The Dead Sea, located in Jordan, is a truly remarkable place. It’s not a typical sea, but rather a large, hypersaline lake situated at the lowest point on dry land on Earth. Because of its unique geographical position and high evaporation rates, the water here is incredibly salty – far saltier than any ocean.
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This extreme salinity has a fascinating effect: it makes the water so dense that people can effortlessly float on the surface. You can lie back and relax without sinking, a sensation unlike swimming anywhere else in the world. Furthermore, the Dead Sea’s water and the rich black mud found along its shores are packed with a high concentration of minerals, including magnesium, calcium, potassium, and bromine.
Healing Powers of Dead Sea
These minerals are widely believed to have therapeutic qualities. Consequently, many people visit the Dead Sea seeking relief from various skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, as well as to soothe aching muscles and joints. Applying the mineral-rich mud to the skin is a popular practice, thought to detoxify and nourish. Thus, a visit to the Dead Sea in Jordan offers not only the unique experience of floating but also the potential for natural healing and rejuvenation through its extraordinary mineral content.
To potentially experience the beneficial effects, many visitors choose to stay for several days or even a week or two, allowing for repeated exposure to the mineral-rich water and mud. Staying just one day won’t cut it. Beyond the water itself, the air around the Dead Sea is also considered beneficial. Due to the low elevation, the air has a higher concentration of oxygen compared to sea level. Additionally, the atmosphere contains fewer allergens and pollutants, and the high concentration of bromine in the air, not as high as it would be in the lab and it would make you cough your lungs out, is thought to have a relaxing effect. These atmospheric conditions contribute to the overall therapeutic environment, potentially aiding respiratory issues and promoting a sense of well-being during a stay.
Our stay at Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea by IHG
We spent just one night at a hotel Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea by IHG near the town of Swemeh, right by the Dead Sea. The hotel had a strict requirement no drinks or food can be brought it from the outside. You could bring your water (or vodka if you fill your water bottles with it). The hotel area was gated and a security guard carefully checked our passports and reservation before letting us in. The gate had the same food and drink policy on them. They really want to upsell their drinks I guess. There was plenty of parking and the lobby was pretty much empty. Is there a lockdown or zombie apocalypse that we haven’t been infromed of?
The check-in was smooth, and we even got an upgrade to the room with balcony to the pool. We considered booking with a balcony and it was slightly more expensive and we were staying only one night, so we decided not to. I was happy as the view from the balcony was beautiful! The hotel seemed quite empty though as if seriously some apocalypse have happened. At that point we only have seen staff members.
Swim in the Dead Sea
After a quick shower, we were preparing to go out and we heard the knock on the door. I opened the door (I was dressed already) and the guy was holding a plate with sweets. It was a welcome gift. Baklava was delicious! Then we walked down to the sea and on the way we’ve met a first guest at this hotel. We said “Hi” and laughed that it is really empty and we continued to the beach.
You really notice how low you are when you’re heading down flight after flight of stairs! A few brave souls were already in the water. We quickly got into our swimsuits and hopped in. Brrr! The water was quite cold, but hey, it was March and late afternoon. Sometimes a warm wave would pass by, which was lovely, but mostly I was shivering and worried about catching a cold.
Moving my hand through the water looked wild; it looked like pushing through tinted glass, small specs of salt particles would move next to it. Also, the visibility under the water was very bad as well. No, I didn’t try to open my eyes, that would sting like hell! I just used my GoPro camera.
Floating in the Water
Trying to stand vertically was a comical challenge as the water just kept flipping my legs up. I quickly learned that trying to face down was a recipe for a salty facial and possibly drowning – the water just shoves your legs up higher than your head and you submerse yourself in a very salty water! Flipping sideways onto my back was the key; then you can just float like a happy, slightly chilly, cork.
Wallowing Pigs in the Mud
After about ten or fithteen minutes of floating in the water (and freezing), we got out. Then we saw others putting mud on before getting in. Oops. We grabbed the mud, which felt like scooping gunk from a garden puddle and had a distinct earthy smell, unlike the sea itself. At some point I started wondering if it contains some animal poo as the consistency and smell was almost like it…
We covered ourselves generously, avoiding the eyes. I put on a thick layer, wondering why others’ mud was drying so fast. Turns out, you need a thin layer to dry! My friend’s mud dried instantly, like her skin just drank it up. Mine took ages in the sun through the clouds. I twas barely 21°C (~70°F) outside. Eventually, I just washed it off under the cold shower by the sea – quite the test of willpower! I was very thankful for the separate towel the hotel gave us for the sea; a regular white one would have been ruined by the mud that didn’t quite wash off.
Back at the hotel, barely an hour after checking in, the maids had already made our beds, added flower petals, and changed the towels! Amazing service, though maybe a bit excessive on the towels given Jordan’s water situation, but it definitely made us feel fancy. After a quick shower in the room, my skin felt incredibly smooth and fresh – my face felt like it had a whole new life!
Pool Time
We were heading to the pool. They gave the towels again and we passed another not working pool, which also looked nice.
The hotel had only one pool open as it was the only one heated. The pool was pretty big and even had a life guard, who seemed to be bored to death on his chair.
My friend ordered a drink and Long Island cocktail for me as well as some chicken salad. That attracted unintended attention of two noisy cats. They were meowing like they haven’t been fed for a month. Pretty cute though.
We watched a spectacular sunset over the sea, just enough time to capture it, and then hunger struck.
Dinner Time and an Accident
For dinner we pre-booked buffet for 19 JOD each, and wow, was it worth it! One of the best meals of the trip. They had everything from normal meats to adventurous options like chicken hearts and beef spleen (which I politely skipped). The vegetable and dessert aisles were vast. I piled my plate high multiple times and could barely move afterward. The wine was extra and pricey (6-8 JOD a glass) and, honestly, didn’t taste great.
Night Stroll to Dead Sea
Stuffed and happy, we decided to walk towards the sea again after dinner. We encountered few more cats outside, very friendly and approachable and even playing among themselves. It was nice seeing the pools and stairs lit up.
Then, disaster struck – my stomach started rumbling. All the outdoor bathrooms were locked or broken! I had to sprint back to the room and barely made it. Yep, definitely too much food of too many kinds. I took couple of tablets of Imodium and was hoping for the best. I just sat in the balcony and was gazing at the blue water of the pools.
Back on the Road
The next morning, breakfast was another huge, delicious buffet. My stomach seemed to have recovered. One friend even managed a quick dip in the cold sea before we left. I decided against it; the thought of that cold shower again was a strong deterrent. Also, I’ve noticed it rained as the paths were wet and also some corridors in the hotel. We were quite lucky in the land where it almost never rains to see the rain twice!
Honestly, in this hotel by this sea I could easily spend a week. Especially if the weather is good. Also when booking a hotel make sure it has access to the Dead Sea as not all of them do. Also there are some things to see around here (Ma’in Hot Springs and Hot Water spring), some hikes to do(Abu Khasheeba Waterfall and Wadi Attwan / Bani Hamida). Unfortunately, we had no time for that.
We checked out, packed the car, and headed off to explore the Jordan River and the place where Jesus was baptised.