Dead Sea float from Jerusalem: Small group, 4 hours

Float where you cannot sink, cover yourself in healing mud

A half-day trip from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea for up to six travelers, with hotel pickup and an air-conditioned vehicle. You float in the salt water (buoyancy is guaranteed), and coat your body in black mud known for its mineral content. The group stays small enough that you're not jostled in the water or crowded on the shore.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit and relax at the Dead Sea

• Breathe in fresh Dead Sea air
• Cover body with black mud
• Relax and float in the Dead Sea

The experience

How do you get to the Dead Sea without renting a car? The pickup starts in Jerusalem and takes you in an air-conditioned vehicle to the water's edge, a journey of roughly an hour each way. Once there, you have time to float in water so dense with salt that your body stays on the surface without effort: no swimming skill required, no sinking possible. The sensation is unlike any pool or ocean. The salt holds you up.

The black mud is the other half of the visit. Visitors coat their skin from head to toe in it, then rinse in the water. The mud comes from the Dead Sea floor and contains magnesium and other minerals extracted for medicines and cosmetics. Whether it eases ailments or simply feels like a ritual, it's the part most people remember. The air itself is different here (denser, mineral-rich, non-allergenic), and many find it easier to breathe than at sea level.

The whole outing runs four hours from pickup to return. An audio guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and several other languages travels with you, so you get context without needing a live narrator. Children from age one are welcome, though the trip is not recommended for pregnant travelers.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle.
• audio guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Russian, Hebrew, Arabic and Chinese.
• hotel pickup from Jerusalem.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years)

GroupUp to 6

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 18

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Israstar Tours & Travel

Is this one for you?The small group size, no more than six, means you're not competing for space in the water or waiting in a line to coat yourself in mud. If you're staying in Jerusalem without a rental car, the pickup solves the logistics and leaves you free to float.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 2 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can you really float without swimming in the Dead Sea?

Yes. The water's salt content is so high that your body floats on the surface without any effort or skill required. You cannot sink for long even if you try.

What is the black mud and why do people cover themselves in it?

The black mud comes from the Dead Sea floor and contains minerals like magnesium used in medicines and cosmetics. Visitors coat their skin in it, then rinse in the water. Many report it feels beneficial for their skin.

How long is the drive from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea?

The journey takes roughly an hour each way in an air-conditioned vehicle, with the four-hour outing including travel time and your time in and around the water.