National park · Jordan
Dead Sea (Jordan)البحر الميت
Treat the Jordan shore as a float-and-mud stop, not a hiking park: pay for a hotel day pass (25–40 JD) or use the free informal shore, float before 10:00, and put your real walking into Wadi Mujib or Wadi al-Hasa.Treat the Jordan shore as a float-and-mud stop, not a hiking park: pay for a hotel day pass (25–40 JD) or use the free informal shore, float before 10:00 AM, and put your real walking into Wadi Mujib or Wadi al-Hasa.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
220 km² (85 sq mi)85 sq mi (220 km²)
approximate
Established
1987
Best months
Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 4
- Jordan ↗Get the visa or the Jordan Pass only on official channels; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Jordan ↗Yellow taxis must use the meter; if the driver refuses, use a ride-hailing app instead.
- Jordan ↗In Ramadan, eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight is not accepted; hotels and tourist restaurants serve.
- Jordan ↗Do not pack a drone: import without a prior permit is refused and the drone is held at the border.
At a glance
- Country
- Jordan
- Area
- 220 km² (85 sq mi)85 sq mi (220 km²)
- The 220 km² figure is the Mujib Reserve that borders the shore; the Jordanian Dead Sea shore itself has no single park boundary (check).
- Established
- 1987
- Best months
- Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Amman
The Jordanian Dead Sea shore is not a national park but a working coastline: a string of resort beaches at Sweimeh, a public beach at Amman Tourist Beach, and unmanaged shore where locals float for free. The water is hypersaline enough that you cannot sink, the mud is the draw, and the land around it — Wadi Mujib, Wadi al-Hasa, Hammamat Ma'in, the cliffs at the Dead Sea Panoramic Complex — holds the actual walking. The sea is shrinking as the Jordan River is diverted, so the shoreline moves and sinkholes appear; treat it as a changing environment rather than a fixed beach. Everything here sits on the Dead Sea Road between Amman and the King's Highway, which makes it a half-day stop rather than a destination in its own right.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1987.
Size and age
220 km² (85 sq mi)85 sq mi (220 km²) · national park since 1987
The 220 km² figure is the Mujib Reserve that borders the shore; the Jordanian Dead Sea shore itself has no single park boundary (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Amman.
Why go
- Float in water so salty you cannot sink, at the lowest land point on Earth — about 440 m below sea level.
- Cover yourself in the mineral mud that the shore is known for, then rinse in a freshwater shower.
- The shore is 45–60 minutes from Amman, so it fits a half day between Madaba and the airport.
- The surrounding wadis — Mujib, al-Hasa, Hammamat Ma'in — give real canyon walking next to the water.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayGo
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanMild and often sunny; the warmest place in Jordan in winter
- FebCool; flash-flood risk in the wadis after rain
- MarWarm days, cool water, clear light
- AprComfortable floating; spring flowers in the wadis
- MayGetting hot by midday; Mujib season starts
- Jun35–40 °C (95–104 °F); float early or late only95–104 °F (35–40 °C); float early or late only
- JulPeak heat; hotel pools matter more than the sea
- AugHottest month; strong sun on the shore
- SepStill very hot; Mujib can close after rain
- OctHeat drops; best all-round month
- NovWarm, quiet, good light for photos
- DecCool but swimmable; rain possible
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Migrating raptors and waterbirds over the Mujib reserveMar–May, Sep–Nov · The reserve is a migration corridor between Africa and Europe. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Ibex and desert foxes on the eastern cliffsOct–Mar · Seen early or late, usually at a distance. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Nile tilapia in the Mujib poolsMay–Sep | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Amman
JETT shuttle from the city centre, or a taxi for the day down the Dead Sea Road; brown tourist signs mark the exits.
45–60 min
Open the page →
From Madaba
Taxi or your own car via Mount Nebo; the road drops to the shore in about half an hour.
30–40 min
From Aqaba
Long drive north on the Desert Highway, then west to the shore; a full-day taxi is the usual arrangement.
