Floating on the Dead Sea in Israel

In 2012, I had a wonderful opportunity to travel to Israel. One of the do-not-miss things in this beautiful country is to visit, and float in, the Dead Sea. Because of where it is located in the country, the tours usually start early leaving Jerusalem. The first stop is to the fortress of Masada and then after that you make your way to the Dead Sea. Masada is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is traditionally climbed early in the morning. We didn’t actually climb as there is a cable car, but climbing at sunrise is an option for those who are able to do so. After our visit to Masada, we headed back down in the cable car and off to the Dead Sea. We were treated to the Ein Gedi Spa and beach area. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on the surface of the earth and the saline in the water (about eight-to-nine times more than most sea water) means that you can’t swim, and you actually float. What is popular for those going to enter the Dead Sea is to first stop at the natural mud area where you can put the mineral rich Dead Sea mud on your body. You massage it into your skin and let the sulfur, the clay, and salts in the mud work their magic. Once you do that, you make your way to the water. It is best to wear water shoes for comfort. You walk into the sea and when you are ready you lift your feet up and float. The salty water has health and healing properties. You do have to be careful if you are sunburnt or have any open cuts on your body, because once the salt hits that, it does sting. Floating on the Dead Sea is a once in a lifetime experience that everyone should get to try if they go to Israel or Jordan.

By Lisa Silver