Dead Sea Fun

Sand Surfing in the Negev Desert

Sand surfing in Israel's Negev Desert is a fun family activity that goes well with a trip to the Dead Sea or Eilat. Easy to do and very exciting.

Read the full article at TouristIsrael.com

Photo used with permission from TouristIsrael.com

Side Trip: Ezuz

Ezuz in the Negev Desert is a unique community of artists and creatives. Located on a beautiful hilltop overlooking some breathtaking desert scenery, the village is home to less than 15 families, each of whom runs some kind of tourism or culture related business. The village is a haven for eco-tourism with many unique and inspirational creations constructed out of the remains of buses, train carriages, and other unusual materials.

Ezuz is located very close to Israel’s border with Egypt, in the eastern part of the Ramat Negev region.

Read the full article at TouristIsrael.com

I Had a Good Time at Mineral Beach

A friend and I just returned from a great day at Mineral Beach, a private beach and spa located at the north end of the Dead Sea in Israel. I can't wait to go back!

Mineral Beach is ideal for a day trip because it's one hour by Egged bus 486 from the Central Bus Station in Jerusalem, a considerably shorter trip than going to southern hotel area in Ein Bokek. By car, take Highway 90 south and exit to your left at the well-marked road sign.

Admission is very reasonable - about 45 shekels ($12) for adults. Seniors receive a discount. Entrance is free with the purchase of any 50 minute or more massage treatment.

Off Road Driving in the Dead Sea Area

The true beauty of the Israeli desert can only be experienced far from the roads and towns that criss-cross it. The hidden canyons and wadis, beautiful flowers, amazing animals, and fascinating tales from throughout history, as well as many of the most amazing landscapes and viewpoints are far from the beaten track, and can only be truly explored by hiking, biking, camel, or…off road vehicle: jeeps, ATV's, quad bikes.

Read the full article at TouristIsrael.com

More at DeadSeaGuide.com

Exploring the Judean Desert

The Judean Desert, or the Judean Wilderness as it is has been known throughout history, is one of the world’s smallest, yet most unique desert regions.

Passed through by most people as they descend from Jerusalem at around 800 meters above sea level, to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, at 400 meters below sea level, it is a fascinating region to stop and explore, full of fun outdoor activities, as well as a rich history and fascinating geography and geology. The Judean Desert is a rock desert characterized by a large number of wadis cutting through the rock.

Read the full article at TouristIsrael.com

Side Trip: Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve

Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve is located in the southern part of Israel's Negev Desert, a region known as the Arava, between two rural kibbutzim, Yotvata and Samar. Yotvata is 35km north of the beach resort city of Eilat and makes an interesting stop on the drive from the center of the country to the Dead Sea and Eilat.

The purpose of the Yotvota Hai-Bar Nature Reserve is to breed and nurture endangered and locally extinct animals and then reintroduce them to the Negev Desert. There is a focus on animals mentioned in the Bible but the animals are not exclusively from Israel or the Middle East, the reserve also cares for, and breeds animals from other habitats around the world.

Read the full article at TouristIsrael.com

Side Trip: Ein Feshkha (Einot Tzukim) Nature Reserve

Salty tip: include a side trip to Ein Feshkha (Einot Tzukim) Nature Reserve - the lowest reserve on Earth.

12 Tips for the Best Dead Sea Vacation, Ever!

Salty Tip #1 - Try not to shave…anything…for a day or so before dipping in the Dead Sea. The water is very salty and you WILL feel the burn!

Side Trip: The Negev Desert

Israel's Negev Desert is like pure magic. Covering over half of Israel's total land area, it is an area bustling with beauty. The Negev desert is a fascinating and enchanting place, especially for those not familiar with desert landscapes.

Whilst there is a lot you can see yourself, the best way to discover the desert is for a day with a guide. Whilst to the untrained eye, the miles of desert all look the same, look a little deeper and every rock formation, hill or mound of earth has its own unique story.

