Best advices before visiting the Dead sea

At 428 meters below sea level, and located at Israel’s border with Jordan, the Dead
Sea is earth’s lowest elevation on land and is now officially one the world’s 7 wonders
of nature.
In this video, we’ll show you the need-to-know highlights of the Dead Sea area before
planning to travel there, and if you stick around until the end of the video, you’ll get
some great tips that will help you make better decisions, and have a safe and more
enjoyable trip.
The transfer time from Ben Gurion Airport to the main Hotels location in Ein Bokek is
one hour and 40 minutes. If you plan on spending time in Tel Aviv first, it will take you
up to 2 hours and 30 minutes and if Jerusalem is your starting point, it your transfer will
take around 2 hours.
The best time to travel to the dead sea is during the spring or autumn seasons. During
summer time the temperature can reach as high as 40 degrees Celsius, leaving you
very little time to comfortably enjoy the day time in the red sea and its beautiful
surroundings.
The highlight of a visit to the Dead Sea is the cobalt-blue lake itself, whose waters have
a salt concentration of 34%, around 10 times higher than that of the ocean, making it
possible to float unaided in the water. Diving into this body of water is advised against,
and it is best not to shave right before you enter, or leave any scrapes uncovered. If
you do, you’ll soon find out the true meaning of the phrase “putting salt on the wound”.
The best place to take a dip is Ein Bokek Beach, along the sea's turquoise-hued
southern basin. Recently given a complete makeover, this wide public beach, sandy
and spotless, has lifeguards and offers a variety of free amenities, including shade
shelters, changing booths, open-air showers, a paved promenade and nighttime
lighting. The spas inside Ein Bokek's hotels offer freshwater swimming pools, saunas,
mineral baths, and health and beauty treatments.
If you get tired of all the pampering, take the time to visit Masada, a UNESCO world
heritage site. For those unwilling or unable to undergo
physical exertion, a cable car operates from the Dead Sea side and takes about 3
minutes.
Masada is a fortress built into a mountain that stands as a symbol of heroism and
defiance. Early records indicate that King Herod built it to protect himself from revolts
or external threats, only to be taken over later by Jewish fundamentalists known as the
Sicarii. In 72 AD, the Romans mounted a massive siege of the Masada fort. After
building a whole mountain by muscle force and breaking into the fortress with a
battering ram, they discovered that the 960 inhabitants had committed mass suicide.
Once you are at the top, be sure to wander around the Jewish fortifications and soak
up some ancient history. You will want to visit the massive Northern Palace where the
wall paintings have been restored and provide an intriguing insight into daily life as well
as the culture prevalent under Herod’s rule.
Another Must in the Dead Sea area is one of the region’s most enchanting desert
oases: Ein Gedi nature reserve, which encompasses two spring-fed canyons, Wadi
David and Wadi Arugot, that plunge from the Judean Desert to the shores of the Dead
sea.
A short stream-side walk takes you to year-round waterfalls and freshwater pools
(where swimming is permitted), where you will have a chance to see the fascinating
wildlife, enveloped by lush vegetation. Just make sure you get there early enough, as
the reserve is only open until 4pm.
If you are a bit adventurous & athletic, ask the locals about the Ha’chalon waterfall.
Better start this diverse trail, with stunning views of the reort, in the morning. Highly
recommended!
If you are coming from the north side or leaving in that direction, we advise you to visit
the St George monastery. A half hour drive followed by a half an hour walk will take you
to the best observation point of this magnificent place.
As promised, here is a special tip that will be sure to make your trip more memorable:
Take note that when traveling in the area you should pay attention to the weather in the
Jerusalem area. Almost every time there is rain in the Judean mountains, there are flash
floods which, while a spectacle in themselves, can be inherently dangerous!
If you have a local guide you can find many hot springs and delightful secret treasures
of nature.
Dead Sea - but be careful of sinkholes because the areas near the Dead Sea itself has
the highest numbers of sinkholes in the world.