Dead Sea Fun

Side Trip: Arad Festival - August 20 - 22, 2013

2013-06-09T19:43:12+03:00

The Arad Festival, "Singer in the Air", will take place in August 20 - 22, 2013. One of the oldest musical festivals in Israel, the Arad Festival hosts the best singers and the leading bands of Israel. The focus is on Hebrew music. In addition to the musical events, visitors can enjoy street theater shows and visits to the city's museums and galleries.

For more information, call +972 8 9951666 Arad.muni.il (in Hebrew)

Side Trip: Red Sea Jazz Festival, Eilat, August 18-21, 2013

2013-06-09T19:27:22+03:00

The Red Sea Jazz Festival will take place at Eilat's harbor from August 18 - 21, 2013. The Red Sea Jazz Festival showcases a broad spectrum of jazz music from New Orleans jazz to the contemporary, including Latin and World music, bringing groups from across Israel and the world to Eilat. More than 70,000 guests are expected to attend the 30 plus events taking place at the festival.

The festival has a tradition of night jam sessions which begin after the "formal" shows and last until dawn (free entrance).

For information and reservations RedSeaJazzEilat.com

See more Eilat photos on Pinterest

Sand Surfing in the Negev Desert

2013-06-06T15:01:00+03:00

Sand surfing in Israel's Negev Desert is a fun family activity that goes well with a trip to the Dead Sea or Eilat. Easy to do and very exciting.

Read the full article at TouristIsrael.com

Photo used with permission from TouristIsrael.com

Side Trip: Zorba the Buddha Festival - September 25 - 28, 2013

2013-06-05T19:51:00+03:00

Desert Ashram (north of Eilat) presents: Zorba the Buddha Festival, September 25 - 28, 2013. The festival features shows, workshops and meditation with the best instructors, gurus and musicians from Israel and abroad. The Festival, started in 2003, demonstrates the right to be free and fill the world with happiness and music.

"Zorba the Buddha" teaches us that life is a journey that can combine the good of all the worlds; the fiesta with the meditation, the dance with the quiet, the riches of the festival with the simplicity of the desert. There is no other festival of its kind in Israel.

Desert Ashram is situated in the Shittim settlement, right next to route 40, between Zihor junction and Shizafon junction.

For more information DesertAshram.co.il

Off Road Driving in the Dead Sea Area

2013-06-02T11:14:00+03:00

The true beauty of the Israeli desert can only be experienced far from the roads and towns that criss-cross it. The hidden canyons and wadis, beautiful flowers, amazing animals, and fascinating tales from throughout history, as well as many of the most amazing landscapes and viewpoints are far from the beaten track, and can only be truly explored by hiking, biking, camel, or…off road vehicle: jeeps, ATV's, quad bikes.

Read the full article at TouristIsrael.com

More at DeadSeaGuide.com

12 Tips for the Best Dead Sea Vacation, Ever!

2013-05-29T12:34:00+03:00

Salty Tip #1 - Try not to shave…anything…for a day or so before dipping in the Dead Sea. The water is very salty and you WILL feel the burn!

Tip #2 - Same goes for skin scrapes and cuts. While the salt water can actually speed up healing, the burning sensation is not a treat.

Tip #3 - Don't believe the guidebooks. Fair skinned people CAN and DO get sunburned at the Dead Sea. What the guidebooks should say is that the atmospheric conditions are such that one can be out in the sun longer before getting burned. It's best to come prepared with a brimmed hat and a t-shirt.

Tip #4 - Wear a brimmed hat and a t-shirt while in the water to help prevent sunburn. (Decisions about sun-screens are up to you - we're just saying that a shirt and hat are helpful.)

Tip #5 - The marvelous thing about the floor of the Dead Sea is that it is composed of large salt crystals…which also means that walking in the water can be an "ouch"! Bring plastic shower or outdoor sandals with ankle straps and you'll thank us!

Tip #6 - If you're style conscious, wear your best bathing suit, but if you're a more practical type, bring an old bathing suit. The heavy mineral content and oily nature of the Dead Sea can be hard on delicate fabrics.

Tip #7 - Remember to bring your sunglasses.

Tip #8 - Some of the hotels are tight-fisted about towels, giving you one at a time. You're welcome to call them on the carpet for that practice, but also consider bringing a few extra towels with you. That will make it easier to cover your lounge chair and yourself.

Tip #9 - Bring a cover-up - a light shawl or fabric to drape over yourself while you're lounging. It will offer a measure of privacy and serve you well in case you lose the "one towel" argument mentioned above.

Tip #10 - Mud up with friends. Stop at your hotel's convenience store or gift shop and get packages of black Dead Sea mud. Hit the beach and schmear with friends from head to toe. Let the mud dry in the sun and then shower off at the outdoor freshwater showers. As the mineral rich mud dries, it pulls toxins from the body and softens the skin. Quite an amazing treatment!

Tip #11 - While at the Dead Sea, pick up a couple of packages of black Dead Sea mud and Dead Sea salts to bring home. Prices in hotel convenience stores and at the mini-malls are rock-bottom.