Read the full article at TouristIsrael.com

New Mikvah Opens at Dead Sea Hotel Strip

The new mikvah [for Jewish women] is jointly operated under the auspices of the Religious Council of the Jordan Valley-Tamar Regional Council and Chabad of the Dead Sea. It is located in the building of the Premier Spa (formerly the International Beach), about 100 meters north of the Leonardo Plaza Hotel at Ein Bokek, on the southern end of the Dead Sea.

Read the full article at IsraelNationalNews.com

Dead Sea Overview

The Dead Sea known in Hebrew as Yam Ha-Melah (the Sea of Salt) is the lowest point on earth, surrounded by the stunning landscape of the Negev Desert. The shores of the Dead Sea are the lowest point on the surface of the earth, and the saline water of the lake give lead to the name 'Dead Sea' because no fish can survive in the salty waters.

The other result of the salty water of the Dead Sea are their renowned health and healing properties and the unique feature that one can float naturally in them.

Read the full article at TouristIsrael.com

Read more at JerusalemPost.com

Vacation Reading - Try One of These

Here are some suggestions...Dead Sea-themed novels to enjoy while relaxing in a lounge chair by the hot mineral pool. The Dovekeepers is brand new!

The Dovekeepers - Read a review in the NZHerald.com

Bitter Waters - Read reviews in the Wall Street Journal and OverlookPress.com
View a beautiful YouTube video about Bitter Waters

Side Trip: Negev Desert Wine Route

Like most Middle Eastern deserts, the Negev is usually associated with sand, rock and the odd camel. However, this seemingly dry and arid region in southern Israel is now home to a burgeoning wine route, thanks to a group of pioneering 21st-century farmers and their use of computerized drip irrigation.

The Wine Route is actually a new series of settlements in Har Hanegev. Starting at the Mashabei Sadeh junction up to Mitzpeh Ramon, the trail consists of lovely spots where individual families have built their own farms.

Read the full article at Ramat-Negev.org.il

More information at LonelyPlanet.com

Spelunking at the Dead Sea

The barren, rugged shores of the Dead Sea contain some of the most attractive spelunking sites in Israel. Most notable is Mount Sodom, a salt block rising almost 800 feet over the western bank of the Dead Sea. Containing a maze of tunnels and caverns, it also hides the world's longest salt cave, measuring more than 3.5 miles.

Read the full article at USAToday.com

Eating and Shopping at the Dead Sea

Sure, the hotels at the Dead Sea have restaurants, buffets, and bars...but, sometimes it's fun to go for a walk on main street and discover a local eating place. For instance, the new Cafe Cafe restaurant features gorgeous, gigantic salads, great coffee, and desserts (well, you'll have to see them for yourself, no spoiler, here). Kosher LeMehadrin.

by Sue Schoenfeld

See more Dead Sea photos on Pinterest.com

Side Trip: Spa Vacation in Eilat

Two friends and I recently spent four days in Eilat - enjoying the sun, the fun, and an excellent spa. We went the last week of February which is "off season" and the best time to get good deals. We stayed in a suite room at the Isrotel Riviera Club.

There was an enclosed bedroom with a double bed, a living room with a sleeper sofa, and a kitchenette. The hotel is in the process of renovating all the rooms. We asked to be in the new section and got a brand new room - well equipped, a nice view, but no balcony. The room (for an Isrotel Sun Club member) was about $65 a night - yes, it was $22 a night for each of us! Can't beat that!

Learn Hebrew Phrases - Hotel Check-In

Add some fun to your next Dead Sea vacation: check-in in Hebrew!

Side Trip to Mitzpeh Ramon

Between the geology and beauty of the Ramon Crater, the historical significance of the ancient trade route and the proximity to the Red Sea resort town of Eilat, Mitzpeh Ramon appears to have a lot of unfulfilled tourism potential, an impression confirmed by several tourism experts.

Explore Israel's Grand Canyon and the sleepy desert town of Mitzpeh Ramon. Check out the elegant Isrotel Beresheet Hotel.

