- Address: Israel;
- Height of the surface above sea level: -430 m;
- Area: 605 km ²;
- Length: 50 km;
- Catchment area: 41 650 km²;
- Width: 15 km.
There are no azure sandy beaches, picturesque corals, tropical fish and beautiful rocky bays, and a long stay in the water can even harm health. Nevertheless, the coast of this sea is dotted with popular resorts with hotels of any class and wellness centers with a wide range of services. It is not difficult to guess that this is a completely unique pond on the land - the Dead Sea. Someone is coming here to improve their health, someone very much wants to experience the amazing power of salt water, which does not drown, someone wants to see the famous sights associated with this sea and its environs.
Where is the Dead Sea in Israel?
Most people ask: "Where is the Dead Sea located?", Answer: "In Israel." This is not true. In fact, this reservoir lies on the border of two states: Jordan and Israel . These countries have practically the same length of the coast line. Just on the western Israeli coast more developed tourist infrastructure, so the resorts here are more popular than in Jordan. In addition, many tourists are attracted by the opportunity to combine the trip immediately to the three seas: the Red, the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea, which are marked on the map of Israel.
Israeli resorts on the Dead Sea
Going to the shores of the most mysterious and unusual sea on earth, be prepared for the fact that you will not be waited here by such an atmosphere of carefree rest and fun that reigns on the beaches of Eilat and Tel Aviv . Surrounded by a sacred Judean desert , a few hundred meters below sea level, amid crystal clear space saturated with useful minerals. The concept of "rest" takes on a completely different meaning. I want silence, solitude and harmony with nature. Therefore, and resorts, as such, there is not much.
The main city of Israel, which is the Dead Sea - Ein Bokek . It focuses most of the hotels, equipped beaches and health clinics. There are many cafes, restaurants, shopping centers. And although there are always a lot of people in Ein Bokek and it is perceived as an ordinary coastal city, there is no local population here. All the tourist servicing personnel come from nearby towns. Therefore, it is more correct to call Ein Bokek simply a resort of Israel on the Dead Sea.
Among the usual settlements on the coast, where the tourist infrastructure is also developed, one can distinguish:
- Neve Zohar - located near Ein Bokek, there are hotels (one even in the All Inclusive format), guest houses;
- kibbutz Ein Gedi - is located near a well-known nature reserve, almost all hotels are oriented to SPA-profile;
- kibbutz Kalia - closer to the north coast, all beaches are paid, you can stay at the hotel or guest house.
There is another city on the Dead Sea in Israel, where tourists often come, despite the fact that it is 25 km from the coast. This is Arad . Its peculiarity is that the location of the city contributed to the creation here of absolutely unique natural and climatic conditions. Arad is recognized by UNESCO as the cleanest city in the world in terms of the ecological aspect. The composition of the air and its physical properties are unique. That's why tourists from different countries try to get here, who want to improve or strengthen their health. The city has many specialized clinics, spa centers and health centers.
Beaches of the Dead Sea in Israel
Leisure lovers "savages" will have to disappoint. You will not be able to retire at any place you like on the coast. Bathing in the Dead Sea is fraught with many dangers (accidental ingestion of too salty water, which aggressively affects the mucous membranes, quicksand, reefs). Therefore, swimming is allowed only in specially designated and appropriately equipped places.
Rest in Israel at the Dead Sea is possible on the following beaches:
- Bianchini - there are houses for rent on the beach, Moroccan restaurant, children's club, sun awnings (located in the northern part of the coast, entrance fee - about € 13);
- Potassium - there is everything you need for a comfortable stay: awnings, deckchairs, changing cabins, shower, fresh water swimming pool, cafes, bars, a small water park, playgrounds, camping area (entrance fee is about € 15 for adults and € 12 for children, additional fees are charged for tents);
- Neve Midbar is a well-equipped beach, decorated with cane, young people like to have a rest there, there is a volleyball court, a bar and a restaurant, sometimes there are beach parties (€ 23 entrance, you can also rent a place at the campsite (€ 24) or a hut on the beach (€ 75));
- Ein Gedi - free public beach with canopies from the sun, changing rooms, toilets, cafes and equipped picnic places;
- Ein Gedi SPA - apart from the usual beach infrastructure, there are swimming pools with thermo-mineral and fresh water, procedural SPA-rooms, mud baths (admission for adults costs € 28, for children € 19);
- Mineral - an excellent option to relax and get well, on the beach you can take mud baths, buy in the pool with warm water from the family sources (entry fee - € 13-16 (depending on the day of the week));
- the beaches of Ein Bokek - there are about 7 of them (basically each belongs to a certain hotel, but there is also one public);
- Hamey-Zohar - there is a public free beach with a large parking lot, toilets and sun awnings, as well as a zone of diversion bathing where women and men bathe separately from each other.
You can reach the beaches on the Dead Sea in Israel by a rented car or bus from Tel Aviv (No.421, about 2.5 hours drive), Jerusalem (No.486, 444, 487, the journey takes 40 minutes to 2 hours) or Eilat (№444, on the way about 2,5-4 hours, depending on the beach where you are going).
