The Dead Sea in Jordan: how to float and where it fits your trip
How to float in the Dead Sea safely, how long to stay, and whether to give it a half day or a night on a Jordan route, with what our itineraries include.
The short answer
The Dead Sea is a stop, not a destination: most Jordan routes put it last, after Petra and Wadi Rum, and give it either a half day on the way to Amman or one night at a shore resort. A half day is enough to float and rinse off. Choose the night if you want the afternoon and the following morning free, or if your flight home leaves late in the day. The water is very salty and it behaves differently from the sea, so a few rules matter more than the schedule.
What you are getting into
Jordan’s tourism board describes the Dead Sea as lying 427 metres below sea level and as some ten times saltier than sea water. The water is buoyant enough that visitors float on their backs, and the shore is known for its black mud. Nothing here is a beach holiday in the usual sense: you float, you rinse, and you sit by a pool. Resorts line the Jordanian shore, and the baptism site of Al-Maghtas, a UNESCO World Heritage site, lies a few kilometres to the north.
How to float
MIT’s student travel guide to the Dead Sea, written for visitors to the lake, and several travel writers give the same practical advice. This is general guidance, not medical advice. If you have a heart, skin or eye condition, ask your doctor first, and ask the resort about lifeguards and where the water is shallow.
- Walk in slowly and do not splash. When the water is about waist deep, sit back and float. Do not try to swim.
- Keep the water out of your eyes, ears, nose and mouth, and stay on your back so your head is not under. If it gets in, rinse with fresh water at once; public beaches usually have fresh-water showers.
- Avoid shaving for at least three days beforehand, and stay out if you have open cuts or blisters. The salt stings.
- Keep the float short. The guide says no more than thirty minutes; start with less.
- Rinse all the salt off in fresh water afterwards, and drink water.
- Water shoes may help, because the salt on the bottom can be sharp. The guide advises against flip-flops, which get stuck in the mud.
A half day or a night
Facts in the table come from our package itineraries as read on 24 October 2026.
| Option | Where it appears in our routes | What you get | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half day on the way to Amman | Our 3-night short break and our 4-night and 5-night Amman-base routes | Entry to a resort beach and its pools, with a towel, so you can float and rinse off | Lunch at the resort is not included. You arrive straight from the Wadi Rum desert camp |
| One night at a shore resort | Our 4-night route with a Dead Sea night and our 7-night route | A resort on the shore and a free afternoon to float, try the black mud or sit by the pool | On the 4-night route dinner is not included unless you add half-board. That route recommends a departure flight at 14:00 or later |
Where it sits in the route
Our routes run from Amman south to Petra and Wadi Rum, then north again to the Dead Sea. That order puts the soft day last, after the early starts at Petra and the night in the desert. On the short routes you then continue to Amman for the night. On the seven-night route the Dead Sea night is followed by Iraq al-Amir and As-Salt on the way back to Amman. Our guide to how many nights Jordan needs shows how the Petra and Wadi Rum days fit around it.
A day trip from Amman
If you are based in Amman, the tourism board lists the Amman Tourist Beach as a place for day trippers. Our own routes use resort beaches, where the entry, towel and pool are included on the packages that say so.
Mistakes to avoid
- Swimming in the Dead Sea as if it were the sea. Float on your back.
- Putting your head under, or splashing, so that the water gets in your eyes.
- Staying in the water for a long first float.
- Shaving in the days before you go.
- Booking a long day trip and an early flight home on the same day as the Dead Sea.
- Wearing flip-flops into the mud.
Before you book
Jordan’s entry rules, the Jordan Pass and the regional situation are covered, with dates, in our guide to how many nights Jordan needs. Check the current position on the day you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Can I float if I cannot swim?
The water is buoyant and visitors float on their backs, but it is not a place to swim laps. If you are not comfortable in water, stay where you can stand and ask the resort about lifeguards.
How long should I stay in the water?
MIT’s guide says no more than thirty minutes. Start shorter and rinse off afterwards.
Is the Dead Sea included in your packages?
Yes, in the routes shown above: as a resort beach visit with a towel on the three-, four- and five-night routes, and as a night at a shore resort on the four-night Best of Jordan and seven-night routes. Lunch and dinner are not always included, so read each itinerary.
Plan your Jordan trip
See our Jordan short break, Best of Jordan with a Dead Sea night and Explore Jordan holidays, or tell us your dates and what you would like to do.
Sources and checks (2)
- Dead Sea — Jordan Tourism Board
- Swimming in the Dead Sea — MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives
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