Don't drink the water! (Dead Sea (Israel))

Member Name: dangaroo

Product:	Dead Sea (Israel)
Date:	13/01/09 (66 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Amazing views, great fun in the mud and sea

Disadvantages: Quite expensive beaches at about 30-60 shekels (5-10 pounds)

The Dead Sea is one of those places like the Eiffel Tower, Mount Everest, Rome and New York that most people want to visit at some time or another, unlike Rome and New York, perhaps less people do so but it's certainly well worth it. Located in the West Bank (Israel), the top of the lake is just a few kilometres from the Palestinian territory of Jericho.

Apart from the forever shrinking lake which is an amazing 419 meteres below sea level and continuing to drop, the surrounding area is something that surprised me. I supposed that I hadn't expected anything in particular but the deserty Sinai like landscape that surrounds it is amazingly lunar. From the Israeli/Palestinian side, you have the arid hills behind you which make Jerusalem and the Judean Mountains seem like a far away land and looking opposite across the water you have Jordan facing you. From the Jordanian side, it's vice-versa but equally as impressive.

Whilst the northern shores may be beautiful, the beaches are quite dear (yes, you have to pay to go to the Dead Sea in most places) and they tend to be quite busy with tourists coming from Jerusalem. It is probably worth your time to head down to Ein Gedi where not only can you camp for free but also enter the sea without paying, the beach isn't particularly pretty, with a kind of gritty soil feel to it but the reason you are there is for the amazing dead sea! Do all you can to try not to float but there's absolutely no way you'll get beneath the surface in this amazingly buoyant little piece of water.

The reason behind it is the high salinity and with it's not just all fun - if you have any cuts it will sting to high heaven and likewise you should refrain from wetting your clothes with the water or there's a good chance they'll be stained forever. Bathe and wash off with fresh water then return to your things!

Another reason to go to Ein Gedi is to visit the nearby ancient fortress of Masada from where you also get a wonderful view of the Dead Sea below.

Summary: You only live once!