All Dead Sea, expedition cruises, self guided adventures and vacation packages. Find the best guided and expert planned vacation and holiday packages. Read more about Dead Sea
Award winning travel
Dead Sea Tours & Travel Packages 2025/2026
47 Dead Sea trips. Compare tour itineraries from 10 tour companies. 914 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating.
Popular Dead Sea Tours
See all 47 Dead Sea tripsAward winning travel
Small Group Dead Sea Tours
See all 19 Dead Sea trips
Best Dead Sea Tours by Duration
Best Dead Sea Tours by Price
Top Dead Sea Attractions
- The ability to see the Judean Desert on foot or from the comfort of a jeep.
- Taking some time to relax by floating on the Dead Sea.
- Taking full advantage of the healing properties found in the mineral springs and mud of the Dead Sea.
- The fun in seeing the beauty of the surrounding plants and birds at real desert oases.
- Discovering the hidden valleys and waterfalls in the wilds of Ein Bokek and Ein Gede.
- Exploring the passages of Qumran Caverns with the light of a headlamp.
- The joy in participating in the Jewish “high holidays” as they take place around the Dead Sea.
Dead Sea Tours & Travel Guide
Dead Sea Attractions & Landmarks Guide
What is the Dead Sea?
The Dead Sea is a salt lake that stretches over 49 kilometers (31 miles) along the bottom of the Jordan Rift Valley in Asia. It is the lowest lake on Earth, at an astounding 430 meters (1411 feet) below sea level. The Dead Sea can be found between the borders of Jordan and Israel, along with the West Bank.
Despite its name, the Dead Sea is not completely devoid of life. Bacteria exists in the water but nothing else survives the 33% salinity levels that the lake is known for. Travelers will also encounter salt crystals along the seafloor as well as mineral springs and beaches on the shores.
Nearby cities
Since the Dead Sea is accessible from both Israel and Jordan, it is a typical part of many tours in these countries. Given its popularity as a venue for relaxation and the many cultural sites that are nearby, there are no major cities in the direct vicinity of the Dead Sea.
For travelers in Israel, the closest major city to the Dead Sea is Arad and the furthest is Eilat. From the capital of Tel Aviv, the Dead Sea is 170 kilometers (106 miles) away.
Travelers in Jordan looking to visit the lake will likely begin their tour in the capital of Amman, which is about 73 kilometers (45 miles) away. Travelers may also leave from Aqaba, which is conveniently nearby Petra but is located 300 kilometers (186 miles) away from the Dead Sea.
Floating in the Dead Sea - tips and advice
While many travelers may think that going to a sea means they need to swim, the Dead Sea is where people come to float. Since the lake has excessive salt in it, try as they might, travelers cannot do anything but drift while in the Dead Sea. For this reason, travelers have no need to worry about sinking and can focus on relaxing instead.
There are convenient signs along the coast that explain just how to do that, detailing all the steps that go into using the mineral-rich water and mud to its fullest potential as a healing substance. Those who prefer to simply float will likely prefer to lay on their backs, as this minimizes the amount of salt-water that gets into eyes or mouths.
Travelers with any small cuts or scratches are reminded that “pouring salt on a wound” is a legitimate concern when stepping into the Dead Sea.
Making the most of your Dead Sea trip
Although the Dead Sea may be enjoyed within a day, some travelers find it rewarding to stay overnight. This is because leaving from a nearby major city in the early morning gifts travelers with a breathtaking sunrise over the desert-fortress of Masada.
As daylight becomes brighter, travelers can follow the Masada Snake Path that ascends 400 meters (.20 miles) to the summit and visit the UNESCO Heritage Site of Masada. As the hike to the top is typically an hour-long and the way back is around 40 minutes, some travelers may opt to take the Masada cable car that ascends and descends the mountain in minutes.
From there, travelers can head to the Dead Sea, which is about 30 minutes away. Free public access to the lake can be found at Ein Bokek. Other travelers may choose to visit the nature reserve of Ein Gedi, which hosts various oasis plants and animals as well as mineral-beach access.
For the more adventurous travelers, salt-caving tours are available during the day in the Dead Sea coastlines along with desert jeep tours. Travelers can also explore Qumran Canyon on a guided tour, which provides the opportunity for challenging hikes and a glimpse at the place where the ancient Dead Sea scrolls were discovered in 1946. At the end of the day, the lack of light pollution allows travelers to stargaze with ease as they sit in mineral springs along the shoreline.
