The floating Dead Sea Jordan: full guide to swimming

My favourite place in all of the Middle East has to be the Floating Dead Sea! It is the largest free spa on Earth a total MUST visit, bucket list experience. It is the most bizarre and unique experience – there is genuinely nothing else like it on this planet. The salt in the water makes you buoyant; you feel like you are defying gravity as the water is pushing you up constantly so you can’t sink.

The floating Dead Sea is known for being one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world, and because of this, no animals can survive in the salty waters, so have no fear of lurking animals. I was encouraged by my sister to share more, because there’s so much I learnt here at the Dead Sea. Here’s the full travel guide & travel tips to floating and swimming in the Dead Sea in Jordan.

This blog post may contain affiliate links.

Quick links for the floating Dead Sea

The Floating Dead Sea in Jordan

The floating Dead Sea is a really unusual and unique body of water; it is the saltiest place in the world and the lowest point on earth at 430.5 m below sea level and sits in between Jordan and Israel and visiting is a once in a lifetime experience. There are a number of factors that make this place so unique; extremely high amount of minerals and the levels salt content give the water and mud healing properties, making it a haven for people looking to relax and unwind. It has a super high salt level; the salt concentration is 10 times the amount of the regular ocean; it has a salt content of around 33%.

It has been used since ancient times for its healing properties for its mineral-rich waters and you’ll see people from all walks of life gently walking into the water: young, old, fitness fanatics and those trying to alleviate skin conditions, and is a great place to spend at least 2-3 days. But it’s not just for those seeking healing properties, it is genuinely a lot of fun.

There are plenty of tours that run to the floating Dead Sea (or from other destinations like Aqaba, Petra, the Dead Sea or Wadi Rum); I always compare tour prices on both Viator and Get Your Guide.

How to Get to the Dead Sea

It’s super easy to get to the Dead Sea from both Jordan and Israel. I came from Amman, Jordan; we rented a car, but you could easily do this on a day trip from the capital! There are loads of Dead Sea Tours to choose from. If you’re flying in to Israel, you can get there from Tel Aviv too.

It depends how much you want to explore; we felt the best way (and easiest way) to explore was with a car so we could drive up and down the Dead Sea Highway on the lowest place on Earth! And we have the best time finding the most beautiful spots, public beaches (and not so public beaches) and that’s how I found the best place! In my opinion, this is the best way to have an authentic floating Dead Sea Experience!

Why can you float in the Dead Sea?

The salt in the water makes you buoyant so you can’t sink; you feel like you are defying gravity as the water is pushing you up constantly.

Expect to have one of the best experiences of your life, because I loved it but it is definitely a strange sensation! Jump in right in to mineral water of the floating Dead Sea. But there is no need for a life vest as you cannot sink, even if you try to dive down you simply bob back up. However be warned! You are so buoyant, it can be quite odd to get used to, and you’ll find yourself paddling horizontally. The uber salty water makes you so buoyant, swimming is so easy.

How long can you swim in the Dead Sea for?

Honestly, this one is down to you and how sensitive your skin is. But typically, I see people floating in the Dead Sea for 15 minutes. Because it’s very, very salty, it could be slightly irritating if you stay in the water for too long, especially if you have sensitive skin.

The Dead Sea is disappearing

Yes, it’s true! The Dead Sea is dying and since 1960, 1/3 of the water has disappeared. The surface water level of the Dead Sea is disappearing and it’s dropping by 1m every year; this is because the water in the Dead Sea is evaporating and the freshwater rivers that naturally feeds into the Dead Sea are being diverted for human use to local towns; fresh water is paramount which is totally understandable. 50% of the fresh river water is being diverted by Israel and 50% is being diverted by Jordan and Syria.

Thankfully, the Ecopeace Middle East is aiming to rectify this. There are already agreements in place between the Israeli and Jordanian governments to ensure the floating Dead Sea doesn’t dry up. The Ecopeace Middle East wants to do 3 main things; recognise the Dead Sea as a UNESCO world heritage site, generate a regional rehabilitation plan and a Public Trust Obligation.

There are plenty of tours that run to the floating Dead Sea (or from other destinations like Aqaba, Petra, the Dead Sea or Wadi Rum); I always compare tour prices on both Viator and Get Your Guide.

Is swimming in the Dead Sea painful?

