Updated: April 2026
There are some travel experiences you hear about again and again and quietly wonder, “Is it really like that?”
Floating in the Dead Sea is one of them.
Located between Jordan, Israel and the West Bank, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth — sitting more than 400 metres below sea level. It’s also one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world, with a salt concentration of around 29%.
And yes… you really do float.
Getting there
I visited the Dead Sea as part of a group tour in Jordan. It’s an easy day trip from Amman, and many visitors combine it with a wider Jordan itinerary.
We stayed at one of the resort hotels along the shore — a place designed for relaxation, with beautiful views stretching across the still, shimmering water.
The unexpected part
What I hadn’t quite anticipated was the descent.
To reach the sea itself, you have to walk down quite a number of steps from the resort level. Standing at the top, I paused for a moment, looking down, gathering my courage.
But I hadn’t come all this way not to experience it.
So down I went knowing full well I’d have to climb back up again later!
The moment of truth
At the water’s edge, I hesitated.
The colours were striking — the salt crystals shimmering along the shoreline, the water calm and almost unreal.
Our guide had warned us:
- Don’t submerge your face
- Avoid getting the water in your eyes (it really does sting!)
- Don’t stay in too long
I took a deep breath and eased myself in. And then, something quite magical happened.
I floated.
Effortlessly.
No effort, no technique, no swimming required — just the strange and wonderful sensation of being held up by the water.
As a non-swimmer, this felt particularly special. There was something both surreal and quietly empowering about it
A surreal experience
One of the classic images of the Dead Sea is people floating while reading a newspaper and yes, it really happens.
I watched others doing exactly that, completely relaxed, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
It’s one of those moments where you stop and think:
“I’m actually seeing this.”
A place under threat
Our guide also shared something sobering.
The Dead Sea is shrinking rapidly. Water levels have been dropping for years, and there are concerns about what it may look like in the future.
Standing there, floating in this extraordinary place, it was hard not to reflect on how fragile even the most iconic landscapes can be.
Final thoughts
Floating in the Dead Sea is one of those experiences that stays with you.
Simple. Unique. Slightly surreal.
And if, like me, you’re not a swimmer — don’t worry.
You’ll float. Effortlessly.
From floating below sea level to Stepping into the Void in Aiguille du Midi
In Pictures ...
