Dead Sea Highway: Best Things to Do and See
Dead Sea Highway in Jordan, officially known as Jordan Valley Highway, is a spectacular drive along one of the country's must-visit places, the Dead Sea. In this travel guide, we will share with you the top activities and best things to see and do along Dead Sea Highway in Jordan.
Dead Sea Highway is a scenic drive that will take you around a natural gem of Jordan, the Dead Sea itself. If you are self-driving around Jordan, we recommend you to make sure that this highway will be on your itinerary.
When creating your perfect Jordan itinerary, try to make a loop starting and finishing in Amman if possible.
This way you can drive south via King's Highway and return via Dead Sea Highway.
And why not miss out on Dead Sea Highway?
Not only the views are spectacular, but you will see yet another face of this Middle Eastern country. Because driving the Dead Sea Highway is not only about the views and swimming, but there are many more fun things to do and see in the area.
The Dead Sea is unique in many ways.
First, we cannot fail to mention the salinity. The Dead Sea is about ten times saltier than a regular sea, which means that organisms cannot live in its waters, therefore the name. Even though scientists had discovered a few species of bacteria that are able to survive in the sea.
The salty water and mud of the Dead Sea is also a valuable commodity as it is known for its healing powers, and many people from around the world travel to this part of Jordan to solve their problems.
Swimming in the Dead Sea is beneficial for people with skin problems, it heals (or improves) psoriasis, asthma, or arthritis, just to name a few.
Swimming or rather floating in the Dead Sea is fun and an experience you will hardly get somewhere else in nature (except for neighboring Israel).
If none of these things did persuade you to travel the Dead Sea Highway, what about driving below sea level? That's pretty cool, right?
The top attractions and best things to do and see along the Dead Sea Highway are best to be explored in a rental car.
This way you will have a chance to stop wherever and whenever you want. Unfortunately, public transport on Jordan Valley Highway is almost non-existent.
And if you plan on doing more things than only relaxing on the shores of the Dead Sea, you will have to either self-drive or take a tour. Read this blog post for more tips on driving in Jordan.
In this blog post, we will share with you the top attractions and the best things to do and see along the Dead Sea Highway in Jordan.
From spectacular views, laidback road trip, canyons, luxurious resorts, restaurants, to hot springs, we are pretty sure this destination will enthuse you.
BEST THINGS TO DO AND SEE ALONG THE DEAD SEA HIGHWAY
It depends on where will you join the Dead Sea Highway, but its length is approximately 280 kilometers, and you will need almost three and a half hours to drive it without stopping.
If you are worried about self-driving around Jordan, don't be. The road is in good condition, but expect several police checks.
We drove the road from south to north as we left in the morning the unforgettable Wadi Rum and were headed to Jerash.
Jerash is home to famous Roman Ruins of Jerash, but you can travel in the opposite direction as well.
If you have only one day, there is no way you could see all the top attractions in only one day, so choose either those places which interest you the most or split the drive into more days.
Here's the list of the best things you can visit when driving the Dead Sea Highway.
MUSEUM AT THE LOWEST PLACE ON EARTH
This fairly small museum is included in the Jordan Pass, so if you have time to spare, it is worth it to break your journey and learn a bit more about the area.
The museum features a few exhibitions that show ancient artifacts found in the region like thousands of years old pottery and textile, but also a mummy or mosaics.
And as the name suggests, the museum sits 405 meters below the sea level.
Although this museum does not deserve a dedicated trip, it is quite an interesting place to visit, and you can combine it with the visit of Lot's Cave that is only a few hundred meters away.
LOT'S CAVE
Many places in Jordan are closely connected to biblical times, and you will for sure during your time in the country visit at least one site which is significant for being mentioned in the Bible.
One of those places is Lot's Cave, only a short drive from the village of Safi.
It is believed that the cave is the very places where Lot, brother of Abraham, fled and hid with his daughters after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Later Lot's daughters gave birth to two sons, and their descendants are the Ammonite and Moabite people.
Nowadays, the site is equally important for both Muslims and Christians.
From the parking lot, you need to walk a winding path for about fifteen minutes to an old Byzantine Church.
