On the road out of Jerusalem, I stopped at the military checkpoint just before Ein Gedi. I walked down to the sea and, running down my right hand side, I found a little source of fresh water. It is there that I bathed and was able to play with the funny sensation of weightlessness: you can lie vertically or horizontally, but not in between. Be careful, it's slippery! And with the patches of salt on the bottom of the sea, I was able to test how the cut on my knee disinfected itself in the hyper-salted water, which I do not wish on anyone.
As the minerals from the Dead Sea are known for their health benefits, I spread a little of the sludge on my skin whilst contemplating Jordan stretched out on the other side of the coastline, and thinking that I was in a good place there. The only negative point would be the rubbish that can be found everywhere, which somewhat spoils the wild nature of the landscape.
On the road out of Jerusalem, I stopped at the military checkpoint just before Ein Gedi. I walked down to the sea and, running down my right hand side, I found a little source of fresh water. It is there that I bathed and was able to play with the funny sensation of weightlessness: you can lie vertically or horizontally, but not in between. Be careful, it's slippery! And with the patches of salt on the bottom of the sea, I was able to test how the cut on my knee disinfected itself in the hyper-salted water, which I do not wish on anyone.
As the minerals from the Dead Sea are known for their health benefits, I spread a little of the sludge on my skin whilst contemplating Jordan stretched out on the other side of the coastline, and thinking that I was in a good place there. The only negative point would be the rubbish that can be found everywhere, which somewhat spoils the wild nature of the landscape.
Leave in good time for the Dead Sea (probably from Jerusalem) and stop somewhere to enjoy a true Israeli breakfast (very generous and balanced).
Make sure you bathe where there are facilities (for example freshwater showers). You will be glad they are there if you need to rinse your eyes after getting water in them.
It almost doesn't need to be said that you should smother yourself in sun cream, given that you will be in the middle of a desert and the sun's rays are very strong there. One time I only applied cream once, and still received second degree burns all over my body. Take a picnic with you, as well as a a towel and beach mat, so that you can really enjoy basking in the sun in peace.
Beyond the village of Ein Gedi there are some ruins of an ancient castle in the heights of the mountains next to the sea, and they are really worth a visit and a walk round .
Leave in good time for the Dead Sea (probably from Jerusalem) and stop somewhere to enjoy a true Israeli breakfast (very generous and balanced).
Make sure you bathe where there are facilities (for example freshwater showers). You will be glad they are there if you need to rinse your eyes after getting water in them.
It almost doesn't need to be said that you should smother yourself in sun cream, given that you will be in the middle of a desert and the sun's rays are very strong there. One time I only applied cream once, and still received second degree burns all over my body. Take a picnic with you, as well as a a towel and beach mat, so that you can really enjoy basking in the sun in peace.
Beyond the village of Ein Gedi there are some ruins of an ancient castle in the heights of the mountains next to the sea, and they are really worth a visit and a walk round .
Bathing in the Dead Sea is an experience that is unique and completely unforgettable. You only have to go into the water and the density of the salt makes you float on either your stomach or your back. So even people who can't swim can go for a float in the Dead Sea!
It's only a bit more than an hour from Jerusalem so you can easily add a visit to this region into your programme for your trip, even if you are only staying a short time.
On the programme there are lunar landscapes and colour changing water (from sky blue to red), and if you do an excursion to Israel, the refreshing oasis of Ein Gedi, the imposing fortress of Masada (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the bizarre resort of Ein Boqeq and beaches where you can cover yourself in the famous Dead Sea mud. In a word: unmissable!
Bathing in the Dead Sea is an experience that is unique and completely unforgettable. You only have to go into the water and the density of the salt makes you float on either your stomach or your back. So even people who can't swim can go for a float in the Dead Sea!
It's only a bit more than an hour from Jerusalem so you can easily add a visit to this region into your programme for your trip, even if you are only staying a short time.
On the programme there are lunar landscapes and colour changing water (from sky blue to red), and if you do an excursion to Israel, the refreshing oasis of Ein Gedi, the imposing fortress of Masada (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the bizarre resort of Ein Boqeq and beaches where you can cover yourself in the famous Dead Sea mud. In a word: unmissable!