It is meant to be very good for skin conditions and the water feels quite silky and oily. It’s not painful, unless you have a cut on your skin, or if you have sensitive skin. Seriously, trust me on this one, dont cut yourself getting in, it stings!!!

Make sure you don’t stay in the floating Dead Sea for too long – I stayed in max 30=45 minutes at a time, because the high salinity of the water can be quite drying and can irritate your skin. We swam around for the afternoon, but we weren’t in the water constantly. Mike has some mild psoriasis on his arms and he felt fine getting in.

There are plenty of tours that run to the Dead Sea (or from other destinations like Aqaba, Petra, the Dead Sea or Wadi Rum); I always compare tour prices on both Viator and Get Your Guide.

Is Floating in the Dead Sea Possible?

Yes, floating in the Dead Sea is possible and quite fun! The floating sensation takes a bit of getting used to (I couldn’t stop laughing), but once you get the hang of it, it’s a great experience! People float in morning, day and night. Although you probably wont want to stay in the waters for too long, it is extremely salty and could be irritating! The warm waters are luscious, don’t fall asleep though, you might start to float off down the coast. It is an experience you will never forget.

Things to know before getting into the Dead Sea

• Don’t try to taste the water. It tastes like chemicals.
• Do not drink the sea water, if you do seek medical help from a lifeguard or first aider.
• Don’t shave for a few days before and try to avoid cutting yourself before getting in the water. Any cuts will sting like hell, but the wound will be cleaned.
• Take waterproof shoes so you don’t cut or scrape your feet on any of the rocks or salt on the way in.
• The water feels extremely oily on your skin; when you look at your skin underwater, you’ll see an oily sheen hovering around your skin. It’s a bizarre feeling.
• When you get out of the water, sometimes salt crystals will dry on your skin and little arm hairs – when rubbing my towel on my arms, I felt like I was being waxed as my hairs were being pulled out !
• Don’t even think about taking your camera, phone or GoPro into the water with you. The high salt content will ruin it immediately.
• Take my word for it, don’t try and submerge your face under the water. Mike tried with hilarious results (hilarious for me, anyway).
• Scrubbing some of the soft salt onto your skin is meant to exfoliate it and keep it soft.

There are plenty of tours that run to the Dead Sea (or from other destinations like Aqaba, Petra, the Dead Sea or Wadi Rum); I always compare tour prices on both Viator and Get Your Guide.

Benefits of Jordan’s Dead Sea Mud

The Dead Sea is meant to have all sorts of health benefits; relief for arthritis, helps with joint pain, it’s said to help soothe chronic back pain and it’s even meant to help with acne. Salt water actually has a lot of beneficial properties; salt water is a natural antiseptic and anti inflammatory and has been used for millennia for wound cleaning. So get down to the water’s edge and start with the Dead Sea Salt.

People actually pay thousands to have the mud shipped out to them all over the world. The mud is also meant to be helpful for all sorts of skin conditions including psoriasis; Mike has mild psoriasis and he found it helpful, it seemed to clear up immediately after.

The mud from the Dead Sea is packed with tonnes of minerals that can help to nourish and revitalize the skin. A mud bath is one of the best options. Applying the Dead Sea mud to your skin is an excellent way to help moisturize, soothe, and detoxify the skin. It can also help to reduce inflammation and redness, improve circulation, and even reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines – I’m not sure how it works exactly but the minerals are great for skin. There’s an abundance of excess mud here; so it’s a good idea to take advantage of it!

Check with your hotel to see if they provide mud – not every area of the coast has mud (see below section on hotels for more information). The best thing is to cover your entire body with mud; here you can make one of the best home made spa treatments.

What’s Unique About Swimming in the Dead Sea?

Swimming in the Dead Sea is unlike any other swimming experience. The salt content of the Dead Sea makes it so that it is incredibly buoyant, and it’s almost as if you are floating on air and it’s so much fun! It’s a surreal experience that is unlike any other.

The Dead Sea also has a very unique ecosystem. The combination of high salt content and other minerals make it impossible for fish and other marine life to survive – that’s why it’s called the Dead Sea. Nothing can survive there – except for one organism called Haloferax volcanii. Haloferax volcanii is the one thing that can survive the salty water!

