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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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