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The Dead Sea is one of the great tourist attractions of Jordan. And the Jordan Valley is a space of great symbolism for the country, because in fact it gives it its name. Therefore, our circuits usually dedicate some days to this area, because here are concentrated some of the most interesting places for the traveler. In this section you can learn more about what to see in the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley, as well as other information on what to do if you are going to spend a few days here.
No visit to Jordan would be complete without experiencing the breathtaking views and floating in the eerie waters of this uniquely spectacular sea.
The Baptism Site (Al-Maghtas)
Al-Maghtas, the Baptism Site of Jesus of Nazareth, signifies a landmark moment of the origin of Christianity. Religious and non-religious tourists alike will walk through a peaceful path of gorgeous Dead Sea vegetation to the location where Jesus was Baptised by John The Baptist. Located nine kilometers to the north of the Dead Sea visitors will have the pleasure of viewing sites built during the Roman and Byzantine empires. Al Maghtas is listed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
This small museum near the Dead Sea is a wonder in and of itself with its unique location and interesting collection of artifacts. Located at the lowest point on Earth the museum hosts a collection of materials from Lot’s cave (located just up the hill from the museum) and amazingly preserved Graeco-Roman clothing in addition to hundreds of Greek inscriptions. While visiting the museum, the walk up to Lot’s cave is highly recommended. This cave is believed to be where the Prophet Lot escaped to following the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. The cave is believed to have been transformed into a church and the intricate mosaic floor can still be seen today.
Visitors to the Dead Sea should also take advantage of another nearby wonder, Hammamat Ma’in (Ma’in Hot Springs). Popular with both locals and tourists alike, the springs are located 264m below sea level in one of the most breathtaking desert oases in the world. Thousands of visiting bathers come each year to enjoy the mineral-rich waters of these hyper-thermal waterfalls. These falls originate from winter rainfalls in the highland plains of Jordan and eventually feed the 109 hot and cold springs in the valley. This water is heated to temperatures of up to 63° Celsius by underground lava fissures as it makes its way through the valley before emptying into the Zarqa River.
In the hills east of Ghor as-Safi (ancient Zoar) a cave was found in 1991 with Early and Middle Bronze Age pottery inside.
Speculation linked the finds with Abraham’s nephew Lot who, according to the Bible, moved to a cave in the hills above Zoar after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The cave, a 10-minute climb up a steep flight of steps, is surrounded by the ruins of a small Byzantine church (5th to 8th centuries), a reservoir and some mosaics. Remains from the cave date to the early Bronze Age (3300–2000 BC) and an inscription in the cave mentions Lot by name.
The Jordanian shore of the Dead Sea is connected from north to south by the Jordan Valley Road, also known as the Dead Sea Highway., which originates in the capital, Amman, and extends south to Aqaba. From it leaves a branch to Wadi Musa (Petra). In addition, some roads save the great unevenness existing with the Highlands to connect this road with the
King’s Road
, authentic north-south axis of the country. These small roads follow the course of wadis and crossing them is an experience in itself, connecting the Dead Sea with also interesting cities such as Madaba or Karak.
To the north, the gateway is Sweimeh. It is actually a small town, which does not have a bus station. The JETT company does not include it in its network of large bus routes, and only gets here through specific tourist packages.
Therefore, faced with a practically non-existent public transport system, with only a few taxis and minibuses, the best option to get to the Dead Sea It is the private vehicle. This is an indicative list of distances and durations for trips up to the Dead Sea, taking Sweimeh as a reference for its large concentration of spas and resorts: