DESTINATIONS JORDAN MIDDLE EAST
dried-up) baptism site is encircled by a dusty walkway and several huge mosaic murals: one depicts the Pope (on a golf cart) and King Abdullah II of Jordan, his enormous gold watch represented by tiny golden tiles. I walk towards the Jordan River and find a handful of visitors wearing white baptismal cloaks, about to enter the water. Metres away, on the West Bank side, it’s a different story, with long, orderly queues of devotees waiting to be baptised – more than 600,000 pilgrims visit the site every year. My final stop is Mount Nebo, from
where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land. The view from the 800m peak over the scrubby desert to Israel is breathtaking, and a map at the viewpoint highlights nearby sites, including Hebron (40 miles away) and Bethlehem (31 miles away).
ASK THE EXPERT
Andrew Turner, head of industry sales EMEA, Intrepid Travel “Visiting the Dead Sea and surrounding area is a unique experience. The country is easy to get around, especially when travelling with a group, meaning that clients can enjoy a holiday that includes sites such as Petra, as well as the Dead Sea. Intrepid has introduced two itineraries for 2018, Cycle Jordan and Jordan Real Food Adventure, to meet demand.”
w DEAD SEA STAYS Back on the Dead Sea’s shores, hotels are being built with lightning speed. I stop by the Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa, connected to a small shopping centre. Bizarrely, its main attraction appears to be the Rovers Return – a replica of the pub from Coronation Street. I can even order ‘Betty’s Hot Pot’ and wash it down with Amstel, the first beer bottled in Jordan. It’s all a bit odd, so I retreat back to the 345-room Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea, which has been modelled on the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. It’s the most luxurious Dead Sea hotel; the spa alone has 20 treatment rooms
On the shores of the Dead Sea is the Rovers Return – a replica of the Coronation Street pub – serving ‘Betty’s Hot Pot’
and guests – who have included Bono and Angelina Jolie – buzz around in golf carts. There are seven restaurants and bars, but I’m won over by the Obelisk Restaurant’s legendary buffet, with its enormous scallops and endless varieties of hummus.
RIGHT:
Dead Sea Marriott
Resort & Spa BELOW:
Mount Nebo
As for the other resorts, the
250-room Dead Sea Marriott Resort & Spa, with its numerous pools and sprawling gardens, is especially popular with families, while the 346-room Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea has one of the grandest lobbies I’ve come across. It’s another enormous property, with rooms tucked inside buildings made from local stone. All of the resorts offer direct access
to the beach, so I wander down to the sands. I stick my finger in the water then lick it. It’s so salty that my mouth tingles. Entering the water, the saltiness prevents me sinking below the surface, and I bob along, admiring the view. It turns out that the lowest point on Earth might also be my favourite.
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travelweekly.co.uk 7 June 2018
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