Tip #12 - Bring an empty trash bag with you. Put all of your refuse in it…and later deposit the bag in an appropriate trash receptacle. The Dead Sea is one of the most delicate and precious places on Earth. It is very important to care for it as it deserves. Even better, bring a bag that is larger than you need - gently offer it to others in an act of thoughtfulness that will benefit all!

Bonus Tip - At home, make your own "detox" evening. You will need a package of Dead Sea black mud and a package of Dead Sea salt (total cost of this project...about five bucks!). Light a candle, put on your favorite music, have a bottle of your favorite water nearby (and drink liberally throughout the evening), get into the bathtub (to keep the mess down to a minimum), squish the mud package a couple of times to assure that it is well mixed, schmear liberally, and let the mud dry.

Then, fill the tub with hot water and add the salt. Soak for at least 20 minutes (confer with your medical professionals to be sure this is okay for you to do). The mud will soften and mix with the salt, creating a "soup of healing". Then, rinse off well with soap and water.

Quickly, put on your most comfy cotton robe or PJ's (or wrap yourself in a couple of cotton towels) and get into bed under several blankets (preferably natural fiber like cotton). Just relax. You WILL likely perspire a lot. After an hour or so, rinse off in clear water and feel the healing effects!

by Sue Schoenfeld

Parts of Dead Sea Scrolls are for Sale - in Tiny Pieces

2013-05-27T12:49:07+03:00

Nearly 70 years after the discovery of the world's oldest biblical manuscripts, the Palestinian family who originally sold them to scholars and institutions is now quietly marketing the leftovers - fragments the family says it has kept in a Swiss safe deposit box all these years.

Most of these scraps are barely postage-stamp-sized, and some are blank. But in the last few years, evangelical Christian collectors and institutions in the U.S. have forked out millions of dollars for a chunk of this archaeological treasure. This angers Israel's government antiquities authority, which holds most of the scrolls, claims that every last scrap should be recognized as Israeli cultural property, and threatens to seize any more pieces that hit the market.

Read the full article at FoxNews.com

Leave the Driving to Egged

2013-05-15T18:19:00+03:00

Common ways to travel to the Dead Sea area are by car, Egged intercity bus, and by tour bus. If you are near the Central Bus Station in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, Egged has direct bus service to the Dead Sea hotel area, under two hours travel time from Jerusalem, three hours from Tel Aviv. Egged offers a convenient Trip Planner on their Website in English or Hebrew. To use the English version, click the "Plan a Trip " tab, type in "Jerusalem" or "Tel Aviv" for Departure, and "Dead Sea Hotels" for destination.

Besides being the ecco-friendly way to go...the bus offers many advantages: you can relax and enjoy the magnificent scenery while the professional Egged driver deals with traffic. It's economical. It's convenient - there are several bus stops in Ein Bokek close to the major hotel areas. (Avid walkers enjoy walking the whole hotel area from north to south, but, if you prefer, you can hail a local cab or shuttle from anywhere along the hotel strip.) And, you get the fun of meeting your fellow bus mates...Israeli and international travelers all heading for a great stay at the Dead Sea!

Arrival by public transportation:

There is one direct bus from Tel Aviv to the Dead Sea hotels in Ein Bokek. It is Egged bus #421 which departs from the Tel Aviv Yafo - Central Railway Station (Platform 3). Tickets can be purchased in advance through the website (in Hebrew) or by calling Customer Service Center *2800 (from abroad 972-3-694-8888).

However, the 421 runs on a very limited schedule so for better flexibility, the suggested route is:

Take Egged bus #405 from the Tel Aviv Central Bus station to the Jerusalem Central Bus Station (takes about one hour), then take Egged bus #486 to the Dead Sea/Ein Bokek (takes about two and a half hours).

Insider hint: Plan to arrive early at the Jerusalem Central Bus Station. The bus to the Dead Sea/Ein Bokek, makes a stop at Masada and then continues on to Eilat. Seats for Masada and Ein Bokek are "first come, first served" after the Eilat-bound folks who have advanced reservations have been seated. On the return trip, plan to arrive at the bus stop a bit early as the bus fills up fast.

Arriving by car:

From Center - Take Highway 1, continue straight on Highway 6 toll road parts, continue to Highway 40, turn left onto Route 31, turn right onto Route 31 / Route 60, turn left onto Route 31 for a roundabout, continue straight on Route 90.

From North - Take Route 2, exit the Ayalon South / Highway 20, exit on the Ayalon South to merge onto the Ayalon South / Highway 20, gentle right to Highway 1, continue straight on Highway 6 toll road parts, continue to Highway 40 , Turn left onto Route 31, turn right onto Route 31 / Route 60, turn left onto Route 31 for a single loaf, continue straight on Route 90.

From South - take on Hebron Road / Route 60, continue on Route 60, turn right onto Route 31. Go through the roundabout, continue straight on Route 90.