If you are planning on visiting Madaba and the Church of the Map, you will actually find this church on the well-preserved mosaic on the Madaba's church floor.
Here in the Byzantine Church are a few mosaics as well, and the cave is just behind it, but it is not somehow spectacular, it is actually pretty small.
We would say that most people visit the place because it was mentioned in the Bible, not because it would be somehow photogenic.
Lot's Cave is included in the entrance fee to the museum, and since it is not possible to walk inside the cave, you can at least enjoy the views from the hill overlooking the Dead Sea.
DEAD SEA VIEWPOINTS
The winding road leading around the Dead Sea is very scenic and at this point, we really appreciated having a rental car.
Because the rules on Jordanian roads are somewhat loose, and the traffic was not heavy, we could literally stop everywhere we wanted to take photos, or just to get out of the car and stretch legs.
The weather in Jordan is often hot, and the area around the Dead Sea is actually one of the warmest, the sky above the sea is often hazy, but it does not make this place any less photogenic.
The road most of the time leads high above the water surface, but once you get to the sea level, take advantage of it and admire the details created by salt.
Just be careful, the formations are pretty sharp.
DEAD SEA FREE-SWIMMING SPOT
For us, swimming in the Dead Sea in Jordan was an activity high on our bucket list.
It came to us as a surprise when we found out that spots, where it is possible to swim for free, are pretty limited, and we were quite reluctant to pay a steep entrance fee to private beaches to float in the sea for only about fifteen minutes.
Luckily, we found a free-swimming spot, although it was much harder than we had expected. The thing is that the highway usually leads high on the cliff and there are only a few points where you can safely access the shore.
Swimming, or we should probably rather call it floating in the Dead Sea, is a strange feeling, but like good strange.
When you enter the water it is hard to tell the difference, but once you plunge into the sea, you'll experience the sensation. It is possible to swim in the Dead Sea all-year-round, and it is a must-do thing when in Jordan.
PANORAMA DEAD SEA COMPLEX
When you look on a map, you will soon notice that quite many winding roads lead from the Dead Sea Highway inland.
We recommend you to take at least one of these roads because the views from the hills over the sea and the rough landscape are worth a detour.
One of the most popular roads leads to Panorama Dead Sea Complex.
If you are wondering where to go for the perfect sunset, this might be the place. As the name suggests, Panorama Dead Sea Complex is not only a viewing platform, but it also features a restaurant and the Dead Sea Museum.
The entrance fee is 2 JD, plus the consumption in the restaurant, which is not compulsory though.
To get even better views of the Dead Sea and Israel, head to Mukawir or Mount Nebo.
MA'IN HOTSPRINGS
The area around the Dead Sea is a place where people travel not only to explore but also to relax. One of the most famous places where to unwind is Ma'in Hotsprings.
It is complex with an on-site hotel and restaurant, but you can use the facilities even when not staying in the resort. The natural springs feature four waterfalls, but two of them are inside the resort area for customers only.
The entrance fee is 15 JD per person, so we think it pays off to stay there for a while and enjoy the warm water, the temperature is around 30-37 °C.
The water in the springs contains elements with healing powers, therefore the springs are well-known for medical tourism.
Travelers usually spend here an hour to an hour and a half, so create your schedule carefully to have enough time to make yourself comfortable.
MUJIB BIOSPHERE RESERVE
We know that many travelers see Wadi Mujib, a huge canyon, usually from above from King's Highway on the way to Lost City of Petra.
But to explore the canyon more thoroughly, you will have to drive along Dead Sea Highway, where is the official entrance to the biosphere reserve.
Traveling in Jordan in March had its positives, the only negative was that we could not get into Mujib canyon as it is closed between November and the end of March because of the possibility of flash floods.
Between April and the end of October, Wadi Mujib is a paradise for adventure travelers who love hiking and canyoning.
We could only see the mouth of the canyon from the highway, and only that one look told us this place must be, for sure, pretty impressive.
There is one easy hike that does not require a guide, but for longer and more demanding trails you will need one.
Visiting Wadi Mujib is not exactly a budget-friendly activity, it is not included in the Jordan Pass, but we will for sure put it on our list of things to do for our future trip to Jordan.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
AMMAN BEACH
Amman beach is one of the most popular day trips from Amman for both locals and foreigners.
