running through it. You can check the entrance fees for Wadi Majid here.

Jordan Dead Sea Travel Guide: Notes & Recommendations & Conclusion

• If you plan to rent a car, I recommend booking online before you arrive. If you don’t arrange it in advance and can’t find a car, it could make your holiday very difficult. You can check online options here.
• One day is more than enough for the Dead Sea. After a while, it turns into a hotel vacation, and you can do this anywhere.
• I recommend choosing a hotel with a beach or getting a day pass from such a hotel for accessing the Dead Sea. Avoid going to public beaches.
• There are almost no places to eat along the way. I advise you to prepare for the car journey and bring snacks with you.
• You can find my articles about Petra and Wadi Rum here.