Read the full article at Haaretz.com

Side Trip to Glass Art Museum Arad

Glass Art Museum Arad - this museum showcases the dynamic and colorful world of glass art through the works of some 20 Israeli glass artists. In addition to the permanent exhibit of the local glass artist Gideon Friedman, the museum's founder, every few months the works of a different Israeli glass artist are displayed, as well as works by young Israeli students of glass art.

The museum features a guided tour, three display halls, a shop, a room where workshops are held and a reading room/library.

View the Website at Glass Art Museum Arad

Side Trip to Timna Park

Continuing south from the Dead Sea, Timna Park is located about 25 km (about 17 miles) north of Eilat, in Israel's Negev Desert. One of the largest attractions in the south of Israel. The park is in a beautiful desert setting combining the scene with amazing history and a number of other unexpected activities including those on the lake (yes, a lake in the desert!).

Timna Park covers about 15,000 acres in a horseshoe-shaped valley surrounded by steep cliffs, with Mount Timna, the world's first ever copper mine, standing tall in the center.

From the Timna Park Website

Description of Timna Park

Side Trip: Moshe Castel Museum of Art - Ma'aleh Adumim

On your way to or from the Dead Sea, we recommend a side trip to the Moshe Castel Museum of Art in Ma'aleh Adumim.

The museum houses the artwork of Israeli artist, Moshe Castel (1909-1991), a very nice café, gift shop, meeting rooms, and event venue.

The Dead Sea Spits Out Asphalt and Other Fun Facts

The Dead Sea constantly discharges asphalt, a feature very unusual to any lake. It spits up small pebbles of the black substance from its deep cracks. Asphalt coated figurines and bitumen coated Neolithic skulls from archaeological sites have been found. It is believed that this asphalt had been used to mummify Egyptians.

Read more fun facts at Trifter.com

Visit Enot Tsukim Nature Reserve (Ain Feshkhah)

How about a side trip to Enot Tsukim or En Fashkha, as it is also known (Fashkha means split or broken). It is the lowest nature reserve in the world and one of the most beautiful in Israel. This oasis of green lies between the brownish barren fault scarp to the west and the blue Dead Sea. Enot Tsukim is divided into three areas: the northern "closed reserve," the central "visitors reserve," and the southern "hidden reserve."

Salty Tip: The "hidden reserve" is open for guided tours September–June.

Get tour details at Israel Nature and Parks Authority

Audio Accessible Travel Guides to the Dead Sea Region

Accessibility travel - here are 26 audio accessible travel guides about the Dead Sea region. Give a listen! The videos also feature gorgeous photos and maps.

The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea Fault

Jordan Rift Valley

Visit Masada National Park: A World Heritage Site

Salty tip: include a side trip to Masada with your Dead Sea adventure! Sunrise or sunset are excellent times to visit - avoiding the mid-day sun and being on the mountain for a breathtaking view! Masada, located on an isolated mesa in the Judean Desert, is one the most dramatic historic sites in Israel.

Read the full article at IsraelNationalNews.com

Travelogue: The Beautiful Dead Sea

The Dead Sea. It doesn't sound too appealing does it? I remember the Dead Sea from bible study in Sunday school when I was a little girl. It was something long forgotten until recently when I saw it on a popular reality show. I'm 37 years old and I am embarrassed to admit that I thought the Dead Sea was just something in the bible that didn't exist anymore but there it was!! It was the beautiful Dead Sea and memories came flooding back from those early bible studies. How beautiful is the DEAD SEA!?! I immediately felt drawn to it and wanted to learn more about this body of water.

Read the full article at Hub Pages

Decorating Tip: Add a Dead Sea Poster to your Room

Dead Sea, Israel
Jon Arnold
72 in. x 48 in.
Available at Allposters.com

Take the beauty of the Dead Sea home with you. This wall mural also comes in a larger size: 144 in x 96 in - approx. 4ft x 3ft. Makes a powerful statement!

Dead Sea Ein Gedi Botanic Garden

Here's a delightful tour on the way to the Dead Sea hotel area: the Dead Sea Ein Gedi Botanic Garden. Ein Gedi's multiple-prize-winning Botanical Garden in Ein Gedi kibbutz is the only botanical garden in the world that integrates the homes of residents of the surrounding community. More than 900 species of plants from various regions of the world have been planted and flourished here.

