Visiting the Dead Sea in Israel is one of the best options for a day trip from Jerusalem. It’s also a fantastic choice if you’re basing yourself out of Tel Aviv. While many people visit the Dead Sea for its healing properties or for the spas, there are a lot of other unique things to do near the Dead Sea. Of course, you can’t visit without floating in the Dead Sea at least once. But after spending a few hours at one of the beaches here, you’d really be missing out if you didn’t explore other nearby places during your 2 days at the Dead Sea.
The shores of the Dead Sea are the lowest point on the earth’s surface. The sea itself is surrounded by Israel on one side and Jordan on the other, so it’s very easy to plan a day trip from Jordan to the Israeli side of the Dead Sea too. We spent 2 days at the Dead Sea in Israel and really enjoyed it. We were able to visit a popular beach, explore less touristy parts of the Dead Sea, and set foot in one of Israel’s most important archaeological sites. Here are some tips about how you can plan 2 days at the Dead Sea in Israel.
Day 1: Attractions around the Dead Sea
Gallery Minus 430
Gallery Minus 430 is a unique site near the Dead Sea to visit that sits at the entrance to Kalia Beach. These abandoned buildings were once part of a Jordanian camp until the area came under the control of Israel. Today, more than 30 artists have turned them into an art project and it’s now the lowest art gallery in the world, sitting 430 metres below sea level. The gallery aims to raise awareness of the death of the Dead Sea and its beaches due to global warming. This is a unique area to visit during 2 days at the Dead Sea, so if you like street art I’d recommend stopping by.
Ein Gedi Camp Lodge
On our way to Masada our bus stopped by the Ein Gedi Camp Lodge so we could take some photos of the unique accommodation that they offer. This is a very popular place to stay near the Dead Sea, with various camping options available depending on your preference. The double bedded Volkswagen camper vans are a huge hit though, and they include air conditioning as well as a private hammock and a seating area outside. There are plenty of hotels near the Dead Sea in Israel to choose from, but nothing comes close to this.
Masada National Park
One of the best things to do during 2 days at the Dead Sea in Israel is to visit the incredible Masada National Park. These ancient ruins sit isolated at the top of a cliffside and date back to the time of King Herod in the year 30 BC. There’s a tragic story behind its decline which you’ll learn about when you visit, and today the ruins still stand as a symbol of determination and heroism.
To get the most out of your visit I would recommend joining a guided tour. Many people opt for a Masada sunrise guided tour from Jerusalem for the views, but we went around sunset and it was incredible too.
For those of you who don’t wish to go hiking at Masada, there’s the option of a cable car, with the last one running an hour before closing time. Entry is 31 shekels without the cable car and 46 shekels with the round trip cable car included. Masada is a one-of-a-kind UNESCO World Heritage Site, so while you’re spending 2 days at the Dead Sea you should allocate at least half a day to visit it.
Glamping -420 at Kalia Beach
Wondering where to stay during your 2 days at the Dead Sea in Israel? We stayed directly above Kalia Beach, which is the closest beach to Jerusalem. It’s a very popular spot which boasts a lot of amenities including shops and restaurants. They’ve recently opened Glamping -420 which is an unbelievable sleeping experience in luxury tents complete with air conditioning, a double bed, indoor seating, and a mini fridge. The shared shower and toilet facilities are spotless and have high-end toiletries in them too.
In the evening you can relax in the shallow pool or sit out under the stars next to a burning fire, and there’s an open air kitchen available for everyone to use. Breakfast at Glamping -420 is fantastic, with a lot of freshly prepared options available, served inside the check-in tent. Staying here will also give you access to Kalia Beach for no extra charge which is a little added bonus.
Me Casa Restaurant
There are a few restaurants along Kalia Beach itself, but we chose to go for a short drive to Me Casa Restaurant, located along one of the main roads. It’s a very nice Italian restaurant to dine at, with a large selection of pizzas, pastas, and meats. If you’re not feeling too hungry the pizzas are definitely big enough for two people. I’d recommend ordering a few different dishes to share so you have a nice variety of food though.
Day 2: The Dead Sea
Kalia Beach for sunrise
The great thing about staying at Glamping -420 is the very close proximity to Kalia Beach. It takes only 2 minutes to make our way down to the beach early in the morning for sunrise, and you’ll have the entire area to yourself. Swimming at this time isn’t recommended as there are no lifeguards on duty, but you can always dip your toes in the water and no one will be any wiser. This beach gets very busy in the summer months so it’s definitely worth heading down to it early to reserve a spot for yourself.
Join a guided tour of the Dead Sea
There are many Dead Sea tours to choose from, but one of the most unique ones you can go on is with Dead Sea Bike. As the name suggests, this tour uses either manual or electric bikes as part of the experience, and the local guides will bring you to parts of the Dead Sea in Israel that aren’t accessible to the public.
We didn’t have time to join one of the bike tours, so we hopped in a Jeep instead and then took a short walk to the shoreline where the mushroom-shaped salt formations are. If you’re spending 2 days at the Dead Sea in Israel or more, this is a fantastic option for a guided tour.
Our second day at the Dead Sea was much shorter than our first, but that’s because we needed to head back to Jerusalem earlier in the day. If this is your first time in Israel, spending 3 days in Jerusalem and another 2 days at the Dead Sea is a great way to see some of the highlights of this Middle Eastern country. It’ll definitely make you want to return so you can see what else Israel has to offer.
Have you been to the Dead Sea before? Whether you’ve visited on the Jordanian side or the Israeli side, I’d love to hear about your experiences. Please feel free to reach out via email or Instagram, or you can leave a comment below.
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