Things To Do at the Jordan Dead Sea

Things To Do at the Jordan Dead Sea: Complete Guide

The Jordan side of the Dead Sea places you at the lowest point on Earth’s surface, approximately 430 meters below sea level, where the
air holds 10% more oxygen than at sea level and the water contains 34.2% salt. This is not a single destination. It is a corridor of geological, archaeological, and thermal experiences stretching from the baptism site at Bethany in the north to the Byzantine ruins at Lot’s Cave in the south.

Most visitors base themselves at the resort cluster near Sweimeh, roughly 60 kilometers southwest of Amman. From that position, every
attraction on this page sits within 90 minutes by road. The Jordan Pass, starting at 70 JD, covers entry to most sites listed here and includes a visa waiver for visitors who purchase it before arrival.

Float and Bathe at the Dead Sea

The primary activity remains the water itself. Dead Sea water at 34.2% salinity, roughly ten times the concentration of the Mediterranean, generates enough buoyancy to hold a human body at the surface without effort. The recommended soak duration is 15 to 20 minutes per session.
Longer exposure can irritate skin, particularly around cuts or abrasions.

Most Jordan Dead Sea resorts maintain private beach access with showers, mud stations, and shaded seating. Public access points exist at Amman Beach (approximately 20 JD entry for non-Jordanians), which includes changing facilities, freshwater showers, and a pool. The mud, rich in magnesium, calcium, and potassium, is applied to the skin and left to dry for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing.

Wadi Mujib Canyoning

Wadi Mujib Nature Reserve, managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), covers 212 square kilometers and operates as the lowest nature reserve on Earth. The Siq Trail, the most popular route, follows a 2 kilometer canyon where you wade and swim through chest deep water to reach a waterfall. The trail is self guided,
requires approximately 2 to 3 hours, and costs 23 JD for non-Jordanian visitors. Life jackets are provided. Age minimum is 18 years. The Canyon Trail (31 JD, guided, 4 hours) adds a 20 meter waterfall rappel. The Malaqi Trail (44 JD, guided, 6 to 7 hours) covers the most difficult terrain. All wet trails operate April through October only. November through March, only the dry Ibex Trail is available. Check the RSCN’s Wild Jordan social media for closures after heavy rain.

Ma'in Hot Springs

Twenty kilometers from the Dead Sea shore and 264 meters below sea level, the thermal complex at Ma’in (Hammamat Ma’in) feeds 63 hot springs at temperatures between 45 and 60 degrees Celsius. The mineral content includes potassium, magnesium, and calcium. The main waterfall, visible from the road, cascades into a pool maintained at approximately 42 degrees Celsius.

The public bathing area costs approximately 15 JD entry. The Ma’in Hot Springs Resort and Spa, a five star property built into the canyon walls, offers day use passes. Separate areas include a women only pool (approximately 35 degrees Celsius), family pools, and a cave sauna exceeding 60 degrees Celsius. The best visiting months are October through April, when the surrounding canyon provides shade and temperatures outside the water are comfortable.
Bethany Beyond the Jordan (Al Maghtas) Nine kilometers north of the Dead Sea, the archaeological site at Bethany Beyond the Jordan received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2015 as the location where John the Baptist is believed to have baptized Jesus. The site contains remains of Byzantine era churches, monasteries, baptismal pools, and caves dating to the 1st through 7th centuries CE.

Guided tours are mandatory and depart from the visitor center. An electric shuttle transports visitors to the archaeological area. Entry is available as a Jordan Pass add-on (8 JD) or 12 JD standalone. Modest dress is required. In January 2025, the Church of the Baptism of the Lord was consecrated on the site, making it the largest Catholic church in Jordan. Allow 2 to 3 hours for the full visit.

Mount Nebo

Thirty five kilometers from Amman and approximately 800 meters above sea level, Mount Nebo is the biblical site where Moses is described as having viewed the Promised Land before his death (Deuteronomy 34). The Memorial Church of Moses, first constructed in the 4th century and rebuilt in 597 CE, houses Byzantine mosaics from the 6th and 7th centuries.

Giovanni Fantoni’s Brazen Serpent sculpture marks the viewpoint. On clear days, the panorama extends across the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, Jericho, and, in optimal conditions, the outlines of Jerusalem. Entry costs approximately 2 to 3 JD. Mount Nebo is not included in the Jordan Pass.The best visibility occurs March through May and September through November. Allow 45 to 90 minutes.

Madaba Mosaics

• Thirty kilometers southwest of Amman, the town of Madaba is known for the Madaba Mosaic Map, a 6th century floor mosaic housed in St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church.
• Originally measuring 21 by 7 meters (now 16 by 5 meters preserved), the map depicts the Holy Land from Lebanon to Egypt in approximately 2 million stone and glass tesserae.
• It is the oldest surviving cartographic representation of the Holy Land, showing Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, the Jordan River, and Jericho in geographic detail.
• Entry to St. George’s Church costs 1 JD.
• The Madaba Archaeological Park contains additional Byzantine mosaics.
• Madaba pairs well with Mount Nebo (15 minute drive) as a half day or full day excursion from the Dead Sea.
• Allow 1 to 2 hours for Madaba town.
• Jerash: Roman Ruins Fifty kilometers north of Amman, the ancient city of Jerash (Gerasa) ranks among the best preserved Roman provincial cities outside Italy.
• The site spans more than 2,000 years of continuous habitation.
• Key structures include Hadrian’s Arch (built 129 CE, standing 21 meters), the Oval Plaza, the Cardo Maximus (colonnaded main street), the South Theater (seating 3,000), the Temple of Artemis, and the 2nd century Nymphaeum fountain.
• Entry costs 10 JD or is included with the Jordan Pass. Opening hours run from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM in winter and 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM in summer.
• Allow 3 to 4 hours.
• JETT buses operate from Amman’s North Station.
• Jerash is approximately 1 hour from Amman and roughly 2 hours from the Dead Sea resorts.

Lot’s Cave and the Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth At the southeastern end of the Dead Sea, 2 kilometers northeast of Safi (ancient Zoar), the Monastery of St. Lot preserves a Byzantine sanctuary built around a cave associated with the biblical account of Lot’s family fleeing the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19). The site includes a 5th to 7th century triapsidal basilica with mosaic floors bearing Greek inscriptions dated to 691 CE.
Archaeological evidence from inside the cave documents roughly 5,000 years of intermittent use, from Early Bronze Age burials (approximately 3300 to 3000 BCE) through Nabataean pottery to the Byzantine monastery.

The Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth sits at the base of the hill. Entry costs 2 JD or is included with the Jordan Pass. The climb involves approximately 280 stairs. Allow 1 to 2 hours. Planning Your Jordan Dead Sea Itinerary A single day at the Dead Sea covers the float experience and one nearby attraction. Three days allows comfortable coverage of Ma’in Hot Springs, Bethany, Mount Nebo, and Madaba. Adding Jerash requires a full day from Amman or a long day from the Dead Sea. Wadi Mujib is best as a dedicated half day, April through October only.