What is it Really Like to Float in the Dead Sea?
Is it Worth Visiting the Dead Sea?
Over the years leading up to my Dead Sea visit, many people have told me that it is not worth visiting the Dead Sea. Not wanting to take their word for it, I decided to see for myself what it was like floating in the Dead Sea. I also wanted to see if it was worth visiting the Dead Sea.
Floating in the Dead Sea has been on my “bucketlist” for years, and I finally got the chance to do so in July of 2023. The only issue was that Israel was experiencing record high temperatures, which meant the temperature on the shore of the Dead Sea was over 110° Fahrenheit. In addition to the air temperature being extremely hot, the Dead Sea water was over 100°F as well.
The extreme temperatures made it almost impossible to stay in the Dead Sea for more than ten minuted, but I still felt that it was worth visiting the Dead Sea.
What is it Really Like Floating in the Dead Sea? - Table of Contents
- Is it Worth Visiting the Dead Sea?
- How to Get to the Dead Sea?
- Visiting the Dead Sea’s Kalia Beach
- Changing Rooms at the Dead Sea’s Kalia Beach
- Walking to the Dead Sea Shoreline
- The Air Temperature at the Dead Sea During July
- The Water Temperature at the Dead Sea During July
- Floating in the Dead Sea
- Thoughts on Floating in the Dead Sea – What was it really like?
- Tours that Visit the Dead Sea
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How to Get to the Dead Sea
Now that I knew I was visiting the Dead Sea, the first thing I had to figure out was how to get to the Dead Sea. The closest Dead Sea Beach to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem is Kalia Beach, which is the one that I visited. By car, it takes about 90 minutes to drive the 100 kilometers from Tel Aviv. From Jerusalem, the drive to the Dead Sea’s Kalia Beach only takes about 45 minutes to drive 42 kilometers.
For those that don’t have a car, there are busses that run between both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. In my opinion, the best way to visit the Dead Sea is to take a tour. I took a tour of the Dead Sea paired with Masada. I will link some tours that visit the Dead Sea towards the bottom of this page.
Regardless of how you choose to get to the Dead Sea, make sure you stop at the Sea Level Sign. This sign marks the location where the elevation drops below Sea Level. From the Sea Level Sign, the road continues downward until the elevation reaches just over 1,400 feet below sea level.
Another perk of a tour is that the tour guides know the best viewpoints for photographing the Dead Sea. The photo below was taken from a viewpoint near Masada.
Visiting the Dead Sea's Kalia Beach
Kalia Beach is the furthest north beach on the Israeli side of the Dead Sea. Admission to Kalia Beach was included in the cost of my tour with Masada. If you are visiting Kalia Beach without a tour, the entrance fee is ₪54 ($14.50). The admission fee to Kalia Beach includes the use of the changing facilities, locker rooms, and all of the beach facilities, including showers, lounge chairs, and umbrellas.
The Dead Sea is over ten times saltier than the Mediterranean Sea. When visiting the Dead Sea, visitors must follow the safety instructions below.
Changing Rooms at the Dead Sea’s Kalia Beach
There are changing rooms at the Dead Sea’s Kalia Beach for both men and women. Each changing room has lockers, although they are not free. Our guide suggested bringing our belongings with us and leaving them on a chair at the beach. He knew that I had my camera and GoPro and offered to keep his eye on my belongings while I floated in the Dead Sea.
Towels are not provided by Kalia Beach but are really not necessary. It was over 110 degrees with low humidity. After floating in the Dead Sea, my swim trunks were dry by the time I returned to the changing room.
Walking to the Dead Sea Shoreline
The Dead Sea is dying. Each year the Dead Sea loses about four feet of water per year. Due to this water loss, there is quite a walk from the changing room to the Dead Sea Beach.
Throughout the walk, there are various signs showing the height of the water level during different years. The lifeguard tower below was used to observe swimmers in the Dead Sea in 2002. You can clearly see how much the Dead Sea water has dropped. Our guide explained that Israel is considering pumping water from the Red Sea to keep the Dead Sea from shrinking even more.
Be sure to wear sandals or shoes when walking from the changing rooms to the Dead Sea. The sand was so hot that I could barely stand on it for even a second. I ended up wearing my sandals into the Dead Sea because of the extreme temperature of the sand and rocks.
So, now I was beginning to experience what it is actually like to visit the Dead Sea. Don’t expect a tropical beach with white sand like you would see in the Caribbean. Don’t even expect a beach similar to the Mediterranean Beaches in Tel Aviv. The Dead Sea beach is a mix of dirt, small rocks, and dark brown sand. Mixed in the sand are layers of salt deposits.
You’ll notice the chairs at Kalia Beach are super close to the shoreline of the Dead Sea. As I stated before, the sand was so hot that it was impossible to walk on the beach. The chairs were at the shoreline, so visitors had a place to put their shoes after entering the Dead Sea.
The Air Temperature at the Dead Sea During July
What is the Dead Sea really like? It is HOT! In July, the average temperature of the air by the Dead Sea is 96°F during the day and 77°F at night. During my visit, Israel was experiencing a massive heatwave, and the temperature was approaching 110°F. According to my research, the record temperature on the banks of the Dead Sea was over 120°F.