Tips for Floating in the Dead Sea

Floating in the Dead Sea takes a bit of getting used to, so here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your experience:

• Start by slowly entering the water. It’s so buoyant, you can flail around a bit – your body gets pushed up constantly. Make sure you wear water shoes, and this is something I cannot stress enough; the salt can form into sharp crystals which can cut your skin, and trust me on this one; you will never want to enter the ocean water with a cut on your skin.
• Don’t stay in the water for too long. It’s good for you, but the salt content of the Dead Sea can be very drying and can irritate your skin after some time.
• Make sure to rinse off after you leave the Dead Sea to help remove the salt and salt crystals from your skin.
• It’s important to be respectful and not to leave anything but footsteps behind.

There are plenty of tours that run to The Dead Sea from Amman (or from other destinations like Aqaba, the Dead Sea or Wadi Rum); I always compare tour prices on both Viator and Get Your Guide.

The Best Hotels on the Dead Sea in Jordan

If you’re looking for a place to stay near the Dead Sea in Jordan, there are plenty of great options in the Dead Sea area and to date our favourite spot from our entire year long trip!

Movenpick Dead Sea Resort and Spa

We heard excellent things about Movenpick Dead Sea Resort & Spa and I honestly can’t recommend it enough, it’s one of the best Dead Sea resorts around. I loved the traditional architecture! The resort is built in a traditional Arabic village style and I was told the architect used traditional methods when building the place, it’s the only hotel like it in the area.

The sandy coloured buildings making you feel like you’re in deep Arabia, or if you’re a Disney fan, on the set of Aladdin. And the hotel beach is great to have too. A short walk takes you down to your own private beach access, with staff nearby to help you into the water, give you towels and provide you with mud and scrubbing salts.

They also have some outdoor showers to wash the salt water off, it is quite strong! The freshwater showers are actually really useful, walking around the beach afterwards without a shower is no joke.

Note that you can’t find mud on all the regular beaches, the hotel has to source it further down the coast. And there seems to be unlimited amounts, so this is a great opportunity to splash out – the only way to do it. We also made use of the Spa and delightful infinity pools. You can get some day passes to use Movenpick’s facilities if you’re not staying in the hotel.

Dead Sea Hotels

There are a lot of Dead Sea Spa Hotels to choose from as there are plenty luxurious resorts up and down the strip. Have a look at some of the best Dead Sea Hotels as there are plenty of good options.

• The Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea is meant to be one of the top Dead Sea hotels too, have a look at their home made pasta and Lebanese dishes!
• The Dead Sea Marriott Hotel and Spa right on the shores of the Dead Sea, it features the saltwater sea, freshwater pools, whirlpools and a spa!
• The Crown Plaza Dead Sea Resort and Spa – with its own private beach access and gorgeous sun loungers, this is a great choice.

If you’re staying on the Israeli side of the Dead Sea, the Ein Bokek Area is said to have some of the best hotels in the region. Kalia beach is very close nearby and you’ll be able to dip into the Dead Sea waters. Neve Midbar beach is also meant to be an absolute gem.

Interesting Facts About the The floating Dead Sea

There were so many interesting things I learnt – the salt crystals on my skin to the unusual salt pebble beaches. Here are some of my favourites:

• The floating Dead Sea is is around 10 times saltier than the normal sea with a salt content of 34%. This makes it one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world.
• The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth (above ground), located at 430.5 m below sea level.
• It’s harder to tan or get sunburnt due to an extra atmospheric layer, and evaporation layer above the Dead Sea and a thick ozone layer.
• You’ll be extremely buoyant, so you float! You feel like gravity is pushing you up, which is odd.
• The Dead Sea has no living animals in it, (hence the name), because of the high salt content. No floating Dead Sea fish!
• The mud is worth thousands due to the high mineral content; it’s used in beauty and health products all around the world and I felt totally spoiled by having unlimited amounts to smear on my skin all day.
• The Dead sea is getting saltier! Only one river feeds into the Dead Sea, and most of the water evaporates, making the water become slowly saltier and saltier.
• The Dead Sea is disappearing at an alarming rate, with the water level dropping by 1 meter every year (and making the salt content even higher). This is because water from Jordan River is being redirected for use by local developments, however both Jordan and Israel recently signed an agreement to keep the water levels stable so we can still enjoy this incredible phenomenon.

There are plenty of tours that run to The Dead Sea from Amman (or from other destinations like Aqaba, the Dead Sea or Wadi Rum); I always compare tour prices on both Viator and Get Your Guide.

