We drove by car from Mount Nebo, Jordan to Sweimeh which is just about 25 kilometers and took about 30 to 40 minutes and it’s a breathtaking drive through Jordan’s dramatic landscapes. It’s further remarkable that from the Mount Nebo vantage point of the top of the hill, you can see the valley of the River Jordan, the Dead Sea, the West Bank (the city of Jericho), Bethlehem, and on a clear day, the city of Jerusalem.
Starting at the summit of Mount Nebo, the road winds downward, offering panoramic views of the Jordan Valley and the shimmering expanse of the Dead Sea—the lowest point on Earth. The descent is marked by steep inclines and switchbacks, with each turn revealing more of the arid beauty of the surrounding terrain.
As you travel, the air grows warmer, and the rugged mountain scenery transitions into the salt-encrusted plains near the Dead Sea. Along the way, you may pass occasional small Bedouin camps, herds of goats, or local fruit stands selling fresh produce like bananas and dates. The road itself is smooth and well-maintained, which makes the journey both comfortable and scenic.
Reaching Sweimeh, the main resort area along the Dead Sea, feels like entering a tranquil oasis. The stark contrast between the arid hills and the glistening waters is mesmerizing. Sweimeh offers a number of luxury resorts, public beaches, and spa treatments featuring the mineral-rich mud and salt of the Dead Sea, perfect for relaxation after the scenic and spiritually significant experience of Mount Nebo.
The Dead Sea
Visiting and floating in the Dead Sea near Sweimeh, Jordan, is an unforgettable experience that blends natural wonder with relaxation. As the lowest point on Earth at over 400 meters below sea level, the Dead Sea’s unique environment immediately captivates visitors. The water, rich with minerals and salts, creates a surreal, almost otherworldly landscape, with shimmering blue hues contrasting against the stark, arid hills surrounding it.
Stepping into the water, you’ll notice its warmth, especially during the sunny months, and an unusual silky texture due to its high salt concentration. Floating in the Dead Sea is effortless and almost magical—you’ll be buoyed up naturally, unable to sink, making it a truly unique sensation. The salt concentration of the Dead Sea is a stunning 33.7%, 8.6 times saltier than ocean water, which is only about 3.5% salt. Many visitors take the opportunity to cover themselves in the mineral-rich mud found along the shore or provided by your hotel, believed to have therapeutic properties for the skin.
The calmness of the water, coupled with the striking natural surroundings, creates a serene and meditative atmosphere as you float effortlessly. Many of the resorts and public beaches in Sweimeh offer amenities like freshwater showers, sun loungers, and spa treatments, enhancing the experience. Whether you visit for relaxation, healing, or simply the novelty of floating in the Earth’s saltiest body of water, the Dead Sea is a destination like no other we’ve experienced.
The 5-star Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea
We choose to stay at the 5-star Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea which offers the ultimate blend of elegance, comfort, and breathtaking natural surroundings. Located on the shores of the Dead Sea near Sweimeh, the hotel is renowned for its world-class service and stunning architecture inspired by Babylonian design.
The sprawling property is adorned with lush gardens, cascading pools, and elegant pathways that lead directly to the Dead Sea, providing private access for its guests to float in its healing waters.
The rooms and suites are spacious and beautifully designed, many with balconies or terraces that offer panoramic views of the Dead Sea and its mesmerizing sunsets. While there you can unwind in the hotel’s award-winning spa, which offers an extensive menu of treatments featuring Dead Sea minerals, as well as multiple infinity pools for ultimate relaxation.
Dining at the Kempinski Ishtar is an exceptional culinary journey. The hotel features a variety of on-site restaurants catering to diverse tastes.
We choose to dine at the Blu Mediterranean Flavours, which is located at the lower infinity pool, and has a remarkable Mediterranean menu. It was a real treat to enjoy an authentic dining experience in such beautiful natural surroundings.
