Why pay to go to a spa centre when you can visit the world’s oldest natural spa without paying an entrance fee? The Dead Sea has such a high concentration of salts and minerals that it is very beneficial to your skin and general health, particularly when using the Dead Sea black mud. However, there is more to the Dead Sea than the health benefits.
History in the Area
If you visit the Dead Sea you will find that the area is steeped in history. The ancient fortress sitting on a secluded mountain top, on the edge of the Judea desert, is not to be missed. The Masada Museum features, among other things, a unique time travel experience, where you will see some of the artefacts from when King Harrod took refuge in the fort, and from his palace.
The Qumran Caves are named after the Bedouin who often used them for shelter and eventually purchased the site. They were first used as early as the Iron Age. The area was expanded to the excavated and visible buildings that you can now see. They were uncovered by archaeologists, as was the graveyard that has over 1000 tombs. They are probably most famous though as the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in the middle of the 20th century.
These are just two of the historical places that are not to be missed if you visit the Dead Sea, there are many more.
Beaches
The Dead Sea has many beaches to enjoy the sun and make use of the incredible water. Just as examples, there is the Zohar Hot Springs Beach and the Ein Bokek Beach to the south and the Kalia and Mineral Beach to the north. There are, of course, many others. On some of them, you will find natural mud areas to cover yourself with the healthy black mud, and also toilets and showers with dressing rooms. There are often restaurants and bars, and sometimes barbeque facilities for you to cook your own food.
Add to this camping facilities, lifeguards, beach chairs and shades, and free parking and you can see why the beaches of the Dead Sea are so popular.
Other Attractions and Things to Do
There are various other activities if you find the beaches and history is not enough. Taking a sailing trip can be an amazing experience. You will see salt statues, salt pearls and crystals as well as the freshwater springs that run in and out of the sea. It is recommended that you take swimwear with you, just in case you are tempted to jump in. The sailing trips can take anything from 1 to 5 hours, that choice is yours.
There are various nature reserves and hiking trails. Take a stroll, have a picnic, wander around on your own, or take part in an organized tour. Whichever you do, you will see some stunning sights and have the chance to bathe in natural water springs.
If you are looking for somewhere extraordinary to visit, the Dead Sea has to be at the top of your list.
Follow itravelnet.com