Floating in the Dead Sea was high on our bucket list. As the lowest point on earth and the second saltiest body of water in the world (the first being Lake Assal in Djibouti) it was a place we were keen to explore. But what would it be like visiting the Dead Sea with children? We had heard mixed reports before travelling, with some children hating the super salty water.
After a relaxing day lounging by the Red Sea, it was time to move on to our next adventure. From Aqaba, it was an easy 3.5 hour drive, on the aptly named Dead Sea highway, to our accommodation for the night, the Kempinski Ishtar Hotel. Before settling into the hotel for the remainder of the day, we stopped at what is widely believed to be the site of Jesus’ baptism, Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan.
BETHANY-BEYOND-THE-JORDAN
Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan lies at the end of the Jordan Valley, near the Dead Sea. The site is believed to be where John the Baptist performed the baptism of Jesus Christ. Many people also believe it is the site where the prophet Elijah ascended into heaven. The actual baptism site is now completely dry as the Jordan river has been diverted several hundred metres from the original site.
To visit the site we had to join a guided tour. This area is a military zone so private vehicles are not allowed to enter. Shuttle buses depart from the parking lot beside the ticket office every thirty minutes. The buses are often full or over capacity and there can be a rush for the limited seats available, so don’t stand back! The site has only been accessible to the public since 1996, after the 1994 peace treaty between Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories. This whole region had to be carefully cleared of the many land mines that littered the area.
We followed our guide, in a group of about twenty five, along the pathways, through the various archaeological sites. After a short walk we reached the gold domed Greek Orthodox Church which is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. From here you can get down to the banks of the Jordan river.
Jordanian military guards patrol the river as it serves as the border between Jordan and the Palestinian Territories. We sat quietly on the banks on the east river.
From here we watched the crowds of people, young and old, mostly clad in white, who were being baptised on the west bank of the river.
Many visitors purchased rosaries and other religious items from the Greek Orthodox Church and proceeded to dip them in the river. After some quiet thinking time, we slowly made our way back to the bus stop. It was a very moving experience for Dave and I, although the boys were less impressed, being hungry for lunch!
THE DEAD SEA
The Kempinski Ishtar Hotel is only a short drive from Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan. As soon as we got there, it was easy to understand why the hotel is among the best in Jordan. It has 342 rooms, suites and villas, spread down the hillside, designed so that all rooms have a view of the sea. There are no less than nine pools in the hotel, many of them with stunning views.
Read Also: The Kempinski Ishtar Hotel:Paradise at the Dead Sea
We quickly changed into swimmers as we were all keen to experience the famed Dead Sea. At 429 metres below sea level it is the lowest point on the surface of the Earth. The Dead Sea is 304 metres deep, 50 kilometres long and 15 kilometres wide (at its widest point), although it is shrinking. It is not actually a sea at all, but a salt water lake. This hypersaline lake is one of the most salty lakes in the world with a salt concentration of 34%. The most salty being Lake Assal in Djibouti. Nothing can thrive in the water due to its salinity, hence its name Dead Sea. Floating is a breeze due to this high salt content. It is 9.6 times more saline than other oceans.
The Kempinski Hotel has a private beach area with access to the Dead Sea. Pots of mud are provided on the beach for that Dead Sea mud pack. Fresh water showers are also available.
MUD, MUD, GLORIOUS MUD…
Here are the steps we followed for our own personal spa treatment:
- Swim and float in the Dead Sea for 10/15 minutes.
- After swimming, apply the Dead Sea mud directly to your body and face.
- Wait 15 – 20 minutes until the Dead Sea mud is dry on your body.
- Return to the Dead Sea and wash off the mud.
- Take a shower after you exit the Dead Sea.
- You can do this once or twice daily.
Sound simple enough…well yes, but don’t get any water in your eyes or mouth and cover any small cuts and grazes with lots of vaseline. The high salinity means that any small cuts sting like mad. This is not a sea for swimming around in, just floating lazily.
The Dead Sea did not disappoint. We all loved floating in the sea, a strange sensation as you bob about just like a cork! The mud is great fun and our skin felt really smooth afterwards.
It is sad to think that the Dead Sea is disappearing, loosing almost a metre each year as its water sources are being diverted for industry and agriculture. There are plans to divert water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea in the future, so let’s hope they happen.