Our stay at Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea was more than just a getaway; it was an indulgent escape that combined luxury with the rejuvenating beauty of this unique natural wonder.
How to Cross at the Allenby Bridge Border from Jordan to Israel/Palestine
The Allenby Bridge Border (sometimes referred to as the King Hussein Bridge) covers a large area instead of a physical fence, wall or bridge, there is a distance of 5 km between the Jordan Terminal and the Israeli Terminal, and only shuttle buses or authorized vehicles can travel between the two terminals. You will make your way to take the shuttle bus to pass the border of Jordan to Israel.
Before you undergo this crossing please research it thoroughly based on your own situation and nationality for all specific requirements and also check official border sites for updates. There are many passport, visa and travel permit requirements so we can’t underscore the importance enough to research it thoroughly for your own specific situation.
While you’re planning your trip it’s important to double check official border sites for updates in the event of a closure and for when the border opens and closes each day. Also pay special note for when the Allenby Border Crossing is closed such as on Yom Kippur and the first day of Eid al-Adha. It may also have different hours on other Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and national holidays so it’s advised that you double check during your trip planning.
Once you enter the somewhat non-descript Jordan Terminal complex, which is a collection of warehouse looking buildings, we found our way to where the immigration offices were. The first step of several was to get in the customs lineup and pay the exit fee or departure tax which was 10 JD (approx. $14 USD) each depending on when you entered Jordan. After you pay, you’ll receive a receipt which you need before you can go join the passport station lineup.
One of most uncomfortable and unnerving parts of the process is that the immigration officers will keep your passport until the shuttle to Israel/Palestine leaves. While this is uncomfortable, it is the standard operating procedure at this border crossing.
One of the officers with a handful of passports will come and escort everyone from the lobby to a specific shuttle. Next, you will have to buy your shuttle ticket which in our case was 7 JD (approximately $10 USD) each. Once on the shuttle the shuttle staff will also collect a fee for each piece of luggage that will be placed under the bus which in our case was about 2 JD per bag. When we crossed the fee had to be paid in JD. There were several travellers on our shuttle who had no JD left and were told that they had to pay only in JD and would not accept any other means such as either credit card or USD. After some awkward moments these folks left the shuttle to seek out an ATM in that complex.
Many travel sites will tell you that the shuttle takes about 20 minutes which is true as the whole trip is only a 5 km distance. What they fail to tell you is that the shuttle remains on the Jordanian side till all the seats are full. In our case it was approximately 1 ¾ hours before we moved.
Once the bus begins moving, the officer will hand your passport back to you.
Along the crossing there will be a stop where a Jordanian official will board the shuttle and checks your passport and rips off the stub of the Jordanian customs ticket.
Once you arrive at the Israel controlled side, your luggage will be removed for you and run through security and scanners (please make sure your bag does get on the conveyor belt to pass through security). You will get your bags back after you pass through immigration. Just follow the instructions given.
The immigration officials will ask many questions about your visit. Answer honestly, but please note that based on your responses they may hand your passport to another official who will ask you more follow up questions if they deem it necessary. We found the process to be relatively fast and very efficient considering the volume of people.
Once you pass immigration, you can collect your luggage and exit the terminal. There are several transportation options to get to Jerusalem. First, there is a kiosk just outside the door selling tickets on a shared taxi/shuttle for about 42 Shekels (around $12 USD). Just a note that they do not leave at designated times, you will need to wait on the shuttle until all the seats are filled. They will drop you off near the Damascus Gate of the Old City in East Jerusalem. The second option is to arrange for a private driver who will wait for you at the parking lot in front of the exit of Israel Terminal.
We hope the information we’ve shared has been helpful and will help make your crossing from Jordan to Israel-Palestine via Allenby Bridge a little less stressful. While there seems to be a lot of moving parts and it may seem intimidating at times, just relax and remain calm and take in the experience. This has been one of our most interesting crossings also.