Floating in the Dead Sea & Our Jordan Spa Experience
The view from the Marriott Petra
After our wonderful stay at the Marriott Petra we wanted to head up to the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea to have a float and rub some mud on our bodies. The salts and minerals of the Dead Sea have long been used for their rejuvenation properties and was the site for one of the worlds first health resorts for Herod the Great.
The taxi from Petra to the Dead Sea
The day before we had worked out a taxi for the ride getting a much better rate than the published fare right at Petra Visitors center. Like a lot of places, just a short walk from the tourist haunts can yield quite a better deal. There is a scenic route that takes up to 7 hours depending on how much time you spend at the different stops but we chose the direct route along the Dead Sea that takes only 3.
Our route took us over hills and into valleys and through one checkpoint but then we were there. There are really only the resorts and a small mall at the Dead Sea and we were booked at the Crown Plaza Jordan Dead Sea Resort & Spa. It’s a beautiful property that has, as we would later find out, the largest spa in the Middle East. We lived in the Abu Dhabi Crown Plaza for a month so Shani has points and status which led to us being upgraded to an Executive Suite (It was really nice! Thanks Laith and the Crown Plaza team!) and access to the above mentioned spa facility. We also got free mini bar which had my eyes lighting up but alas there was no booze! (No worries, we still had plenty from our duty-free shopping at the airport.)
Driving along the Dead Sea in Jordan
Once we settled in it was time to go for our magical float in the Dead Sea. At 1,407 feet below sea level it’s Earth’s lowest elevation on land. It also has a salinity level of 34% making it 9.6 times saltier than the ocean. It also means that non-floaters like me are easily buoyant and don’t sink.
Shani Floating in the Dead Sea
Going in the Dead Sea is kind of weird and another bucket list thing to do in Jordan. There are parts of it that are totally amazing and totally relaxing. You just lay there, expending zero energy and float around. If you start to list to one side soon enough you’ve gone from being on your back to being on your stomach. A few strokes and you’re gliding along with no effort again, floating on the surface. If you had a small sail and a slight breeze it would be easy to get from one shore to the other, but that won’t be allowed, no boats on the Dead Sea. They also regularly patrol as the border runs through the middle of the sea.
The Dead Sea
After floating for a while I was ready to get out. The high salinity was causing me to itch which Shani thought was weird but I’m a sensitive guy, what can I say. Next we needed a bite to eat and then check out the spa.
One of the things I was looking forward to at the Crown Plaza was the bar restaurant called El Grito for some spicy Mexican favorites! We wanted to grab a quick bite and then head to the spa and check it out as it featured Hydro Therapy with a bunch of pools and jets and hot tubs for our still aching calf muscles. Getting take away is not an option at any of the restaurants at the resort we were told but our waitress did rush the order and had our food out to us before I finished my beer. I went for the tacos and they were pretty good, I would order them again given the chance. The view from the restaurant is incredible, looking out across the Dead Sea and Israel on the other side.
Tasty Tacos
On to the spa. It’s called Sohum and the Hydro Therapy we did can be found here on page 10 of their brochure. Plan on 2 hours at least to actually get through all of the treatments. Qusai and the staff were wonderful to us, guiding us in the right directions and making sure we were taken care of. For most of the evening we had the place to our selves as we went in around 7 when most people were cleaning up from the pool and getting dinner. This is one of those things you must do at the Crown Plaza, it was amazing. They have a Dead Sea pool that may have been the most relaxing thing I have ever done. The whole Hydro Therapy treatment was just what we needed, so great after some pretty long days exploring Petra.
Shani slathers on the mud!
The next morning we went down to the Dead Sea again for the mud treatment. I mean, you have to do it since you’re there! The guys were just getting a fresh batch from the shoreline so we were good to go. We slathered the mud on, let it bake, and I’m sure it made us both look 10 years younger. That’s what it’s supposed to do any way!
Shani getting ready to bake the mud on.
Unfortunately those 10 years got added back on during our crazy cab ride to the airport. We both silently wondered if this was the time we pulled the short straw and the jig was up. But that’s another story for another time! Let’s just say we were both quite happy to get to the lounge and have a glass of wine!
