Why Honeymoon at the Dead Sea
It is a strange and memorable experience to share. There is something childlike about trying to swim and finding you can only float. There is also something soothing about lying in warm, silky water with the desert all around.
The resorts are built for relaxation. Most have several pools, including infinity pools that look out over the sea, plus large spas with treatments using salt and mud. It is easy to spend a whole day moving between the beach, the pool and the treatment rooms.
The setting is also full of history. Mount Nebo, where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land, is a short drive away. So is the baptism site at Bethany Beyond the Jordan. You can mix spa time with a meaningful half-day trip.
When to Go
The Dead Sea is warmest and most comfortable from October to April. Winter days are mild, often in the 70s°F, which makes it a good escape when Amman and Petra are cold.
Spring and fall bring warmer days and warm water, ideal for long hours on the beach.
Summer is extremely hot, often over 100°F, with high humidity. Most visitors spend the middle of the day indoors or in the pool and float only in the early morning or evening.
Weekends, Friday and Saturday, are busier with families from Amman. Midweek stays are quieter and sometimes cheaper.
Where to Stay
The resorts cluster along a short stretch of coast near Sweimeh, each with its own beach access.
Kempinski Hotel Ishtar is one of the most elegant, with tiered pools, a large spa and a design inspired by ancient Babylon. Mövenpick Resort and Spa Dead Sea is built like a village of stone houses with gardens, which gives it a more intimate, rambling feel. Several other international brands also have resorts here.
All the big hotels have private beaches with showers, mud stations and lifeguards. Ask for a sea-view room, since the sunset over the water is one of the main attractions.
Budget options are limited. Most couples find the resorts worth the cost for a night or two.
Romantic Things to Do
Float. Walk into the water slowly, lean back and let it hold you up. Keep your face dry, since the salt stings eyes badly.
Cover each other in the black mud from the beach stations, let it dry in the sun, then wash it off in the sea. Your skin will feel noticeably soft.
Book a couples treatment at your resort's spa. Many offer salt scrubs, mud wraps and massages designed around the local minerals.
Drive up to Mount Nebo for the view over the Jordan Valley, then continue to Madaba to see the ancient mosaic map of the Holy Land in St. George's Church.
For something active, hike the Siq Trail in Wadi Mujib, wading through a narrow canyon with a waterfall at the end. It operates seasonally, so check before going.
Getting There and Around
The Dead Sea resorts are about an hour by car from Queen Alia International Airport and around 45 minutes to an hour from central Amman. The road descends steeply from the plateau and you can feel the air change as you drop.
Most couples rent a car or hire a driver. Taxis from Amman are also available. Your hotel can arrange transfers.
The resorts are spread along the shore. Walking between them is not practical. Once there, most couples stay put and use a car only for day trips to Mount Nebo, Madaba, Bethany Beyond the Jordan or Wadi Mujib.
The Dead Sea Highway continues south toward Aqaba, a scenic alternative to the Desert Highway.
Food and Drink
Dining is mostly at the resorts, which have several restaurants each, from Lebanese and Jordanian menus to Italian and international buffets. Alcohol is widely available at the hotels.
For a change of scene, the Panorama complex on the hills above the shore has a restaurant with views over the sea, best at sunset.
In Madaba, small family-run restaurants serve Jordanian dishes such as mansaf, maqluba and mezze with fresh bread. It is a good lunch stop on a day trip.
Drink plenty of water. The heat and the salty air dehydrate you faster than you expect.
Honeymoon Tips
- Do not shave for a day before floating; the salt stings cuts.
- Wear water shoes, since the shore can be rocky and salt crystals are sharp.
- Limit each float to about 15 to 20 minutes and rinse off afterward.
- Keep water out of your eyes and mouth.
- Book a sea-view room for the sunsets.
- Combine with a night in Amman or Madaba for food and history.
