Fatal Attraction? Natural Wonder? Let’s just call it Love Story. If you visit the Dead Sea, make sure you do it with someone you love, since romance is just all over
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Ironically, there is no place cooler than this year-round hot spot, no higher action level than the one achieved in this lowest point on earth, and no place livelier than the one known around the world as the Dead Sea. Since you all admire irony so much, no doubt you’re gonna be crazy about this place. “Fatal Attraction”? We always preferred “Love Story”. Welcome to the Dead Sea, and remember – this is as low is it gets, so… your high is guaranteed!
Good morning
How about warming up your engine before you go under? There are at least two ways to get to the Dead Sea, and each one of them has some action in store for the sleepy just-got-out-of-bed type of traveler. If you come from road number 1, viaJerusalem, turn right with the sign that says Almog and get ready for the encounter with one of the most powerful flood drainers in the Dead Sea region. Nahal Ogg (Ogg river) descends very steeply towards its outfall, not very far from here, and that’s exactly the section you’re going to trek now – but against the flow. How come? Well, you can only walk here when it doesn’t flow, of course, and iron ladders have been fastened to the rocks in order to enable you to do just that. It all makes for a perfect first plunge into the desert challenges in the Dead Sea surroundings.
Those coming from the south by road number 25, via Dimona, need to carefully look for the sign saying Nahal Peres, on the left side of the road, in order not to miss their share of morning challenge. Flood water has eroded the white limestone rock face to create beautiful marble-like steps and shelves, and if you trek here after a serious flood, you’ll enjoy the added value of stunning water cisterns full of cold fresh water.
Noon
Technically, it’s noon now. But that’s only for the limited purposes of this article. The following desert adventure should get underway as early in the morning as possible, since it is one of the most difficult and daring foot trails this area has to offer. The Daraje river, aka Nahal Darga, descends to the Dead sea in a short yet extremely steep series of dry waterfalls and giant boulders. Some of the waterfalls can only be descended by rope, and at the bottom of each awaits a deep cistern full of very cold flood water (the sun hardly penetrates the deep canyon, hence the water doesn’t easily dry or warm up). Some of the cisterns are so deep and long that passing them requires swimming – which means wetting yourself and your gear up to the neck. By now you get the picture, right? It’s scary, it’s wild and it’s super-rewarding. You don’t necessarily need snapling equipment, but you must have a rope, at least 30 meters long. So gear up and get going – these gorges are gorgeous!
Afternoon
If you don’t feel like getting wet or proving anything to yourself or to others, that’s perfectly okay – there are many other, less demanding challenges around. One of the thrilling options is renting a two-wheeler and mountain biking it through the fabulous paths around Mount Sdom.
An even milder challenge – yet more interesting, maybe, if you’ve got a soft spot for ancient history and archeological sites – would be skipping the cable-car and climbing Masada through the seemingly endless, steeply ascending Snake Trail. Now how does it feel to be a Roman soldier (minus the armor) in the first century AD?
Dead Sea Children
Nightlife
We’re joking, okay? When nightlife is considered, this area is literally a desert – unless you refer to the bustling nightlife of the region’s nocturnal animals. Once or twice a year, on major holidays, Masada and the nearby Bik’a settlements host awesome music festivals featuring the hottest names in the Israeli rock scene, and the Israeli Opera holds a biannual event of outdoor opera with the participation of world renowned artists. These are indeed spectacular events, and watching the sunrise from the top of Masada while listening to good rock music is an unforgettable experience, but that’s about it – hardly enough to go around.
Nature has its way of compensating for this deficiency too, though. In times of full moon or almost-full moon, you might be surprised to discover some cars parking awkwardly beside road number 90, a bit north of Ein Gedi, with no visible attraction in sight. The passengers’ half-secret destination lies about a mile lower, within walking distance from the parked cars. Einot Kedem (Kedem springs) gush out of the ground at a temperature of 45 degrees Celsius, and the water is conveniently pooled into a shallow puddle, fit for about ten adults in a reclining pose. The further you lie, the more pleasantly warm (and not too hot) the water is. Add in the moon. And the silence. And the cool night air. To be honest – few ordinary and extraordinary nightlife events can equal that.