What to see on the Dead Sea in Israel?
Wellness holidays on the shore of an unusual pond can be diversified with fascinating excursions to local attractions. In the surrounding area there are many outstanding historical and pilgrimage places, as well as amazing natural parks and reserves. Paradoxically, one of the most vivid and saturated photos in Israel you will make on the Dead Sea.
So, the main attractions:
- Parsa Canyon ;
- the national park "Qumran" ;
- Tanim Canyon ;
- the fortress of Massada ;
- the national park "Irodion" ;
- The Judean Desert ;
- the ancient city of Jericho ;
- Byzantine monasteries in the desert ;
- the national park "Ein Gedi" ;
- Canyon Tor ;
- the reserve "Ein-Prat" ;
- Mount Sodom with the famous statue - the wife of Lot ;
- Museum "The Inn of the Good Samaritan" ;
- Reserve "Einot Tsukim" .
You can go to interesting places by yourself, renting a car, or to join a tour group.
What is the treatment of the Dead Sea in Israel?
It's no secret that many people go to the Dead Sea not so much to rest on the beach, how many to get a charge of health and vivacity for many months ahead. Even if you are not under the close scrutiny of the employees of a medical clinic or a health center, you will still leave here with markedly strengthened health and improved well-being.
Minerals and salts of the Dead Sea favorably affect, first of all, the skin:
- soften and moisturize the upper layers of the dermis;
- eliminate deep pollution;
- accelerate regeneration processes;
- detoxify;
- improve blood circulation and metabolic processes at the cellular level;
- promote rapid healing of wounds, scars, microcracks;
- stimulate the immune system, reduce the risk of infectious and bacterial skin diseases.
Very useful rest on the Dead Sea to those who have problems with the musculoskeletal system. Here athletes come back to recover from injuries, patients with arthritis, arthrosis, polyarthritis, osteochondrosis, scoliosis and rheumatism.
There is still a huge list of diseases in which rest on the Dead Sea will be an excellent way to improve health and prevent the progression of the disease. These include: eczema, psoriasis, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, prostatitis, dermatitis, prostatic hypertrophy, asthma, ENT diseases (sinusitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis, tinnitus, tonsillitis, laryngitis), allergies.
And, of course, a special "satisfaction" from rest at the Dead Sea will get the nervous system. Here you not only get rid of depression, chronic fatigue and relieve stress, but also be able to cure more serious dysfunctions of the nervous system (astheno-neurotic states, neuroses, cerebral palsy).
Dead Sea hotels in Israel
On the coast of the Dead Sea there is a whole range of leisure options for tourists. There are hotels, lodges, guest houses, apartments, hostels, chalets and campsites.
The biggest choice is in Ein Bokek. We present you the list of the best places for accommodation, based on the opinions and opinions of the guests:
- hostel HI Massada ;
- Spa Hotel Isrotel Dead Sea ;
- hotel Isrotel Ganim ;
- hotel Crowne Plaza Dead Sea ;
- hotel Spa Club .
There are also many hotels on the Dead Sea in the small village of Israel - Neve Zohar. The best of them:
- Martini lodge ;
- Apartment Aloni Neve Zohar Dead Sea ;
- hotel Herods Dead Sea ;
- hotel Zimmer Dora ;
- complex Neve Zohar Lodge .
About 9 mini-hotels and guest houses are located in the mosque of Neot-Akikar ( Libi Bamidbar , Dead Sea Tamar's Cabin , Etzlenu Bahazer ). There are also accommodation options in Mul Edom Dead Sea Apartments , Ein Gedi ( Hotel Kibbutz ), Almogues ( mini-hotel Almog ) and Metsoke Dragot ( Hostel Metsoke Dragot ).
Weather
Perhaps the weather on the Dead Sea is one of the most favorable in Israel . All year round it is sunny and warm, there is almost no rain. Moreover, it is almost impossible to burn here, since the harmful ultraviolet rays simply do not reach that low, to a level of -400 meters below sea level.
The average temperature in summer is + 35 ° C, in winter + 21 ° C. Water also rarely cools to below + 20 ° C. Therefore, the swimming season is continuous here. You can not take an umbrella to the Dead Sea resorts. In a year, about 50 mm of precipitation falls in this region. It is possible to get under a short, short rain only from November to March.
Whichever time of the year you go, take warm things with you. They can be useful even in hot summer, as during the day the temperature can vary in the range of 15-20 ° C.
How to get there?
To reach the Dead Sea in Israel is easy, in whatever city you are going to rest. By bus, you can get from Tel Aviv , Eilat , Jerusalem , Baer Sheva . There are several routes that will lead you to Ein Bokek, Khamei Zohar, Ein Gedi, Neve Zohar or Kali. You can also use a rented car or taxi. The nearest airport to the Dead Sea in Israel is Ben Gurion . There are no direct buses from it, but almost to any resort it is possible to get there with transfers.