5. The Dead Sea
The lowest point on earth and one of the world’s most wacky natural wonders, the Dead Sea is the mineral-rich and overly salty sea where no one can sink.
Locked in by the cliffs of the Great Rift Valley, this bizarre body of water (where natural buoyancy occurs due to the rate of evaporation causing the high salt content) has been wowing travelers for centuries.
A handful of «beach resort» areas along the Dead Sea shoreline provide facilities, with cafés, bathrooms, and the all important freshwater showers to wash the saltwater off you afterwards, for those who want to take a dip.
Take a float – you can’t really sink – and you’ll be won over by the weirdness of this experience, as generations of visitors have before you.
6. Bethlehem
A major Christian pilgrimage center, Bethlehem is home to the Church of the Nativity, built over the site where Jesus Christ is said to have been born.
The stately church complex with its far-reaching historical significance, and the busy market vibe of the bazaar make this the number one highlight of the West Bank.
Although many travelers only come here as a day trip from Jerusalem, the town is an excellent place to base yourself for excursions into the surrounding countryside, with its Byzantine monasteries and sites related to events relayed in the New Testament.
