Swim in the Dead Sea

One unforgettable experience I had was the chance to swim in the Dead Sea, a unique place famous for its incredibly salty waters that make floating almost effortless. The Dead Sea, bordered by Israel and Jordan, is the only spot in the world where you can truly feel this natural phenomenon. I was fortunate to enjoy this during my exchange at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 2016. After finishing my course, I traveled around Israel with 25 other students, exploring the country’s diverse landscapes. Floating in the Dead Sea quickly became one of the highlights of the trip.

The area we went to is called Ein Bokek, which is loaded with luxury hotels, restaurants, and tourists looking to get their float on. The entire area feels like a spa; everyone was very quiet and peaceful and the water is so still it almost feels like a swimming pool.  The area has free beaches; just remember to bring a towel and a beach chair. We forgot towels, and had to convince the concierge at one of the hotels to lend us some. There were also plenty of stores where you could buy Dead Sea merchandise, such as body lotions, face creams, and mud masks. We treated ourselves and bought mud masks to slather all over our bodies, which made for a great photo op. It didn’t have any noticeable results and made a giant mess on our borrowed towels (whoops). You can also use the mud off the floor of the Dead Sea to get the same effect. The beach area does provide free showers, which was key to scrubbing the salty residue off.

My Israeli roommate, Margalit, said that it’s believed that the water has healing properties. Her grandparents make the journey to the Dead Sea each year to combat their arthritis.   She also warned me to not shave my legs for a couple of days before we got there, as the water will sting any open skin. This may be a given – but don’t put your head under the water as it will leave your eyes stinging for days and your hair a salty mess. It’s difficult to stand up in the Dead Sea, as the water pushes you up to until you’re floating. It’s a bizarre sensation that’s nothing like I’ve ever felt in my life. That being said, if you have long hair, it would be best to put it up to avoid getting it wet. Many of the women I went with didn’t stay in the water too long, as the water also tends to sting down there (if you know what I mean)…

Before we went floating in the Dead Sea, we made the hike up Masada at sunrise (another great thing to do in the area). Someone I was with took a tumble on the hike, and gashed up their knee. Although the dip in the Dead Sea later that afternoon was extremely painful, they still took a quick float in the water. When would you be back to the Dead Sea next? Moral of the story – be careful in the days leading up to your visit.

If you’re looking for other things to do while you’re in Israel, check out my post on riding a camel at Kfar Hanokdim.

Have you been to the Dead Sea?  Let me know if you have any tips for experiencing this unique place!