Activities to enjoy at the Dead Sea and surrounding areas

The Dead Sea in Jordan is a great place to spend the day and explore. Here are some activities that you can enjoy at the Dead Sea and in the surrounding areas:

• Floating in the Dead Sea is a great way to relax and unwind.
• Applying Dead Sea mud to your skin is a great way to soothe, and beautify yourself.
• Exploring the nearby hot springs of Ma’in.
• Visit the Fortress of Machaerus with incredible views of the Jordan Rift Valley.
• Taking a dip in the salty waters of the Dead Sea.
• Explore Kerak Castle.
• Going for a hike and exploring the surrounding area.
• Visiting some of the nearby hotels and resorts.

Where to find the bright aqua beaches on the Dead Sea

The most beautiful waters are where the white salt beaches are. Make sure you go to a beach with proper facilities, as other areas on the coast can be a little dangerous; I called this the land of 1000 daggers. Mike and I drove up and down the coast and I saved my favourite locations on Google Maps. This area is just north of Salt Beach, the address on Google Maps is: 9GXX+7C, Sirfa, Jordan.

There are plenty of tours that run to The Dead Sea from Amman (or from other destinations like Aqaba, the Dead Sea or Wadi Rum); I always compare tour prices on both Viator and Get Your Guide.

Dead Sea Weather Jordan: best time to visit Jordan

The best time to spend a week in Jordan is definitely in the cooler months, Spring and Autumn are fairly warm whilst the winter season can be a little chillier at night. We went in winter, in January, and found that many of the days were 20°C during the day, which is still pleasant.

At night, it can be a little colder, but when you’re tucked away inside, this wasn’t exactly a problem. In the summer, you’ll find quieter crowds but expect it to be very hot!

Floating Dead Sea Weather Jordan in January:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 8-13°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 15-20°C
• Average Rainy Days: 8-10 days
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 10-11 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:30 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 5:00 PM

Floating Dead Sea Weather Jordan in February:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 9-15°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 16-21°C
• Average Rainy Days: 7-9 days
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 11 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 5:30 PM

Floating Dead Sea Weather Jordan in March:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 11-17°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 19-24°C
• Average Rainy Days: 6-8 days
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:00 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 5:45 PM

Floating Dead Sea Weather Jordan in April:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 14-21°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 22-28°C
• Average Rainy Days: 3-6 days
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 13 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 5:45 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:00 PM

Floating Dead Sea Weather Jordan in May:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 18-25°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 26-32°C
• Average Rainy Days: 1-3 days
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 14 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 5:30 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:15 PM

Floating Dead Sea Weather Jordan in June:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 21-29°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 29-36°C
• Average Rainy Days: Minimal to none
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 14 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 5:15 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:30 PM

Floating Dead Sea Weather Jordan in July:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 23-32°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 31-38°C
• Average Rainy Days: Rare
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 14 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 5:30 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM

Floating Dead Sea Weather Jordan in August:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 23-33°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 32-39°C
• Average Rainy Days: Uncommon
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 13 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 5:45 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:30 PM

Floating Dead Sea Weather Jordan in September:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 21-31°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 29-36°C
• Average Rainy Days: Rare
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:00 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:00 PM

Floating Dead Sea Weather Jordan in October:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 16-26°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 26-33°C
• Average Rainy Days: 1-2 days
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 11 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 5:30 PM

Floating Dead Sea Weather Jordan in November:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 11-19°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 20-27°C
• Average Rainy Days: 3-4 days
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 10 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:30 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 5:15 PM

Floating Dead Sea Weather Jordan in December:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 8-14°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 16-22°C
• Average Rainy Days: 6-8 days
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 10 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:45 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 5:00 PM

There are plenty of tours that run to The Dead Sea from Amman (or from other destinations like Aqaba, the Dead Sea or Wadi Rum); I always compare tour prices on both Viator and Get Your Guide.

Quick links

The Dead Sea in Jordan is a fun experience. Basically… just go! Drop me a message if you ever end up going, I would love to hear how you found the experience and if you found any of the tips of this travel blog website useful.

You might find some of my other recent posts on Jordan useful:

• Inside Petra Jordan
• Amman, Jordan’s capital city
• Swimming in the Dead Sea
• Wadi Rum
• 7 day Jordan itinerary

Full disclosure! Some of the links here are affiliate links, meaning I get a small commission from every booking made. This is at no extra cost to you. It helps keep me writing and sharing my travel guides free of charge to you 🙂 Thank you for your support! Read our affiliate disclaimer here.