3–3.5 h
Open the page →
From King's Highway
The route from Madaba south past Mujib and Karak passes above the shore.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel zone (Sweimeh) | The cluster of resorts with private beaches, pools and spas, about 55 km (34 mi) south of Amman.The cluster of resorts with private beaches, pools and spas, about 34 mi (55 km) south of Amman. | Day pass or a room booking. |
| Amman Tourist Beach | The public beach with changing rooms, showers, a pool and a restaurant. | Paid entry; has been closed at times — check. |
| Informal shore | Unmanaged stretches south of the hotel zone where locals float for free. | Open; no facilities, no lifeguard. |
| Wadi Mujib and the eastern cliffs | The canyon reserve and the Panoramic Complex on the cliff above it. | Reserve trail by booking; museum by ticket. |
Sketch map
- 1Sweimeh hotel zone · Sleep≈31.718, 35.587Map ↗
- 2Amman Tourist Beach · Beach≈31.698, 35.583Map ↗
- 3Informal shore south of the hotel zone · Beach≈31.683, 35.575Map ↗
- 4Dead Sea Panoramic Complex · Viewpoint≈31.629, 35.585Map ↗
- 5Hammamat Ma'in · Trail≈31.610, 35.611Map ↗
- 6Wadi Mujib reserve entrance · Gate≈31.467, 35.574Map ↗
- 7Wadi al-Hasa · Trail≈31.021, 35.486Map ↗
- 8Mount Nebo · Viewpoint≈31.768, 35.725Map ↗
- 9Baptism Site · Village≈31.837, 35.550Map ↗
Take the points offline
9 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions along the Jordanian shore and the nearby wadis, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel beach day pass (Dead Sea Spa, Mövenpick, Kempinski) | JOD 25–40 | person | 2026 estimate; weekday rates are lower, weekends higher, some include a restaurant voucher. |
| Amman Tourist Beach public entry | JOD 20–25 | person | 2026 estimate; the site has been closed and reopened before — check before you drive out. |
| Informal shore south of the hotel zone | Free | person | No facilities, no lifeguard, no showers; locals use it. |
| JETT shuttle Amman–Dead Sea, one way | JOD 10 | person | 2026 estimate; morning out, afternoon back. |
| Taxi from Amman for the day | JOD 20–35 | vehicle | 2026 estimate; downtown pickup cheaper than hotel-arranged. |
| Dead Sea Panoramic Complex museum | JOD 2 | person | 2026 estimate; run by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature. |
| Baptism Site (Bethany Beyond the Jordan) | JOD 12 | person | 2026 estimate; guided shuttle down to the river is included. |
| Mount Nebo | JOD 1 | person | 2026 estimate. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Hotel day pass no permit
Wadi Mujib gorge trail permit or guide
Baptism Site permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- JOD 25–40
- JOD 20–25
- JOD 10
- JOD 20–35
- JOD 2
- JOD 12
- JOD 1
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature — Mujib Reserve before you go.
Park rules
- Float on your back
- Do not try to swim face-down; legs rise and the head goes under. Several people drown here every year.
- No water in the eyes or mouth
- The salt stings badly. If it reaches your eyes, let tears flush it — do not rub with your hands.
- Waterproof footwear
- Salt crust at the waterline is sharp and cuts feet easily.
- Freshwater rinse before your towel
- Shower off the salt first, or the towel stays salty and irritates your skin.
- No swimming after dark
- Posted on the shore beyond the public beach; there is no lifeguard.
- No outside food at the public beach
- The restaurant is the only food option on site.
- Flash floods
- In winter and spring, rain far away can send water through the wadis on a sunny day; check forecasts before any canyon walk.check
Where to stay
Near the park
Sweimeh hotel zone
Resorts from mid-range to five-star with private beaches, pools and spas; day passes available.
Near the park
O Beach and Dead Sea Spa area
Cheaper hotels a few kilometres south, useful if you are continuing south the next day.
Near the park
Madaba
Guesthouses and small hotels 30–40 minutes away, with far more choice of food.
Near the park
Amman
The practical base if you are doing the Dead Sea as a day trip.
Safety
Drowning while swimming face-down high
Salt in eyes, cuts and mouth medium
Heat and sun medium
Flash floods in the wadis high
Sinkholes near the retreating shoreline medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Hotel beaches in the Sweimeh zone have step-free access to pools, showers and shaded seating.
- The Dead Sea Panoramic Complex has a paved approach and a viewing terrace.
- The informal shore and the wadi trails are rough, steep and not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- The sea is shrinking — the Jordan River is 70–90% diverted for human use, so treat the shoreline as a changing environment, not a fixed beach.
- Use the hotel showers rather than washing salt off in the sea or in freshwater springs.
- Buy mud and salt products from Jordanian producers rather than taking crystals from the shore.
- Book Mujib through the RSCN, which funds the reserve's conservation work.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter the Dead Sea?
There is no single entry fee — the shore is free to reach. A hotel beach day pass costs about 25–40 JD per person depending on the day (2026 estimate), the public Amman Tourist Beach has been around 20–25 JD, and the informal shore south of the hotel zone is free with no facilities or lifeguard.
What are the best hikes in the Dead Sea area?
Wadi Mujib is the standout — a guided slot-canyon route with swimming and a waterfall, open in the warm season. Wadi al-Hasa is a quieter canyon walk further south, and the trails around Hammamat Ma'in and the Dead Sea Panoramic Complex are short and easy.
When is the best time to visit the Dead Sea?
October to April. Days are warm enough to float, the light is clear and the heat is manageable. June to September regularly hits 35–40 °C, so you would float early morning or late afternoon only.
Can I visit the Dead Sea as a day trip from Amman?
Yes. It is 45–60 minutes by car down the Dead Sea Road. A JETT shuttle runs morning out and afternoon back, or a taxi for the day costs about 20–35 JD (2026 estimate).
Do I need the Jordan Pass for the Dead Sea?
Not for the sea itself, which has no national entry ticket. The Jordan Pass covers sites such as the Baptism Site and the Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth, and waives the visa fee if you buy it before arrival.
Is it safe to swim in the Dead Sea?
Float on your back and do not attempt normal swimming — legs float high and the head can go under. Enter only where others are around, keep salt out of your eyes and mouth, and wear waterproof sandals on the sharp salt crust.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go