Amman Beach is a well-maintained beach by the Dead Sea, and it is a compromise between paying a high fee for using the beach in the resorts and swimming in the Dead Sea for free.
Amman Beach is quite busy, and the entrance fee is 20 JD per person.
We found it still quite steep, especially after reading not very positive reviews, but it is for sure an option. The road leading around the beach is lined with restaurants and souvenir shops.
Access to the sea here is much easier than anywhere else along the shores and the facilities here are included (toilets and bathroom), but it is only up to you to consider whether it is worth paying for it or not.
We were only driving around and did not feel comfortable because of the crowds.
DEAD SEA RESORTS AND HOTELS
There are not that many accommodation options along the Dead Sea except for the northern part. This side of the sea is dotted with a large number of hotel resorts. Some of them have private access to a beach, and most of them offer at least some kind of spa treatment.
If you are looking for five-star service, look no further as some of the Dead Sea hotels in the resort area are true gems offering a high standard of accommodation and wellness.
One of the most popular hotels is Dead Sea Kempinski Hotel.
You can stay in a resort only for a day, but even long-term visitors are welcomed.
The only downside of staying in the resorts by the Dead Sea is the price, accommodation here is very expensive, and finding a budget-friendly hotel is almost impossible.
Therefore many people traveling on a budget rather decide to sleep in nearby Amman or Madaba and visit the Dead Sea only on a day trip.
Still, it's more affordable than staying on the other side of the salt lake in Ein Bokek. For more information, check out our guide on visiting the Dead Sea in Israel.
BETHANY BEYOND JORDAN
Less than twenty minutes drive from Dead Sea resorts, is yet another biblical place, Bethany Beyond Jordan alias The Baptismal Site of Jesus Christ.
This baptismal site is heavily visited by pilgrims from all over the world, and it is one of the most significant places for believers, as it is believed that Jesus was baptized here, on the shores of Jordan River.
The entrance fee is 12 JD, and you need to take a guided tour to the shores of the river.
After visiting Bethany Beyond Jordan you have several options on where to continue.
We were on the way to Jerash, and we managed to visit also the city of as-Salt along the way.
But you can also carry on to the capital city of Amman.
WHERE TO STAY IN THE DEAD SEA AREA
Even though you might have imagined the Dead Sea like a barren area far from civilization, the opposite is the truth, and you will be pleasantly surprised how the Dead Sea is easily accessible.
Therefore, you can incorporate the Dead Sea in your itinerary, no matter what is your schedule, at some point, you will be always near to the shores.
There are many options on where to stay when visiting the Dead Sea.
You can either stay right in the area in one of many resorts, but also the city of Madaba is quite near, the same as the capital Amman. Or you can follow our footsteps, sleep in Wadi Rum, then drive along the Dead Sea Highway, and spend the next night in Jerash.
As you can see, options are plentiful, now you only need to find a hotel which suits your needs and budget.
Here we've handpicked the option in every destination from where you can visit the Dead Sea.
Madaba | Mosaic City Hotel - Great location, friendly atmosphere, tasty breakfast, and helpful staff are the main features in this hotel. It is worth it to ask for a room with a balcony facing the garden.
Amman | Gallery Guest House - We stayed in this hotel for a couple of days, and really enjoyed clean, air-conditioned, and quiet rooms, lovely breakfast, and helpful staff. This hotel is located a walking distance to Amman Citadel, super popular Hashem Restaurant, or Rainbow Street. Great value for money. Free parking on the street in front of the hotel.
Jerash | Full Panorama To Archaeological Site Jerash - Family guesthouse located in a quiet residential area with nice modern rooms, welcoming host, and great location next to Jerash Ruins. Parking is available on the street in front of the hotel.
Wadi Rum | Beyond Wadi Rum Camp - Great service and location just near the Little Bridge are the main highlights here. As in most of the camps, you can enjoy here the authentic atmosphere and the insight in the bedouin life.
Dead Sea | Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea - A luxurious resort offering top services on the shore of the Dead Sea is a top pick for travelers looking for a peaceful retreat.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
