Dead Sea holidays pair a slow resort stay in the Rift Valley with some of the Middle East’s best-known sights. The classic itinerary pairs a few nights of floating with Petra and a night in the Wadi Rum desert. This guide covers which side to choose, how many nights to book, when to go, what entry costs and how to fly there in 2026.
Quick answer
Book the Jordan side and fly into Amman. Stay a few nights for the Dead Sea on its own, or about a week with Petra and Wadi Rum. British passport holders need a Jordan visa or a Jordan Pass. A package with flights from an ATOL holder such as SuperDestinations (ATOL 10713) is financially protected.
- Flight time from London
- About five hours.
- Airport transfer
- Under an hour by road from Amman airport to the resort strip.
- Best months
- March to May and September to November.
- Passport validity
- At least six months from the date you arrive in Jordan.
- Currency
- Jordanian dinar (JOD).
- Lowest point
- Visit Jordan gives the shore as 400 to 427 metres below sea level.
Which side of the Dead Sea: Jordan or Israel?
The Dead Sea is shared by Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. The Jordanian resort strip sits at Sweimeh, on the northern shore, with a run of large resort hotels along the shore, including international brands. From there, Petra is about three hours south by road. Our Dead Sea holiday package is a 5-night stay at the Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa on bed and breakfast, with flights included.
The Israeli shore centres on Ein Bokek, near Masada. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) currently advises against all travel to parts of Israel and all but essential travel to other parts, in advice updated on 22 July 2026. Ein Bokek is not among the named areas. Petra and Wadi Rum are both in Jordan, though, so basing the trip at Sweimeh keeps the holiday in one country, with no land border to cross.
How many nights do you need for holidays to the Dead Sea?
The Dead Sea itself needs little time to “do”, but it is the part of Jordan built for rest. On a touring trip, start in Amman after the flight, drive south to Petra, spend a night in Wadi Rum, then come back north to the Dead Sea. That way the final days before the flight home are slow ones, not a long drive from the desert.
| Trip length | How the nights split | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| 4–5 nights | Dead Sea only, with one or two half-day trips out. | A short beach and spa break with no touring. |
| 7 nights | Amman 1–2, Petra 2, Wadi Rum 1, Dead Sea 2–3. | First-time visitors who want the headline sights and a proper rest. |
| 10 nights | The 7-night route plus 3 nights in Aqaba on the Red Sea. Check current FCDO advice on Aqaba before adding it. | Couples and families adding snorkelling or diving to the trip. |
Amman also works as a stay in its own right: our 5-night Amman package at the Kempinski Hotel Amman is on B&B with flights.
A trip with two bases, such as Amman and the Dead Sea, is effectively a twin-centre holiday. The guide to how a twin-centre holiday works covers the transfer and protection side. Three or four bases turns it into one of the multi-centre holidays from the UK, where each extra stop costs you a transfer day.
Holidays to Petra and the Dead Sea
The two work best together, because the Dead Sea on its own is a beach stay and Petra on its own is a hard-walking trip.
Petra
Give Petra a full day at the very least, and two consecutive days if you can. The site is large, the walking is on sand and uneven stone, and the second day lets you reach the higher viewpoints without rushing. Settle the number of Petra days before you buy a Jordan Pass.
Petra Archaeological Park has strict opening hours. FCDO warns that visitors found inside outside those hours risk arrest, so plan any evening event through an official ticketed programme only. Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and staying overnight nearby gives you the site early in the morning, before the day coaches arrive.
Wadi Rum
One night in a desert camp covers a late-afternoon 4×4 drive, sunset and a clear night sky. The protected area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Camps vary widely in comfort, so we match the camp to your budget at quote stage.
Day trips from the Dead Sea
The resort strip works as a base for these half-day outings.
- Baptism Site (Al-Maghtas): the traditional site of the baptism of Jesus, which Visit Jordan places 9 km north of the Dead Sea.
- Mount Nebo: a hilltop church and viewpoint over the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea.