Read the full article at Botnaic Gardens Conservation International

Dead Sea a Prime Destination for Bathers, Hikers, History Buffs

Where else can you go to enjoy a healing mud bath, spectacular desert vistas, a world-class opera, ancient artifacts from a brave battle against the mighty Roman Empire - and even an artistic nude photo shoot? Only Israel's Dead Sea, the lowest spot on Earth and one of the most beloved for its magical milieu since biblical times.

Read the full article at ISRAEL21c

Scuba Diving in the Dead Sea

Diving in the Dead Sea is one of the most unusual and unique scuba diving experiences in the world. Most divers don't imagine it is even possible at all. The amazing underwater scenery with its magnificent salt consolidation is breathtaking. In a clear day you can expect to see the salt crystals shining like million diamonds. The best description is probably the reaction of one of our divers right after his dive: "It is all covered white. It's like diving in an ocean of ice, but the temperature and the weight you are carrying on you, remind you you are not."

Read about scuba diving in the Dead Sea: DeadSeaDivers.com/

Travelogue: Sights and Insights - The Dead Sea will Live Again

Piles of driftwood, bleached white like old bones, surround the shoreline of the Dead Sea. If bodies of water could be ghost towns, the Dead Sea would top the list. It's the lowest place on earth, it's the hottest spot in Israel, and nothing can live in its waters.

One of the best ways to enjoy the Dead Sea comes from driving the scenic Route 90 along the western shoreline. The scene is placid, smooth, and lovely - worthy of a camera. The beach at En Boqeq offers a great place to test your buoyancy. Overlooking the sea, read Ezekiel 47:8-11 and Zechariah 14:8. Wear a hat! Temperatures are toasty in the summer.

Read the full article at The Jerusalem Post

Learn Hebrew Phrases About the Dead Sea

Learn to say, "The Dead Sea is the lowest point in the world - 400 meters below sea level" in Hebrew, and more!

Here are 20 useful phrases about the Dead Sea area to say in Hebrew.

View all at Learn Hebrew Phrases - The Dead Sea and Surroundings

To hear the phrases spoken by a native Hebrew speaker, go to Learn Hebrew Phrases with Audio, on the home page, click "Hebrew-English", scroll down and select "Israel - The Dead Sea". Very cool!

Dead Sea Water Safety Tips

The popular wisdom is that no one can drown in the Dead Sea because they'll float on the super-salty waters. That's wrong, but it's true that drownings in the Dead Sea are different from drowning deaths in ordinary waters. Spas and resorts around the Dead Sea often employ lifeguards to keep bathers safe. Salt won't do the job, and the myth that no one can drown in the sea certainly isn't helping.

Read the full article at Haaretz.com

Two Days of Heaven at the Spa Club

Two friends and I recently spent two days and one night at the Spa Club at the Dead Sea, booked through eLuna.com. We took advantage of a mid-week special rate for Israeli citizens which included 10% off on all spa treatments.

We had a fantastic time! The Spa Club facility is very pretty, serene, and clean.

Lot Spa Dead Sea Hotel - Highly Recommended

For your next vacation, consider the Lot Spa Dead Sea Hotel. The spa is exceptional - every type of treatment you could want, experienced therapists, beautiful facility...clean and friendly. And, the food is great! The hotel is right on the beach with easy access to the Dead Sea.

Dead Sea Floating...a Demonstration

It will only take 34 seconds of your life to see a cute guy playing in the Dead Sea.

Insider tip: bring along a pair of plastic bathing shoes that have an instep strap or stay on snuggly. The Sea is shallow for many yards which makes playing in the water great, but the saltbed that you will be walking on is very sharp. Suitable shoes are sold at the Ein Bokek shopping malls and are not expensive.

This Website is poor, but will give you an idea of the shopping areas in Ein Bokek Dead Sea/Ein Bokek shopping.