The Water Temperature at the Dead Sea During July
So with the air temperature being 110°F, you would think that bathing in the Dead Sea would be extremely refreshing. That is not really true, as the Dead Sea water temperature was close to 100°F during my visit. I would compare the Dead Sea water temperature to the temperature of a hot tub or a warm bath.
Floating in the Dead Sea
So now I had arrived at the shoreline of the Dead Sea. I took off my sandals and stepped into the salty water. As I walked out into the shallow water of the Dead Sea, I struggled to keep my legs on the ground. My body wanted to float, so I decided to sit back and experience the strange sensation of floating in the Dead Sea.
The feeling is so surreal. It’s like lying in a bed of water. When I wanted to get my feet back on the ground to stand, I had to kick quite hard to get my feet through the dense salty water.
I spent about ten minutes floating in the Dead Sea. Between the air temperature and the water temperature, it was all my body could take. I really didn’t see any tourists stay in the water for more than ten to twenty minutes.
There were freshwater showers stationed throughout the beach. Those showers had cold water, and after cooling down, I was able to go back into the Dead Sea for an additional ten minutes.
The video below shows me floating in the Dead Sea. One of the younger members of our tour group helped film this video. He was about 12 years old and did a great job. If you are reading this, thanks for filming this video!
Thoughts on Floating in the Dead Sea - What was it really like?
So what was it really like floating in the Dead Sea? Was floating in the Dead Sea worth the trip? Despite the hot temperature of the air and water, it was absolutely worth visiting the Dead Sea.
Visiting the Dead Sea had been on my bucket list for a long time, and although it wasn’t as refreshing as I expected, it was definitely a worthwhile experience. That being said, I am not sure that I would need to visit the Dead Sea again.
For those visiting Israel, I highly recommend visiting the Dead Sea. It doesn’t need to be a long visit. Our group had just two hours to spend at the Dead Sea, and everyone was ready to get back on the bus after about 90 minutes.
I hope this summary of my experience visiting the Dead Sea’s Kalia Beach helps encourage you to visit the Dead Sea!
Tours that Visit the Dead Sea
 Dead Sea, Masada and Ein Gedi Nature Reserve Tour from Tel Aviv - $79.00 This full day, self-guided, small group tour to Masada, Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea will take you from Tel Aviv to the top sights in the Judean Desert. With a hike around an ancient fortress, time to relax and float in the Dead Sea, and a visit to desert oasis, you won't be disappointed. |
 masada and dead sea - $115.00 This tour heads to southern Israel through the Judean Hills and past the Inn of the Good Samaritan. We pause at sea level for an unforgettable photo-op then continue our descent further and further down beneath sea level towards the iconic Dead Sea. Our first stop is at Masada where we take a cable car to the plateau summit and tour the remains of Herod’s 2,055 year old palace fortress. We see remarkable structures including palaces and a bathhouse. From Masada the tour takes you past the desert oasis of Ein Gedi and Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We spend the rest of the day relaxing on one of the Dead Sea beaches. You can float in the salty-water that is 8.6 times more saline than the ocean creating natural buoyance. Use the Dead Sea mud as a natural skin mask and soak up the glorious Dead Sea sun. |
 Highlights of Israel Day Trip: Jerusalem and the Dead Sea - $106.00 See the highlights of Israel in one day on an evocative sightseeing trip from Jerusalem. You will discover the ancient city of Jerusalem, a holy site for many different religions, before enjoying a therapeutic spa visit to the Dead Sea. Few places in the world mean so much to so many people as these do, so if you only have a day to spare, make sure you see the best that Israel has to offer! |
 Jerusalem & Dead Sea Private Tour - Visit Holy Jerusalem & Dead Sea Relaxation - $220.00 Private full day tour to combine Jerusalem & Dead Sea. Tour to holy city of Jerusalem and iconic Dead Sea. Panoramic view from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem old city. Walk through Jewish & Christian Quarters, Western Wall, Cardo. Continue along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Then proceed to the Dead Sea to float weightless and having a refreshing mud-bath. |
 Bethlehem and dead sea - $90.00 our tour is very special we are having excellent guide and driver |
 Super Saver: Jerusalem and the Dead Sea Tour & In the Footsteps of Jesus Tour - $173.70 Explore the top sights of Jerusalem, visit the Dead Sea and trace the steps of Jesus in Jerusalem on a Super Saver that combines two full-day tours for a discounted price! On the first day, see the main landmarks of Jerusalem and head to the Dead Sea to float in the salt-rich waters. On the second day, walk through Jerusalem, taking in the Via Dolorosa and sites mentioned in the Bible, including where Jesus is said to have prayed before his arrest. Save 12% when you book these tours together! |
 Bethlehem, Jordan River, Jericho and Dead Sea - Private Tour from Jerusalem - $350.00 This tour is designed so you don't lose any time waiting for a big group to finish and move around. All Private tours are operated with the newest cars. |
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