- Madaba: a short drive from Mount Nebo, known for its Byzantine mosaics, including the Madaba Map.
- Wadi Mujib: Visit Jordan calls it the largest natural reserve in the Levant, with gorge hiking trails and waterfalls.
- Ma’in Hot Springs: a valley of thermal springs and waterfalls at 264 metres below sea level.
When is the best time for a Dead Sea holiday?
In spring and autumn, days at the Dead Sea are warm enough to float comfortably, and Petra and Wadi Rum are pleasant for walking.
Summer is very hot at the Dead Sea, and walking Petra in the middle of the day becomes hard work. FCDO advises bringing suitable clothing and enough food and water for extreme temperatures on any outdoor activity. A summer trip works best as a resort stay with early-morning outings only.
Winter is the mildest time on the Dead Sea shore, which makes it a winter-sun option when Amman and Petra are cold. The catch is rain inland. FCDO notes a risk of flash floods in the rainy season from November to March, which can close Petra’s valley paths and the Wadi Mujib gorge trails at short notice. Keep one flexible day in a winter itinerary.
Visa, Jordan Pass and entry for UK travellers
UK passport holders can pay for a visa on arrival or buy a Jordan Pass, which waives the visa fee.
| Option | Cost | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Visa on arrival | 40 JOD. | Single-entry visa, valid for three months. No attractions included. |
| Jordan Pass Wanderer | 70 JOD. | Visa fee waived, plus entry to over 40 attractions, including one day at Petra and Wadi Rum. |
| Jordan Pass Explorer | 75 JOD. | As Wanderer, with two consecutive days at Petra. |
| Jordan Pass Expert | 80 JOD. | As Wanderer, with three consecutive days at Petra. |
The pass must be bought online before you arrive, and the visa waiver depends on a minimum stay. The official Jordan Pass site and FCDO give slightly different minimums, so treat stays of three nights or more as qualifying.
Police registration only applies to stays of more than 14 days, so it does not affect a normal holiday.
Flights to Jordan from the UK
Royal Jordanian flies non-stop from Heathrow to Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport. British Airways suspended its Amman route in March 2026, and a restart has been reported for November 2026 but not confirmed by the airline. Until BA flies again, connecting through a Gulf or European hub is the other option.
For a package, the airline, airport and flight times are confirmed when we quote. Timings matter more in Jordan than on a beach holiday, because an evening arrival means a first night in Amman or a transfer down to the Dead Sea in the dark.
Is it safe to go to the Dead Sea now?
FCDO advice for Jordan was last updated on 10 September 2026. It advises against all travel within 3 km of the border with Syria. The Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba are not in that zone.
The advice also describes a changed regional picture. Since July 2026 there have been Iranian strikes and retaliatory attacks across the region, including in Jordan, and FCDO reported renewed attacks and interceptions in and around Aqaba in early September. It asks travellers to prepare for flight cancellations and periodic airspace closures, and to keep departure plans under review.
In practice, check FCDO advice before you book and again before you fly, and sign up for its email alerts. Travel insurance can be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice, so buy a policy that covers the dates and read its conflict exclusions. FCDO also notes that medical facilities outside Amman and Aqaba are basic.
If the current picture puts you off Jordan, Saudi Arabia’s AlUla and Red Sea coast offer desert and heritage in a different setting. Check FCDO advice there in the same way. For every Jordan option we sell, see our Jordan holidays.
Floating in the Dead Sea: what to know
A few habits make the first float more comfortable:
- Don’t shave for a day beforehand. Small nicks and cuts sting badly in the brine.
- Keep the water away from your eyes and mouth. Keep a bottle of fresh water and a towel at the shore.
- Walk in, then sit back. Lower yourself backwards as if into a chair, rather than diving or rolling onto your front.
- Keep sessions short. Float for a short while, then come out, rinse and rest before going back in.
- Rinse off straight after. Use a freshwater shower on the beach if there is one, or head back to your room.
The mud and water are also used in spa treatments at the resort hotels.