TOP TIPS FOR VISITING THE DEAD SEA WITH CHILDREN
Our children were 13, 11 and 9 when we visited the Dead Sea and they coped with it fine, in fact they loved the whole experience. I’ve read many accounts however, of younger children hating it and dissolving into tears the moment they entered the sea. If you have younger children it may well be better to get them looked after for a while so you can enjoy the Dead Sea as a adult experience.
- Do check for any cuts, grazes or chaffed areas – these should be well coated in vaseline.
- Don’t shave before entering the Dead Sea, in the 24 hours before!
- Avoid splashing or swimming around as the water is very painful if it gets into eyes or mouths.
- Make sure children know that they can only float, no swimming, before they get in.
- Bring fresh water with you as if you get salt water in your mouth you’ll need a drink.
- Take a book or newspaper for that floating reading the newspaper/book photograph.
For more on visiting the Dead Sea with younger children check out this post from Wanderlust and Wet Wipes.
Looking for more information on Jordan? Read these posts:
A 10 Day Jordan Itinerary with Kids
Following the King’s Highway with Kids
The Complete Guide to Petra with Kids
Have you visited the Dead Sea with children? What were your experiences?
50 Comments.
This looks like a really unique experience, and something I’d definitely love to do with my kids! They’re getting to the age something like this would work for us too, I’ll definitely do some more research! x
More posts on our trip coming soon. Just writing one on Wadi Rum and our desert experience.
Loving the mud pic! Is there a minimum age for this? I can just imagine my 4yo wanting to dive in and swim around – ha! Oh and love the tip of no shaving – but suppose all that mud covers any hairy legs 😉 #familytraveltips
Hi Jenny. We love a bit of mud in our family! Any age can go in but younger kids have been known to run screaming from the sea. Any cuts, grazes or even chaffed bits, sting like mad because of the salt content. It really hurts if you get it in your eyes. The funny thing is you can’t swim, as you just bob about with your arms and legs up. A strange sensation!
I have been to the Israeli side of the dead sea several times and it is such a unique experience. Nice post. #familytraveltips
This looks so amazing and what an experience for you and your family I would love to go there with my little one someday.Mandy xxx#explorerkids
I spent some time in this part of the world, and I regret not making it to the Dead Sea. How relaxing does it look?? Fantastic. Great tips, too. I wouldn’t think of covering cuts with vaseline, but it makes absolute sense. #Familytraveltips
It was super relaxing. We had one of our rest days at the Dead Sea where we just lazed around, floated and covered ourselves in mud!
Israel was already on my bucket list and your post confirm it’s a great place to explore.
I was so fascinated ready this, literally hanging on every word, what an experience, it almost seems impossible that this exists, I love the reading the book whilst floating around idea. We went to whitehaven beach in the Whitsundays and it was very easy to float there but nothing like this, wow I am blown away, I really want to go now! #ExplorerKids
The Dead Sea was different to anywhere else we’d been. You literally bob about like a cork!
That does look truly special. I think I need to add this trip to my bucket list as well. I’ll also need to add money… but hey, I can dream! 🙂 #explorerkids xoxo
What a fabulous experience – I am a really unconfident person in water so being able to just float about would feel amazing. Sarah #ExplorerKids
You’d love it in the Dead Sea..!
Your Insta posts have made me very curious about visiting the Dead Sea. Great tips – I would never have thought that it could hurt or that the kids might be disappointed about not being able to swim. I really didn’t know that much about Jordan and thought it was all about Petra, but it is great to see that there are so many other great things to do. #mondayescapes
Would definitely recommend Jordan as a place to visit. There is so much to see and do, all within a relatively small area (few hours drive). Petra, Wadi Rum, Red Sea, Dead Sea, Jerash and Amman. We had an amazing ten days.
Sounds like a great trip. Not thought about the whole cuts / shaving thing, ouch! #Mondayescapes
This is a great comprehensive guide. Thank you so much! I love that hotel!! It is so gorgeous and the fact that they have their own beach make it much more enjoyable. Ethan have been learning about the Red Sea from Go Jetters. He asked when can we go. I have no clue about this place and does not know where to start – so I think one day when E&E are a little older, we’ll make plan to go. Ethan has also been studying some R.E. lessons in school so this will be of interest for him too.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us on #ExplorerKids I will definitely Pin this! 🙂 xx
Jordan is a fascinating and fun place to visit with kids. Ours learnt so much as well as having an absolute ball.
Dead Sea photos always make me chuckle. Great tips on taking a dip. I wouldn’t have thought about cuts or shaving!! #MondayEscapes
It’s a very odd sensation, as you just bob about and really can’t swim!
