The Dead Sea has several beaches
along its western shore. There are public and private beaches and some with
facilities while others have none. Dead Sea tours take visitors to one of the
beaches and let them spend a couple of hours enjoying the sun and sea. Some
Dead Sea tours also stop at Qumran where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered;
Jericho and the Good Samaritan Museum. However the highlight is always the
visit to the Dead Sea itself.
The Dead Sea is divided into an upper
basin to the north and a lower basin to the south. The beaches on the upper
section are usually listed as the best Dead Sea beaches. However at the time of
writing (summer 2017) several of the best beaches are closed. The alternative
is to go further south to Ein Bokek where most of the spa resorts and hotels
line the shore.
06/09/2017,
Written by
Yourway Team
The Best Dead Sea Beaches – If They
Were Open
The Ein Gedi Public Beach and Mineral Beach are temporarily
closed due to safety issues related to sink holes. The beaches are not expected
to open in the near future. If Mineral Beach was open it would
definitely be listed as one of the best Dead Sea beaches. Most Dead Sea tours
used to stop at Mineral Beach. Mineral Beach has lockers, showers, toilets,
sulfur pools, a souvenir store and a café. At Mineral Beach Dead Sea mud is
provided for free to visitors on the beach and there are spa treatments
available.
Ein Gedi Beach (temporarily closed) is a free public
beach with basic facilities as well as space for camping and picnicking. The
Ein Gedi Spa private beach is across the road from Ein Gedi Kibbutz. Guests
staying at Kibbutz Ein Gedi can be taken down by shuttle to the private beach
but the public Ein Gedi beach is closed. Among the facilities offered by Ein
Gedi Private Beach there is a life guard on duty; showers; beach chairs and
toilets.
The Best Dead Sea Beaches- At the Moment!
Kalia Beach is at the extreme northern point of the
Dead Sea and is sometimes used by tour companies as an alternative to Mineral
Beach. Kalia Beach is quiet and away from any hotels. There is a terrace
overlooking the water and amenities which are included in the entrance fee.
Kalia Beach also has a camp ground.
Neve Midbar is one of the least commercialized of the
Dead Sea beaches. It has a laid back atmosphere and facilities include BBQ
areas, toilets, shower, lawns and a store. This beach is popular with young
Israelis rather than families. At Neve Midbar there is also a beach bar, Dead
Sea products store and life guard service.
Ein Bokek beaches are connected by a long beachfront
promenade and are all free. Ein Bokek is a small community, mainly of hotels
facing the lower basin of the Dead Sea. The downside of Ein Bokek beaches is
that you will be sharing them with hotel guests and they are more crowded than
the beaches to the north. The upside of the Ein Bokek beaches is that they are
a continuous uninterrupted stretch of beach and you are spoilt for choice by
the spas, hotels and hotel restaurants. The beaches are open year-round and
during holidays and peak season there is a lifeguard on duty. Amenities include
BBQ grills, toilets, showers and beach chairs. Camping is prohibited on Ein
Bokek Beaches.