Visit the lowest point on earth (Dead Sea (Israel))

Member Name: heynonnynonny

Product:	Dead Sea (Israel)
Date:	16/10/09 (38 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Amazing experience, it's just a must do!

Disadvantages: Sea did not agree with my sore legs but I didn't care it was too good

My account of the Dead Sea.

Main holiday was in Egypt, my first time on a plane and first time abroad.

Set off about midnight from Sharm, many hours on a bumpy road to Taba and the Israeli border, we are at the Taba border terminal about 5am, quite a surreal experience, steaming hot, takes a while to get through Israeli customs and then here is where the real journey begins.

Driving through the desert in the early hours with the sun rising over Jordan and Saudi in the distance is amazing. Reach Ein Gedi but do not stop here. Drive past several factory type places until the Dead Sea is in sight, albeit quite a distance. So we begin our descent to the lowest point on earth, you have to keep reminding yourself where you are, I found it a very moving experience. And finally we arrive. There is a hotel on the left and a couple of shopson the right (the cafe is a must visit, the bagels are absolutely divine and we paid in Egyptian Pounds as had no Israeli Shekels), so there is a few buildings about.

Burning hot sands lead down to the vast expanse of water before you!!

I was very nervous as a non swimmer (I know, crazy, haha!) but I knew this had to be done. It was not busy, there were people floating and reading newspapers :D and it was great fun to watch.

Time to swim!!

Now my experience was not the best as I have 'infected' eczema on my legs, I got in and it burnt a bit but I was so determined I would do this I got all the way in slowly and floated about, then had to come out cos of my poor skin. I'd done it. Was in pain for several hours though, couldn't have done it again. I should have guessed my skin wouldn't have handled it. Never been in the sea in my life let alone the most famous in the world! I reckon the salt and minerals must have just not agreed with my skin, I am confident everyone else will be fine, I am just giving my personal experience. But I just had to get in and do it!

We were there for about 2 hours, I don't know what it would be like spending a few nights there, would be good as part of a tour if you were travelling around, we continued to Eilat and carried on to Jerusalem, great day, an absolute must do.

Thank you so much for reading!

Summary: Don't think about it just do it. Combine with exploring Israel. It's fascinating. A living museum.