This takes me back to when I went. Also went via the Kempinski hotel! It was fascinating how you literally can’t sink! #familytraveltips The sand was so hot though- and someone took my friends flip flops as they must have left theirs at the top. I think this is a brilliant thing to do with kids and can’t wait to take mine!
I visited the dead sea when I was 18 its the weirdest experience isn’t it and oh my I will never forget the taste when it gets in your mouth, your tips are great and exactly what a visiting family needs to know x
It is the strangest feeling to bob about in the sea and be so buoyant! My son got some water in his mouth and had to drink a bottle of water to get rid of the taste.
Wow! I have been enjoying seeing your photos of this on Instagram and it sounds like an amazing experience. I think my children are too young for it at the moment but it would be great to go when they are a bit older so we can all enjoy it. Thanks for linking up to #familytraveltips.
Nat.x
I’m sure your children would love it when they are a bit older.
How interesting! I mean, I knew about the floating, but not about not swimming. But it makes sense of course. What a shame it is getting smaller – I hope their plans to top it up work.
What a fun experience. I didn’t even think about how painful the salt water would be if you had any sores/cuts. That makes sense. #FarawayFiles
Those are great tips! When I visited the Dead Sea every cut I had stung like mad – great idea to put vaseline on. The children look like they had a great time – who doesn’t like being covered in mud?! #FarawayFiles
Boys loved it…absolutely, any excuse to get dirty!
What an amazing adventure! Posts like this are the whole reason I love blogging and #farawayfiles I’ve heard about floating in the Dead Sea my entire life, but this is the first time I’m reading about the experience! The views from the hotel were amazing as well! #wonderful
We love an adventure. Jordan was an amazing country to visit, so much to see and do.
Love your pictures! What an awesome family adventure! The Dead Sea is definitely on our bucket list. Hopefully it’ll still be worth it by the time we manage to get there… #fearlessfamtrav
Thank you. It was an amazing family trip.
Looks like a great experience! Would love to go to Jordan, such an interesting place. And that hotel looks stunning! I’m booking marking this as we may go sometime next year! #farawayfiles
It was a fantastic trip. Hope you get there sometime in 2018.
What a fantastic experience!! Love this pic of your hubby reading the guide book….and of course the ones of your boys in mud. So sad to hear the Dead Sea is receding though! #fearlessfamtrav
Great photo opportunities at the Dead Sea!
What a cool experience! I bet your kids were at a good age for it – like you say, I’ve heard taking young kids can be a nightmare. This is definitely something I’d like to experience some day. #farawayfiles
Yes, the Dead Sea definitely stings if you have any cuts, grazes or chaffed bits and this can be a real problem for little kids. There is so much more to Jordan though.
How wonderful, I have great memories of visiting the Dead Sea as a teenager and all that mud!
#fearlessfamtrav
Jordan is so high on my travel wishlist for this experience plus Petra. I really appreciate the insight into how the kids coped as I may have attempted it sooner (and regretted it). One for a few years time I guess, looks amazing. Thanks for sharing on #farawayfiles
Dead Sea and Petra were the reasons we visited Jordan but there is so much more there as well. We loved our camping trip in Wadi Rum, the Red Sea and our short time in Amman. Such a lot to see and do in a relatively small area.
My boys would absolutely love this, Jordan has just moved up a few notches in the travel list. Such great tips. I certainly wouldn’t have thought about the shaving one. #fearlessfamtrav
We certainly loved Jordan and would recommend to any family. Don’t forget the shaving tip..!
I would love to visit. What do you think the minimum age for kids would Be?
Hi Leona. I think for the Dead Sea probably six (depending on the child). I’ve read lots of accounts of little kids finding the salty sea really unpleasant as it does really sting on any cuts or grazes and is unpleasant if you get it in your eyes or mouth. There’s so much to so in Jordan though as well as the Dead Sea.
Well this sounds amazing! I’d never considered it before but now I’m tempted. And I had no idea it was so close to Bethany too – another place I’d like to see. I’m fascinated by the fact the the air is more oxygenated too – I’m off to google why right now. #fearlessFamTrav
Did you find the answer? It’s because the barometric pressure reaches 800 mm Hg because of the low elevation, thus resulting in higher oxygen levels.
Visiting Jordan moves increasingly higher on my travel wishlist – this looks like an amazing experience! Thanks for sharing with #FarawayFiles, Erin