What is there to do at the Dead Sea?
Besides basking in the desert sunlight from the comfort of the Dead Sea, travelers will find that there are many nearby natural and cultural attractions. From the Ein Gedi nature reserve to Bedouin villages, travelers will be exposed to more than just fresh sea air. As a natural desert oasis, Ein Gedi has numerous waterfalls and challenging hikes that reward travelers with fantastic photo opportunities.
Ein Bokek rivals the natural beauty found in Ein Gedi in the form of iconic resorts and free beach access. The Bokek Spring, for which the region is named, can also be explored with a guided tour. For travelers looking to explore the desert landscape, jeep tours are available by the hour or day, with tour guides who have first-hand experience with ways to safely interact with the ruins of cultural sites that the desert hides.
Even more immersive are guided tours of the Qumran caves, which hid the ancient Dead Sea scrolls and may now be toured with a headlamp. The network of caves and aqueducts are expansive, making it critical to book a guided tour of them in order to ensure that they are safely explored to their fullest potential. Scattered throughout the Dead Sea region are the nomadic Bedouin people.
Some guided tours offer opportunities to take camel rides with them while others facilitate an authentic cultural exchange with them through communication.
Common Questions
Some of the most common questions about the Dead Sea are ones about how the water will impact the skin and clothing of travelers. Fortunately, the waters and mud of the Dead Sea are well-known for their healing properties that benefit both skin conditions and do not harm hair.
Travelers who are sensitive to the harsh salinity are encouraged to enter the water slowly or simply use the mud for their benefit. Those who choose to swim in the Dead Sea will find it very difficult, as the high density of the water makes it nearly impossible to do anything but float.
Diving underwater is therefore not recommended and opening eyes underwater is also strongly advised against, as the salt tends to sting. This will also occur if travelers have any open wounds or small cuts. Similarly, travelers should note that the salt will leech the color from any clothing that it comes in contact with.
No matter what travelers choose to do when visiting the Dead Sea, free access to the lake is available from Israel in Ein Gedi, Ein Bokek, Neve Midbar Beach, Biankini Beach, and Kalia Beach. From Jordan, the Amman Tourist Beach is public and free.
Both countries have numerous resorts and hotels with beach access that have entry fees or are exclusive to guests, which travelers may consider as they plan their lodging with guided tour companies.
Dead Sea Reviews & Ratings
A
A Week in Petra
A great week with a great bunch of people This was the trip just as I expected it - Petra being the highlight, but Wadi Rum coming a close second. Or maybe Jerash?...
A
A week in Jordan
Excellent Trip - fulfilled all my expectations - our Guide Zuhair was superb. on our second day in Petra spending time chilling at the tea shack by the High Place o...
A
fine, does what it says on the tin
An amazing experience, better than expected. The 2 days in Petra were fantastic and we saw everything. Just exploring Petra it is so vast. we had 2 leaders becaus...
A
Fantastic week, thoroughly recommend
An awe inspiring trip, with something for everyone, and covering all the key sights, sounds and tastes of Jordan. I knew I wanted to see Petra, but didn't really h...
A
a week in jordon
full on trip which was very informative and interesting. all sites were good especially Petra, Little Petra and camping in Wadi Rum Eddy was entertaining and engag...
Traveling to Dead Sea, an FAQ
1. Does Travelstride have all the tour operators?
Travelstride has the widest selection of tours and tour companies. All the largest companies are on the site and most smaller local operators though we are adding new operators daily. Unlike other websites and agencies, we show you all the options, regardless of whether or not we are paid by the company.
2. How does the Member Savings program save me money?
Travelstride membership is absolutely free. You receive special benefits including saving up to $700 on select tours with top tour operators. The main requirement is to write a review after your trip to access the savings.
3. Can I trust the tour operator and trip reviews on Travelstride?
Yes. Travelstride has both expert reviews, written by Travelstride staff and local experts as well as traveler reviews written by people like you who have used the company and traveled to that destination.
4. What does ‘Stride Preferred’ mean?
Stride Preferred and Stride Premier are status categories to help you sort quickly through known and reliable travel companies. Since there are thousands of tour operators around the globe, Preferred or Premier badges are awarded to companies that Travelstride has determined meet the highest standards of professionalism, customer satisfaction, and quality.